What motivates you?
Peggy Payne, at age 62, is “still stewing” over not being chosen to spend the summer studying at the Governor’s School of North Carolina–in 1965. However, Ms. Payne credits this early rejection with helping her successful writing career. Have you ever had a disappointment or setback that fueled later success? How common do you think it is to respond to failure not with discouragement but a renewed “I’ll show ‘em” spirit?
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Questions & Trivia
Hello Gael, well many times over the years I have read how children who have been brought up in care, Dr Barnados for instance have gone on to achieve great things……….many becoming celebrities………….and people who were either born or for some reason became disabled………very often they try that bit harder, go that extra mile to prove they are as capable as the rest….achievement isn’t about being born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth……its about ambition, inspiration and determination to succeed, so yes, I think that people who have been dealt a bad card very often go on to turn their life around………..I know people who hated school, never even learned to read and write……..but taught themselves in later life and went on to have successful careers………if you want something enough you will do your upmost to get it………xx
Extra bravo Star, wise words you said. xxxM
“Achievement isn’t about being born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth……its about ambition, inspiration and determination to succeed.”
Very well put, Star!
To answer my own question, a specific goal motivates me. And in my case do to a very determined type of personality and a resistence to control, if it happens I am discouraged by someone to pursue my goal, it spurs me on.
Not to prove them wrong per se, but to acheive what I wanted to in the first place. I think because you have hit an obstacle the adrenalin kicks in and the efforts are doubled all of which aids in getting where you want.
For me Gael it’s the little things in life where once I had failed to achieve something I would have a rant and give up and let my wife do it. Now I am by myself I have no one to rescue the situation. Recently I tried to download Skype a simple act people have told me. Not for me it didn’t work I had my usual rant and thought I don’t need it and basically gave up. A day later I thought actually I want Skype and sat down found out what I did wrong and succeeded. So what Star said is true if you want something you will succeed. That’s where motivation comes from.
Exactly the point, Pat. When the obstacle is needed to be removed by yourself and not by relying on someone else to do it, you redouble your efforts. Which usually results in achieving the goal.
You have a famous expression in the English language; if you can dream it you can do it. You’ve proofed it with skype. Congrats Patak.
Thank you Gael for a very good topic for discussion. First, everybody here is right
with everything they say,but motivation is very complicated and varies from situation and individual. A person needs faith in himself and a belief that success is possible, and a person close to him.her may help with that.
there are many other things determining motivation but self esteem, maturity and discipline and loving support are also needed.
This subject is worth studying long and hard as I try to stay motivated to be more active, get more exercise, stick to a healthy and appropriate diet, and try to so more for people and community.
Thanks, Rose. And you’re right I believe in qualifying how motivation can vary from individual to individual. One of the best gifts my mother ever gave me was self belief. She used to tell me I could do anything I set my mind to.
I find the challenge of taking a college course every once and awhile just to make sure my brain is still working….It is a personal challenge to ace the course…just to prove to myself that my grades in college from before (million years ago) were because I really didn’t want to be there and I can do it!
I find that sticking to things helps you overcome many obstacles…. I have taught myself a lot of things and still have many things to learn. I have seen children with disabilities succeed when people have feared that they would not. Determination plays a big part in these things. Thank you Gael a good blog.
YW, Tania. And you sound like you’re describing me in terms of determination. Without it I could never have done much in this life.
Good for you, Sweet. You challenge yourself and rise to the challenge. The satisfaction is priceless I would assume.
Gael, I don’t think I answered your question, but I don’t think I have ever been motivated by What other people think. I just did what I thought was the best to do and I did it with determination, focus and willingness to do what was necessary. I just did a huge climate march and did it for my own reasons, and people have a whole new opinion of me, but the opinion I have of me is what motivates me.
Gael interesting blog, i guess it,s my self determination that spurs me on to achieve all i set out to do, and a certain amount of stubborness in my charactor…
left to raise myself with just an Aunt and Elderly Grandma after my parents died young , made me doubly persue my goals … I have achieved most after raising my family as a young widow with no longer any living relatives in Australia, seeing the final child married, i went back to University to finally finish my degrees… this is a personel story, but one to prove that with determination, and a certain amount of grit and stubborness, one can achieve anything one really wants too.. my message is never give up on your dreams , sometimes circumstances in life can dispel the dreams one has .. however keep trying and never give up …