I have been suffering from a lack of motivation in my life recently. For some reason, I don't have the willpower to motivate myself to do many positive things. Whenever there's something that I "should" be doing, I keep asking myself "why should I do this? what difference will it make whether I do this or not?" I know we have a lot of people on this BBS that are successful financially, academically, spiritually, and in many other aspects of their life. What is it that motivates you to be a successful person? Where do you find that inner drive to work hard at life? Personally, when I think of the reasons for working hard to achieve something, for some people it might be money, women, prestige...whatever. In the end, everyone's ultimate goal is happiness. But why do certain things make us happy as people? I just can't seem to escape this cynical outlook on life that nothing in my life matters. As a result, I feel like I am just wondering aimlessly. I am having a difficult time distinguishing between success and failure...a feeling that the ultimate result of my actions don't have a discernible impact on the world. As a result, I just can't motivate myself to work hard towards any goals.
Then maybe you need to change your goals. If what you are doing now doesn't fulfill you... try something else until you are motivated. What keeps me going is the need to escape my norm. I can't stand staying still and not doing new things or remaining in a rut. When things become routine I have to figure out how to break the routine. Whether that is going back to school, starting a new hobby, trying a new sport, coaching a sport I know, getting involved in volunteer work etc etc. If you want to see a discernible impact in what you do, work with kids. I swear to you they will keep you humble and teach you more about determination than you could ever learn on your own.
A paycheck every 2 weeks and trying to push the limits of doing the absolute minimum amount of work to get it.
You and I are kindred spirits, my friend! So far, it's AMAZING what they pay me for... I surf the BBS for about 4 hours, talk to people (in person) for another 2, eat lunch for 1.5, and actually work for 1.5 hours a day - at that rate, I earn something like $100 an hour for each hour I truly work... YAYUH! that is, assuming I'm not fired for admitting all of this
I'm motivated by the exact opposite. I don't want to be that person. I want to work hard, get ahead, and have the satisfaction that I put in an honest days work. I'm also motivated by getting respect. I take care of my health and my body and want to be the best and look the best that I possibly can. I take pride in not being lazy and I'm always thinking of ways on how to be more productive, business ideas, new ways of saving money and I'm also motivated by the 7-8 vacations I take per year to vegas and the carribean. Badass cars also motivate me. I'm single and I'm motivated by how many hot girls I can hook up with each year while at home and on these vacations. Having freedom motivates me. This is why I will never get married.
This is not a joke: I have found my purpose serving others. I work a full-time IT job to make money but when I am helping at the shelter (every other weekend) or volunteering as a counselor at a special needs camp (this will be the 20th summer) I feel alive - connected -- motivated. I believe in a hard days work for fair pay -- I owe my company that and anything else is stealing. But when I'm helping make a child laugh who just had child protective services remove him from his house or rocking a child with cerbral palsy to sleep at camp what I did at work, what kind of car I drive, what kind of clothes I wear or how expensive my watch is really doesn't mean a thing. A few weekends ago I was playing with a group of rowdy 3 and 4 year olds at the shelter. I scooped one of them up in my arms, expecting him to laugh and roll out. Instead he snuggled in close. I held him a little tighter and realized the room had grown quiet. The other kids had all stopped playing and were lined up waiting their turn to be held. That motivates me!
My family motivates me. I exceed at work so I can give them the things they need and want. I attempt to succeed at everything else as an example to them of what to strive for. And I do it for myself also. Just for the personal satisfaction of doing something well. It's a trait I think that is largely lacking in today's youth.
My parents. Having only their words, ideas, and my own imagination of what they went through coming from Vietnam to be where they are and raise my brother and I. Pretty much everything they have done since they've been alive has been for my brother and I. I fear nothing more than to have my parents disappointed in me. Fortunately for me, my parents want the best for me, yet don't force anything on me and only expect me to live by the rules we deem as right and wrong. I strive for them to be proud of me. Everything I am and will ever be is because of them. As a matter of fact, I need to reiterate these thoughts to them this coming Mother's day. I don't tell them nearly enough how much I appreciate them.
Okay, I'll type a serious answer so as not to look like an unmotivated jackass (as opposed to just a jackass). I'm lucky enough to have a good job with one of the largest companies in the world that -- despite all my joking about -- I'm actually pretty good at. Been here for 6 years and I've been promoted 5 times. The best part is that, when it's time to leave, I can leave everything here and not even THINK about it until I come back the next day/week. I work to live, I don't live to work. That leaves me with my nights and weekends to play in my band, which, along with being a fun way to constantly try to get better, has become quite lucrative in the last few years. Now that I'm married and hope to have kids soon, I find myself wanting to be the best husband I can possibly be, which is very motivating in and of itself. That's really the reason I get up every morning. Everything I do comes back to that. Oh, I also really like beer and boobs. And football. I really love football.
