To Be or Not To Be – What’s Your Motivation?
Interestingly enough, my husband and I often approach things (especially parenting) from opposite directions. Recently we had some Saturday morning time together with all three of our teenagers. My husband was fixing some breakfast while I was finishing up some chores. He turned on YouTube and lined up an episode of a popular reality show for us to watch. I refused. I happen to despise this particular show. I walked out and retreated to sorting laundry. Soon the channel was changed and we all watched a cartoon (yes, my teenagers still laugh at Spongebob).
My husband had an interesting explanation for choosing the show – he wanted them to watch it as a motivator of how not to be. A reminder of where some choices can take you. I disagreed, I didn’t find that to be a motivator at all, just an irritant that completely gets under my skin.
This got me to thinking, what motivates people? Obviously it is not the same for everyone, and I think it can change at different times in our life. If I knew how to motivate people my kids would have perfect grades, spotless rooms, and sparkling social lives (just kidding . . . maybe).
To Be or Not to Be. Do we focus on what we want to be, or on what we don’t want to be? I suspect most of us would say we focus on what we want to be. However, a look at our lives may reflect something different. If it is filled with “no and shouldn’t”, then I think we are focusing on what we don’t want to be. If it is filled with “try this, and “ooh, that’s good, do it some more and even better!”, then we are focusing on what we want to be.
The beginning of a new year offers me the natural opportunity to try and discover what motivates me at this time in my life. Do I look at what I don’t want to be, or what I want to be? And, how do I do that?
What motivates you right now?
Success is a great motivator. Even if it's a small victory, I try to remember it, because it keeps me striving toward my goals. Nice post!
You raise some good questions. There are TV show lines I won't cross, but I've watched some pretty bad stuff. I guess nobody thinks they've made bad choices until they look back.
What motivates me? I feel I've been stuck for years. I write, I get better, I submit, I have minor successes along the way. But I want to land an agent. I'm also looking for a better job and career change. I'm motivated to have something to tell people what I do that doesn't come with excuses because I can't really show "success."
Good point about the motivation. Of course, shows like that people often use as justification – I'm not as bad off as that person. (When in reality, we really could be further along or in a better place if we tried harder.)
i wish i knew how to motivate my boys to help more around the house besides money, bribery or punishment!
we all like spongebob too and motivational reality shows we like are amazing race and survivor. i love when karma happens! (good or bad)
thoughtful post!