An attitude of motivation

 

For some of us, motivation comes in tangible forms: gifts, money, words of encouragement. For others, it is something far more subtle: an attitude, a way of standing in life. I recently heard a beautiful story.

A young man chose to go against his family’s expectations. Instead of taking a traditional job, he set out on a journey of exploration. Eventually he became homeless, not because he was idle, but because he was writing. His greatest opposition came from his own father. Yet one day, after receiving the most prestigious award in his country for his work, he brought the prize to that silent man who had never understood him. Without saying a word, the father accepted it. In that quiet gesture, the son felt the warmth of recognition, perhaps the deepest motivation he had ever received. One of his next books, he said, would be about that man who never encouraged him… and yet motivated him in his own way.

When we talk about motivation as an attitude, we are not asking how others inspire us, but how we sustain a motivated stage even in the face of resistance.

This attitude rests on three understandings:

1. We are following our purpose, our truth. No matter what unfolds externally, this is the path we feel called to walk.

2. We may be working on something beyond others’ perception. It is natural that others cannot fully understand our choices and therefore we cannot rely on their motivation or get bothered by their opposition.

3. We don’t expect immediate results. A motivational attitude is built for a marathon, not a 100-meter sprint. The fuel comes from inner energy, positivity and resilience rather than external conditions.

And yet, there are three risks we must remain aware of:

1. We may misread our purpose. Especially when we encounter opposition, it helps to check in with someone we trust; there is always the chance of being wrong.

2. Others’ lack of understanding may come from our own communication gaps. A friend, a mentor or a coach can help us clarify our message and reduce unnecessary resistance.

3. Long-term results require patience. Fatigue can creep in. One way to navigate this is to transform the tiredness into a plan by breaking the journey into short, sequential aims that keep the process alive and dynamic.

A motivational attitude does not guarantee perfection, but it does carry us toward a certain kind of success, the one built from within.

 

This is a post in a series about motivation - starting from within.