Gerry Reid's Personal and Professional Development Tip
Increasing One's Self-Motivation and Renewing and Strengthening a Sense of Spirituality.
by Papa Al, Guest Contributor
(Papa Al is from Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii. His home page has long-ago vanished, but through the exchange of some e-mail, Papa Al sent me the following, in response to my question of how to increasing one's self-motivation and renew and strengthen spirituality.)
I think the general answer is pray and help others.
I think prayer is especially suited to develop spiritual strength and deepening faith. No matter what your concept of God is. It's more iffy when it comes to material things. The answer is pray, pray, day after day, and things are happening, often, that you are not aware of.
Motivated to do something... as opposed to thinking about it... wanting to do it and finding time... being ambivalent... being stuck... thinking it's ok but not quite willing yet... how to get moving, I guess depends on which it is. But it reminds me of a story.
When I was in basic training for the Air Force, I got sick near the end where we had to pass a series of physical tests including a mile run in 8 minutes. I was so sick I did not get to do the test with my barracks. So a few days later I did it with another barracks.
I was still feeling poorly, so I went as slow as I could, hoping to make it. About 3/4 the way through I was nearly alone on the track with one fat guy from the other barracks. I had no idea who he was, but he was struggling like me. Instinctively, I started talking to him, then started encouraging him. He said he didn't think he could make it. I said, maybe I couldn't either, but we may as well try. We kinda vowed to stick together. And oddly, I found that as I encouraged him, I forgot my own troubles and it was easier for me to keep going.
As we came around the home stretch, the whole barracks had finished and they saw us both struggling and helping each other and they all started to root and cheer for us and that felt good, for me... from being all alone, to being cheered on.
Well, we made it. Under 8 minutes. Just barely. And I learned something that I regularly forget.
Motivating all alone is usually tough. Motivating when someone is nagging you is rough. Motivating when you are lording it over someone, better than, giving unwanted advice, is called co-dependency. Motivating as you walk or run side by side, that's the way to go.
Make any sense? Hope it helps. Papa Al
It sure does make sense, Papa Al! Thank you.