The evolution of what motivates

I recently set up my new workspace and decided to unpack some boxes I had labelled office eight years ago — long enough to be as much different as I am the same. Time is funny that way.

Some of what I found came in handy, some went into the garbage reflecting a new definition of utility, and three motivational wall hangings received a reprieve from their confinement.

                                               Dream your tomorrow

                                              Believe in your dreams

                                              Keep calm and carry on

I am not sure why I chose these sayings back then — did they really resonate with me or did I just have lots of wall space that needed to be covered? I’m leaning to the latter, for no other reason than they just don’t offer much in the way of motivation anymore. As I look at the words, I find them trite, and although there is a place for vision (and vision boards), I find them soft. I do realize Keep Calm and Carry On is a reminder regarding how to deal with bombs that are literally being dropped on your head, but I would suggest that these words have been turned into a merchandiser’s dream and lost any original meaning, and most definitely the character that lies behind it.

As I look through a different lens, I find my resurrected motivators are soft and without character to actually make things happen… and maybe that is it.

My lesson coming out of the pandemic is movement really matters — both literally and figuratively. It is how you develop the ability to get through things and with it, develop knowledge, strength, grit, and the ability keep your wits about you. And the more difficult the better!

                                                                             Because Easy doesn’t change you

                                                                                                Comfort Kills

                                                                                   Work harder, nobody cares

                                                                                     Prepare for the unknown

Sure, these are also somewhat trite and can definitely be found on t-shirts in your Instagram feed, but they do reinforce that success and growth only happen when it’s hard and you have to put in the work.

This can not be found in dreams.

I will admit all of this is half baked and something I pondered the other day when I got a little nostalgic — and in the end, maybe just the evolution of the words I look to motivate me. But as an aside, if you have found that your dreams have come true, you’re comfortable and everything is easy-peasy, I wish you luck and there is no need to explain.

                                                                                 I understand. I just don’t care...*

… I have work to do.

iamgpe

*— this definitely came from a t-shirt which some of my friends will be receiving for Christmas.