Love, oh sweet love!

Love has always been a magical word. This word had led people to go to war. Love has inspired people so strongly to risk their lives. The ancient practice of dueling was borne out of the uncontrollable passion of love. Love had inspired people to build nations. Cities have been built because of love. Oceans have been tamed because of the power of love. The force of nature has been subdued, thanks to the passion of love. Enemies have become friends, thanks to love. Wars have been made to cease because of love. Kingdoms and empires have collapsed just because of the power of love. That magical word has turned friends into enemies. It has caused nations to rise against nations.

Love has raised up armies in their millions against each other all for one cause – to prove love. It was the love for her race that caused Nazi Germany to want to annihilate all other races. On the other hand, love makes millions of husbands to wake up in the morning to pursue the good of their families. Most men will tell you that the reason why they are doing most of the things they do is to prove love, to their spouses or to their children. Love is a powerful force of motivation.

As a matter of fact, there are people who would think this is the greatest motivating factor in life. The power of love causes generational reproduction that leads to the preservation of the human race. Love compelled the Son of God to leave heaven to come to the earth. Love made him to take on the nature of man. For love, he gave his life and died for humanity. Love is an incredibly strong motivating factor.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” ―Jn. 3:16

As powerful as the factor of love is, it is sad to say that it is becoming more and more difficult to come across a true expression of love in our technologically advanced modern world. There are so many artificial solutions to love, that steal from men the real energy that true love offers. So, unfortunately, it is becoming more and more difficult for people to experience true love. Too much deception, too much games, pornography, etc.

When there is no genuine experience of love, people are depressed, disillusioned, disappointed and desperate for more motivation.

THE FORCE OF HABIT

Habits once formed could become a very strong factor of motivation. People who have managed to develop some habits in their lives almost eventually become slaves of habit. The downfall of this is that most habits are usually negative. Not too many people have been able to harness the power of habit to develop some of their best desires and cravings.

“We are motivated more by a version to the unpleasant than by a will toward truth, freedom, or healing. We are constantly attempting to escape our life, to avoid rather than enter our pain we, and we wonder why it is so difficult to be fully alive.” ―Stephen Levine

It is actually a powerful force and motivation when we are able to intentionally create habits to help us develop skills that we need in our daily work. One of the greatest powers of habit is that it turns our actions into automatic reflexes. Habits are actions taken without thoughts. Can you imagine yourself developing habits in line with the skills and actions that you need to come to fulfillment in life? Can you imagine yourself converting your motivation factors into habit? Meaning you automatically do those things that motivate you, making you to automatically and instinctively act out your motivation.

Motivation gets you going and habit gets you there.” ―Zig Ziglar

Unfortunately, though, due to the fact that not too many people possess the ability to intentionally develop positive habits, we are mostly familiar with only negative habits. As a result, we don’t harness the power of habit for our motivation as we should, leaving us in the same state of depression, disillusionment and lack of motivation. Hence we still feel emptiness and often feel like something is missing in our lives, so we keep looking for sources of motivation in other places.

PRACTICAL FACTORS OF MOTIVATION

Be goal oriented. When you have a vision it is easier to get motivated.

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” ―Michael Jordan

Find inspiration by observing and following other people who have achieved what you aspire to become.

Practice fantasy. Try to imagine the best of what you could become if you attain the goals you set before yourself. That would get you more motivated and excited as you focus on what you aspire to become in future.

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” ―Napoleon Hill

Try to build up anticipation of the new things you expect in your life. Make a list of expectations for a month, for the year and maybe even for the week and for the day.

Put your goals in a visible place as a constant reminder of what you are about to attain.

Get yourself an accountability partner. Try to have a partner who inspires you and vice versa.

Commit yourself publicly. Because none of us like to be shamed, when we promise ourselves, we might not do it, but when we promise others, we tend to be more motivated to keep to our words.

Have a daily reminder of your goals. Sometimes it would be helpful to have an hourly reminder of your dream.

“Inspiration fires you up; motivation keeps you burning.” ―Stuart Aken

Get yourself into a support group. If you want to quit smoking, you might need a support group. If you want to quit drinking, you might need to check into a rehabilitation centre. If you want to improve your life, you might want to join a church, etc.

“We tend to steer our lives in the direction of the lessons we need to learn” ―Don Campbell

Get yourself a mentor.

OTHER FACTORS OF MOTIVATION

Read your Bible daily.

Pray daily.

Pray in the Spirit.

Fellowship with like-minded people.

Listen to inspirational talks.

Live by plans and routines.

Stop focusing on self. Quit the pity party.

Commit to helping those who are in worse situations than you.

Live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Live for something greater than yourself

•Sunday Adelaja is a Nigerian born leader, Transformation Strategist, Pastor and innovator who lives in Kieve Ukraine. He can be contacted at sundayadelajablog@gmail.com

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