Motivation

A few years ago, as the sixth installment of a sermon series, “Success in the Kingdom of God,” I offered a message, “The Power of Motivation,” based on Gideon’s story in Judges 6:1-40.  In this blog, I summarize a few highlights.

Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken” inspires the title and central motifs of M. Scott Peck’s monumental bestseller, The Road Less Traveled.  The poem and book ask the reader whether he possesses requisite motivation to succeed in life.  Unquestionably, motivation is a primary determinant of success.  Do you have deep and heartfelt desire propelling you toward successful achievements?  Are you willing to travel the road not taken?  Frost’s poem ends with the declaration that the choice “has made all the difference.”

In August Wilson’s play, Two Trains Running, Roscoe Pounds played a sage who daily reads the newspaper in a local diner.  The venerable old man painstakingly listens to a young guy who insists he will someday buy a Cadillac and a luxury home.  After a while, the sage finally says, “You obviously don’t want those things as much as you say you do.  The people who really want them already got them.” 

His exhortation refers to the power of motivation, which fuels persistence toward accomplishing goals.  However, honesty about your willingness to successfully pursue your dreams and goals is an important component of motivation.  A friend of mine works in corporate America.  One Friday night at midnight, I reached her at her desk.  She had begun the workday at 8:00 a.m., making a sixteen-hour day.  Her desire for a luxury car, designer clothing, a brownstone and other material things empowered her to work such a schedule.  Whereas I would like those things, I am not willing to pay the price she does.  I need not set myself up for failure by wanting things I am not willing to work to obtain.  Nonetheless, I do have other goals and dreams for which I am willing to work very hard.  But, material acquisition and financial gain are not chief among them.

Motivation is not a fleeting emotion.  It is not passing jokes about major goals we make in beauty parlors or barbershops.  Motivation is an unwavering mental determination to define and focus upon achieving a goal.  It invests mind and heart in pursuit of your dreams.  Perseverance and motivation are synonymous; they are a golden nugget embedded in your psyche that appreciates into success and excellence.

Practically speaking, motivation means resolving you are going to be successful come what may.  Say to yourself, “I’m going to succeed if it is the last thing that I do.”  Secondly, motivation requires constant renewal of the mind.  Saturate yourself with positive and affirming messages that encourage you as you pursue your dreams and goals.  The apostle Paul in Romans (12:1-3) discourses upon the necessity of daily renewal of the mind.    Third, we consistently examine our vision to improve our focus.  Aimlessness and shifting shadows hinder motivation.  They also impede productivity and enlightening prayer.  A double-minded person can ask nothing of God.  Hebrews 11:6 teaches anyone who comes to God must believe He is and He diligently rewards those who earnestly seek him.  Fourth, spiritual disciplines such as prayer and meditation are the very good tools with which to refine one’s motivation.

Motives are an intricate component of motivation.  Worthless motives drain worthwhile motivation.  Again, be honest with yourself about your sincerity and willingness to work hard to achieve certain goals.  Otherwise, you set yourself up for failure.  An honest appraisal of raw motives is essential to cultivating the motivation to succeed.  If your are not willing to spend four years in college, four in medical school, four in a residency program and additional time in special residency, then you are not willing to become a doctor with specialized knowledge.  It does not matter how much “false” motivation you manufacture.

Are you willing to travel on the road not taken even if your parents, siblings and friends refuse to journey with you?  Will you stay on that road once you cease to see familiar territory?  Will you continue or turn back to travel safely with a crowd on a worn path?  Motivation separates winners from losers.  It determines who succeeds.