Month: August 2016

You often hear people explain the downturns in their life as a reason for greater things to come. The saying ‘everything happens for a reason’ allows people to move on and adapt to new circumstances, without anyone ever knowing of the difficulties that were endured in the process. Whilst this blog is by no means a criticism of those that have the strength to march independently through the battles in life, not everybody is the same, and it is not unusual to find yourself in a place of helplessness and defeat, especially after an overwhelming blow to your life. Maybe you’ve just suffered a life-changing injury, lost someone very close to you or even failed at something you’ve been trying to achieve – what do you do when you’ve tried everything to move on but cannot see a way out? What can you do to change your mind-set so you can at least give yourself a chance to turn things around?

How about this: instead of focusing on moving on for yourself, focus on moving on for the purpose of inspiring others. Overcome what needs to be overcome so that others can be inspired to overcome what they need to overcome. And that will be enough to help you get back on your feet.

Let me explain why.

We live in a time where you can touch millions of people at virtually no cost or effort; where people have the means to seek advice outside of their own home, and at the touch of a button, find others in a similar situation and learn from them as they deal with the same ordeals you are facing right now. Everyone has challenges in their own way and chances are, you are not the first (or last) person that is going through your journey; if you’re struggling to get back on your feet, someone else is also out there struggling for that very same reason. Someone else is looking for inspiration just like you, and if you are unable to find it yourself, why not be that very person to inspire the world by simply overcoming it yourself? Are you telling me you’d be where you are right now if no one had ever inspired you?

I am a firm believer that in order to truly find satisfaction in your life, you need to feel driven by a lasting vision to help others around you. At a basic level, all that has to entail is giving everything to win your own battles and naturally the people around you will watch and learn from what you have achieved. To take it one step further, you can tell people your story – whether that be through mentoring those around you, creating video content for millions to see, or even publishing an anonymous blog from time to time – those that are searching for answers will always stumble across what they need to see, and by inspiring them to overcome their own challenges, they themselves will feel inclined to inspire others. And trust me, you will truly feel fulfilled that you have played a part in that collaboration.

So next time you feel like giving up or are unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel, just remember that there are people out there who could become empowered by your efforts to overcome the impossible. Just remember that there are others who are feeling weak for the same reasons that you are right now who could get to know that it is possible to overcome anything. And by doing it for them, no matter how small a scale, you have just made the world a better place. And what’s really beautiful about this, is that knowing this in itself, will inspire you to march on.

Peace out.

Have you ever thought about what is driving you at a particular moment in time?

Are you being pushed by an urge to prove yourself to someone, or are you being drawn by an image of what you want to achieve with your life? Are you determined to get a new job so you can show your boss that you’re worth more than what he/she is paying you, or are you seeking a new opportunity in order to fulfil your longer-term career ambitions? Are you waking up at 5.30am to go to the gym so you can impress someone you know, or are you doing it as part of your vision of leading a healthy lifestyle?

Most people will argue that it doesn’t matter where the motivation comes from. But I think there’s a fundamental difference between the two.

Whilst a bit of ‘I’ll show you’ attitude can take you a long way, what happens when you stop caring about the very thing or person you’re trying to prove yourself to? What happens when your mind-set naturally evolves and the foundation on which you had built your motivation begins to give way?

Just like many things in life, motivation can come and go in cycles, and can be heavily influenced by what is going on around you. If you’re anything like me, you would have at some point questioned why your motivation on a particular day is so dependent on how you felt when you woke up that morning, or so dependent on a conversation you had with someone a few days before. The fact is, if you feel like your motivation is volatile, it is probably because it’s coming from a place of short-term spite or egoistic gain. It is probably because it is dependent on what someone will think of you, and how much you really care of that person’s opinion is further dependent on your interaction with him or her.

That kind of motivation is likely to collapse on you as your interests and environment change. It is likely to disappear when times get tough and you become distracted with other things. And if this keeps happening again and again, you will find yourself constantly waiting for the next big event in your life to remind yourself of how to be driven again.

Drive should pull you towards your goals. It should allow you to constantly progress towards your vision with little-to-no effort or willpower. It should not be broken by what someone says to you, or damaged by the struggles in your life, but instead be the very thing that helps you through your battles on a day-to-day basis.

So next time you feel a sudden burst of motivation coming your way, perhaps take a minute to think about where that spark is coming from, and make an effort to channel it into a fire you can draw upon for the rest of your life. Why not use that temporary urge to teach someone a lesson as a kick up the backside, but more importantly as a reminder of the life you want to create for yourself and others around you. This way you can be sure it will stick with you ‘til the end.

Peace out.