Have you ever stopped to think what is your motivation to get up everyday and put one foot in front of the other? What is your motivation to rise up after a challenging event in your life? What is it that let’s you dig down for that little extra?
Recently, I began to explore this concept. I have had many opportunities to call on that extra and was wondering where that little extra came from.
In the movie the Last Dance, Patrick Swayze is an older injured dancer frustrated that he can no longer do all the power dance moves he once did. He did those moves even when he was injured and in pain. He was introduced to a new form of dance that was slower, softer more elegant and expressive. He struggled with the facts that this new dance form was something less because it did not seem as physically hard on his body. Was he a wimp for enjoying it? Did it make him less of a dancer? What he did know is that somewhere inside he liked it but it challenged some of his learned ideas.
So, if something is not physically hard than what does that say about you? What does it prove about you? Why were you doing it in the first place?
That got me back to my original thought - What motivates us? What drive us?
I cast a look back through the years, over many scenarios to figure out what was my motivation to continue in the tough and not so tough times. What made me be able to take those last steps while running sprints in basketball practice when my legs were burning and my body exhausted? What allowed me to continue after being repeatedly rejected by US Veterinary schools? How did I keep studying and preparing for National Board Exams when my brain felt like mush and it did not have any capacity left. What did I tell myself everyday to go to work in spite of the severe fatigue that made it almost impossible to lift my arms or the pain in my feet and joints.
At first, I answered the same for all the scenarios - Shear Will Power. I just pulled myself up by my boot straps and forged on. That is what I thought was what one did. However, was that really what was behind MY motivation to keep moving forward? After further reflection and much resistance on my part I realized that there were much deeper reasons and those reasons really shaped how I lived my life.
Sometimes it was fear of being last, fear of failure, fear that if I didn’t continue I would just give up. Fear of what others would say about me. Not wanting to disappoint my family, teachers, coaches and team mates. If I stopped it meant I was lazy and did not have what it took to succeed. And worst of all, the idea that it meant I was weak. Weak physically, mentally and/or emotionally.
Using my will power to avoid any of these reasons took and takes a lot of energy. Then I started to think about the horses and dogs that against all odds are triumphant. What were they doing different? What was motivating them? Their strength came from their heart. You can see it in their faces they are doing the impossible from their heart. They look happy and free. They look like they are beaming with light, and joy. This is so very different than when I use my will power. Using will power takes energy. I feel like I have to consolidate and muster up the energy to make it happen. If I took a picture of that use of will power, my energy fields would probably look drawn in, consolidated, tight. And I am drained and exhausted in the end.
The animals have it right. Open your heart and and let it flow. What a concept.
