Cocooned or choosing

Motivation is a little harder to generate at this time of the year. However, driven by a range of needs, we scramble or crawl or bounce out of bed each morning. From that moment on we respond to one motivation after another throughout the day.

At times we will be motivated from within by a vision, goal, expectation or longing. At other times motivation will come from the encouragement of a peer or the helpful criticism of a friend.

Motivation is what stimulates us to attempt to achieve more than we currently experience, often without the assurance that we will reach the desired outcome.

I love the story of George Mallory, the first European to view the summit of Mt Everest, though it is unlikely that he stood on it. He attempted the climb several times in the 1920s, finally dying close to the summit where his body was only recently uncovered as snow thawed. After his death the remaining members of the climbing party returned to England where a great banquet was held in their honour. There, one of the members of the party addressed the mountain: "Everest, you have defeated us three times, but I tell you, you can get no bigger, but we can!" That's motivation.

We do not know what this year holds for us. We may hope for a comfortable, safe successful year, but we may face obstacles and challenges at work or home that are as significant as conquering Everest is to an experienced mountaineer. To come through we'll need the qualities of Mallory: A vision of the big picture; faith - in ourselves, others and God; perseverance; courage. Motivation to succeed requires a focussed commitment and an investment of time and energy.

Many who have overcome challenges and achieved significant outcomes have needed to do something different from what they have done before - and from those around them. It may be to get up a little earlier and retreat to a quiet place to reflect and get the day in perspective; or to have a coffee with people who have faced similar challenges, positive optimistic people.

How motivated we are is within our control, and has little to do with wealth, status, or ability. Each of us can choose to work on our thinking and thought patterns and on how we use our time. It is choice all the way.

It has been said that if we keep doing what we've always done we'll get what we've always got - or less. We can stay cocooned in a warm, yet false sense of security and let opportunity pass us by, or we can respond, engage, choosing to act and so influence our future and that of others.