Brief Recap
Personal Transformation happens when we combine Education, Action, and Motivation.
In this series, we have looked at the Principle (concept) of Personal Transformation, and more recently, the Process of Personal Transformation (application).
Following the T=E+A+M equation, we have looked at Education - Learning what needs to be done:
and
Action - Doing what needs to be done:
Today’s article will focus on the last element of the equation, Motivation - the engine that powers Personal Transformation).
Passion
Motivation is the engine that drives Personal Transformation.
Passion is the fuel that powers Motivation.
The more passion you have for an endeavor, the more momentum you will create.
If you have read the previous articles in this series, then you know that I love scripture that speaks to what I’m writing about.
There are two verses of scripture, though recorded in different places, that work well together to provide powerful motivation for accomplishing great things.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians, reminding them of where their strength and ability come from:
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)
Pretty positive thought, right?
And to a young preacher he was mentoring, he wrote:
God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. (2Timothy 1:7)
In today’s vernacular, this would read something like this -
I can do whatever God has called me to do . . . because he gives me the strength and confidence, the passion, and the mental ability (self-control) to do it.
I know this will be considered controversial for many who read this, so please hear me out before clicking off -
Whatever we do should be done for the right reason:
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter eight, Jesus asks a thought-provoking question:
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
In other words, why do we bother doing something that will not matter in the long run?
Losing one's soul can refer to the here and now just as much as beyond the grave -
If you are willing to do anything to gain an advantage, if you are willing to throw your morals out the window to get what you want, may I suggest that you have already lost your soul?
This is probably where the phrase, “sell your soul to the devil” comes from.
Basically, before we act, we should think about the consequences of our actions. Make sure we’re doing things for the right reasons.
Zig Ziglar is well-known for his famous quote,
You can have everything you want in life, if you will help enough other people get what they want in life.
Think about it.
What he is saying is that, when you use your passion, gifts, and abilities to help and make other people’s lives better, your own life can be fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams.
Solomon, considered the wisest man to have ever lived, said,
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go. - Eccl 9:10
Incredible Machines
The human body is the most incredible machine ever made and our brains are the most powerful computers ever built.
They are at our disposal to achieve great things and yet the majority of people on this earth squander these precious resources through fear, destructive and selfish pursuits, or just plain laziness.
Why?
Why do we neglect to use these gifts to the fullest capacity?
Why do people with brilliant minds become “educated fools” and end up on skid row or hooked on drugs?
Why do individuals who, through exercise and nutrition, keep their bodies in great shape, but they fail to exercise their minds to the same capacity? Whether warranted or not, the term coined for this is “Dumb Jock”.
We can be educated, full of knowledge and wisdom, yet fail to act, all because we are not motivated to do so.
Or, we may be educated and take action to change, but lose momentum because we don’t stay motivated.
Motivation is a crucial step in any kind of achievement.
Motivation is the oil that keeps the wheel turning.
Motivation is the engine that keeps the vehicle moving forward.
Motivation transports us from eke to peak, but it is Passion that keeps the engine fueled.
Check Your Environment
We are surrounded by so many negative thoughts and actions that it is easy to slough off and blame someone else for our failure to take action or be transformed.
Whole political philosophies are built around this phenomenon, thereby transforming a once thriving society into one of excuse, blame, and victimization. Another story for another day …
Motivation is important because when the going gets rough, we want to pack our bags and head for home and hide out in our comfortable misery zone.
Without motivation to press toward the mark, we would lose heart and quit at the slightest opposition, roadblocks, or danger.
Means of Motivation
OK, you say, so now I know I need continuous motivation. How is this supposed to happen? What am I supposed to do?
Well, it depends.
It depends on what type of person you are. We are all unique and there is not a “one size fits all” kind of motivation.
Let’s continue the engine analogy. Different engines use different types of fuel to operate.
A jet fighter will not get off the ground using 87-octane gasoline.
Diesel fuel does not burn in a gas-powered engine.
If you fill a 2-cycle engine (which requires an oil/gas mixture) with regular gas, it will quickly burn up.
Passion - The fuel that powers Motivation
The same is true with people. Think of Passion as the fuel that powers motivation.
We understand that different types of people will be motivated by different things. What is motivating to some, will have no effect on others.
Some people are motivated simply by the fascination of what they are doing or by helping others. We would describe these folks as being “self-motivated” or high-octane people. Inventors, such as Thomas Edison or George Washington Carver would fit into this category.
Others are maybe more intellectual in nature. Their motivation may come from books about their subject or reading about what others have already done in their field of interest.
Then there are those who are more reticent to launch out on their own. They need to actually see, be around, and emulate those who are doing what they want to do.
Still, others are more emotional beings. These tend to respond well to powerful motivational speakers and writers. They are inspired by the vivid stories of those who have overcome great obstacles to achieve their goals.
Reality
Actually, it is usually a combination of some or all of these.
The point is that there is no “one way” to stay motivated.
Know Thyself
I believe the key is found thorough study of yourself. Understand who you are in terms of the 3P model (Personality, Passion, and Propensity).
As stated earlier, motivation is the engine that keeps us going. Everyone needs it.
Once you know and understand who you are as a person, then the type of motivational engine you need will become more apparent.
Next, we should always try to keep our tanks topped off with the proper passion, because there will be those occasional long stretches of road where refueling will be difficult or simply not an option.
Proper Motivational Application
With all that being said, let's take a look at how we can apply motivation, based on who we are.
As previously stated, there is no “one size fits all”. Each of us require different types of motivation for different situations.
What will get you through those rough spots and tough days when nothing seems to be going right?
What will keep you going, when you feel like life is against you?
How will you cope with isolation or loneliness when those to whom you are closest don't understand you and try to talk you out of pursuing your dreams?
This is when motivation is crucial. It is essential to keep you focused when your dreams tend to morph into nightmares. It will help you get back up when it seems all you can do is fail and fall.
The right motivation will enable you to do things you never thought possible.
You must understand what is the most powerful motivation based on who you are and what circumstances you find yourself in.
Then surround yourself with it, immerse yourself in it.
My best motivation to keep going is to spend time reading/listening to great motivational speakers and reading other writers who are doing what I want to do - which is write.
If I stop listening, and stop reading, then I notice that my mind wanders. I feel confused. I seem to find too many other things to distract me and waste my time.
Flow State
When I am actually writing (like now) I like to listen to instrumental tracks (piano, stringed instruments) assembled specifically to facilitate a sort of “flow state”.
That term means different things to different people, but it is basically being “in the zone”, where the mind is engaged and the words are flowing.
The Ultimate Motivation
But, there has to be an “ultimate” motivation. A goal. A vision. That all-powerful WHY that keeps us going.
For me, it is to be in a better position to serve God through sending, supporting, and supplying the ones He has called into full-time ministry. This would be both encouragement and financial support.
I am working on another series around this topic called THE POWER OF NOBLE SUCCESS (or THE SPIRIT OF NOBLE SUCCESS).
Setting Goals
The exercise of setting goals has been extremely overplayed. We have been taught that we need to set goals at every level of life: weekly, monthly, annually, every five years, and on and on.
Can you say TEDIOUS? For most of us, we are simply not going to do this.
So, what SHOULD we do?
First and foremost, don't make it complicated.
For the purposes of this essay, instead of “setting goals” let's call it “The process for achieving our goals”.
Regardless of what you call it, you do need to have a target to shoot for. It just doesn't need to be as intricate as the above description.
Work the Process. The Goal will take care of itself.
My son, Josh and I have been studying James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits together.
One of the things he advocates is that, while having a goal is good, what’s more important is focusing on the process to reach that goal.
Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, was famous for gathering the players in their first practice each season, holding the ball up in the air, and saying, “now gentlemen, THIS is a football.”
These were experienced professional football players. Yet, each season, he took them back to the basics.
Why?
Because, it is easy to lose focus on the goal of a winning season in the midst of tough, brutal games.
What is YOUR Motivation?
So, how about you?
What is it that, if there were no barriers, you would do with your life?
What compelling dream did you have that got sidetracked by life?
If possible, what would you do passionately, even if you weren't paid for it?
This is your goal.
This is the target you are shooting for, the destination you need to program into your internal GPS.
Keep your eyes and heart focused on your passion – it will fuel your motivation to continue on toward the goal when all else is crumbling around you.
Create the Process
The Apostle Paul, when writing to the Philippian Christians said of his life:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
When exhorting the Corinthian Church, he used the analogy of a race and athletic competition. He had a goal (the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus).
But, he also talked about the process of discipline:
Do you not know that those running in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.
And everyone who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. So then I run, not as if I were uncertain. And so I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I buffet my body, and lead it captive, lest proclaiming to others I myself might be rejected.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
He makes the point of having a fixed goal but also, a plan of discipline in order to achieve it. You can see this principle in action with most Olympic athletes.
It is wonderful to have dreams and goals, but as Paul states above, we must discipline ourselves to actually DO the things we are being motivated to do.
Otherwise, we fall into the “flash motivation” pattern of getting really excited about something, but when the reality of achieving it sets in, we fall away.
Remember the story that Jesus tells of the Sower?
And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. (Luke 8:6)
There was excitement and growth, but because it did not receive enough moisture, it withered and died.
The same will happen to us when we are pursuing our dream and we receive no nourishment along the way.
Motivation is two-fold: There is the initial motivation of our life's calling (excitement) and then there is the day-to-day motivation to keep us focused and excited about pursuing (daily nourishment) that calling.
We need both to be successful.
Our Motivational engine needs to be well maintained and fueled with “excellent grade” passion.
Our culture has programmed us for instant gratification. When it doesn't happen, we get discouraged and quit.
This becomes the pattern of our lives until we don't even try any longer and settle for living the rest of our lives in our Comfortable Misery zone.
Is that where you want to be for the rest of your life? I know I don’t.
Wrapping up -
Personal Transformation is possible at any age.
Use the T.E.A.M. acronym to keep you focused.
Transformation - the process of renewing of your mind
Education - the method for renewing your mind
Action - the means for renewing your mind
Motivation - the motive for renewing your mind
Remember - Never, never, never give up.
Series Table of Contents: