Like an iceberg in the ocean, which reveals less than 10% of it’s true form above water, the core of our drive and motivation often lie below the surface.
Motivation is the life blood of our daily activities. How we spend our days, what we do with our days and the energy we exert for our days is determined by our motivation or our internal drive. So the quality of our motivation counts. Yet we often just float thru without giving much thought to what or why we are doing what we are doing. Have you ever really given a lot of thought about what is motivating you?
Life takes on a much greater richness when we understand and are conscious of why we are doing what we do. It is sometimes difficult however, to determine our deepest motivations without the help of someone else drawing them out. But a simple test to determine motivation can be your emotional state, which for most is easier to determine than the deeper motivations.
Is your emotional state more burnout, anxiety and frustration? These are the by-products of being motivated by guilt.
Is your emotional state more empowerment, confidence and joy? These are the by-products of being motivated by your gift set.
One motivation is reactive and the other proactive. One is about making powerful choices and reaping the benefits of good decision making and the other is about continually dealing with the hand that is dealt you and responding to the consequences.
Of course we need to be clear on our own gifts, needs and strengths in order to live from them and enjoy the benefits. If you have never taken the time to assess these you will, by default live in reaction to life and live the proverbial “rat-race.” Everyone has been given a unique set of gifts or strengths. Living from them means giving from what you have been given, not what you have not. Take the time to determine your unique gifts and you will find an unending source of motivation. Ignore this and you will continually find yourself worn out, burned out and bummed out.
The Difference: Ironically, when we achieve our goals through guilt driven motivation we are left with a hollow emptiness. However, even when we do not achieve our goals but we deploy our gifts (gift-driven motivation) we receive a harvest of satisfaction and fulfillment, regardless of the outcome.
Life is different when lived “gift-driven.”
If you need help with resolving an issue and/or determining your unique gifts, please contact Julie@liveyourvision.us.
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