FREE to be Me ...

I had one of those days. It was Monday. I was sleepy. There was hardly a thought in my head except - where is my motivation? I did not think of it again until later in the week when I heard a coworker say "I am just not motivated today." It occurred to me that on any given week motivation in people disappears and reappears numerous times. So I wonder... Where does it go, and when does it come back? Ever since then I have been conducting a little experiment to see what I could find out on the subject. I have subtly asked a few people "What gets you going in the morning?" or "Why do you work/socialize/play the way you do?" It was surprising to me the purposes I found behind the actions.

Here are some of the interesting observations I made. Some motivating forces:

Acceptance, the need for approval
Curiosity, the need to think
Eating, the need for food
Family, the need to be part of one or raise one
Honor, the need to be loyal to traditions
Idealism, the need for principles or a rule book to follow
Independence, the need for individuality
Order, the need for organized environments
Physical Activity, the need for exercise or feeling healthy
Power, the need for influence
Romance, the need to be loved or the need for physical fulfillment
Saving, the need for a back up plan
Social Contact, the need for friends
Status, the need for social standing or importance
Stability, the need to be safe or at peace
Revenge, the need to get even or feel balance
Reward, the need to be acknowledged in your efforts

Isn't it amazing how many ways our actions are rooted in purpose? When so many tasks are dependent on so many motives - no wonder we lose focus and cannot find specific motivation for a certain job or activity. What if we could lump them all into ONE BIG MOTIVE?

OBEDIENCE, the need to please God and return to live with Him. The need to be proven worthy.

I have never thought of it this scientifically before, but all of the motives I considered can be simplified. Instead of digging around for each one separately we can just focus on the BIG ONE. This might seem like an over-simplification because as human-beings our motives are not always this pure. But I think when I am overwhelmed it will be nice to look at ONE reason to do things instead going down that list trying to find one that sounds good enough to give me a jump start. "Why should I get out of bed so early today?" Is it because I want to have time to eat breakfast, or is it because God promises to bless my efforts? So when you are just bedraggled, and you are wondering... "where is my motivation?" Keep in mind your Father in heaven, and that place beside Him that you must earn. When this life is over it will be the things we did for HIM that will be the source of our greatest joy. :)