Self-motivation is the ultimate tool
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28385)
Singapore
April 4, 2018 7:30pm CST
Life is mostly a struggle against odds and one has to persevere to overcome the challenges.
I have faced situations that looked almost the end of the world, meaning, there was darkness with nary a ray of light on the horizon. But as it happens, they are distant memories now.
When the push comes to shove, I take rearguard action, never give up. I squeeze blood out of stone, meaning the blood comes from my own hand!
Though kind souls have appeared out of the blue, I have realized self-motivation serves us best. There is always hope but one should accept the realities than hang on to what we want.
How do you find strength during trying times?
Image: Self-motivation from Pixabay
6 people like this
8 responses
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
5 Apr 18
Hi Siva! How are you? Havent seen you in days. Anyways, motivation is to push oneself in order to achieve a goal or a dream. And it is true that we need to motivate ourselves everyday to go on living or continue our life despite the different circumstances. It is only us who must motivate ourselves because when all else leaves you, you only got yourself to rely on.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
5 Apr 18
Yes, I would agree, that motivation is mostly self-driven, but its fuel, which I might call enthusiasm, can sometimes be caught from someone else, who is all hyped up, and enthused, and so his, or her enthusiasm is then caught by you too. It drawers you in, and such a mentor can be invaluable to us in our lives, I think.
In the end though, yes, we can only rely on ourselves, and perhaps on God, if we are religious minded, like I am.
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@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
5 Apr 18
@innertalks Yes, I forget about that enthusiasm is also a factor to motivation. If one has enthusiasm, it can at least drive or motivate you to do something or be passionate about something.
Thank you, Steve. That is appreciated. 
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@Shiva49 (28385)
• Singapore
5 Apr 18
Hi Louise, I have been here every day though post discussions not often.
We come alone, leave alone, though where we are bound for depends on our faith.
Though we can call up backups and reserves and even the god almighty, the ultimate effort is from ourselves only. I heard when I was very young the words" God helps those who help themselves" and it got ingrained in me - siva
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@id_peace (17036)
• Singapore
15 Apr 18
I will always motivate myself by the following:
1. Do I want to improve my life
2. What is it that I want to do today that I am not motivated to do so?
3. Can I do it the next day? What will be the impact?
4. Can I swap the activity with something that I am interested with?
If I could swap the activities, I will probably do it.
If I could not, i will probably try my best to suck it up and do it anyway.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28385)
• Singapore
15 Apr 18
@id_peace That reminds me of the inspirational quote:
"I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." by ETIENNE DE GRELLET.
If I have to do it, why not just do it? siva
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@allknowing (153530)
• India
15 Apr 18
I do not easily give up but there is always a cut off time to give up and that I suppose one gets to know with experience.
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@Shiva49 (28385)
• Singapore
8 Apr 18
I am more into a rearguard action regrouping my wits to tide over a difficult situation.
I am sort of laid back to start with but hit when the iron is hot.
I am not a detailed planner but when pushed into a corner I rise to the occasion - siva
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Apr 18
Life can be a struggle, but if we can stay motivated in our own way, we can enjoy our days.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
5 Apr 18
Poetry: Struggle met its match in love.
Love never struggled against struggle,
until struggle struggled against love.
Love then matched the struggling,
with only more, and more, and more love.
To love, is it struggle?
To love, is it hard?
To love is so hard when hardness,
struggles in us.
If we become soft in love,
we allow softness to struggle itself,
through the hardness of struggle,
to the comforting softness of love.
Struggle is necessary to learn love.
Love is necessary to go past struggle.
And so struggle to love,
but never love to struggle.
In the end just love, without struggle.
And love through struggling enough,
to know that struggling is only ever,
the birth of a struggling love.
Photo Credit:
The photo used here has been freely sourced from the free media site: Pixabay.com
Life is as much a game, as it is a struggle!!
@Shiva49 (28385)
• Singapore
5 Apr 18
Thanks Steve, sort of poetry on demand! I have stated at other times, I do not take life too seriously as we are not in control. We can do our best of course and then accept the outcome without rancor.
We struggle to start with but soon get accustomed to the reverses! When we go with the flow, play our part as a co-creator, then our efforts are not marled by success or failure.It is rising to the occasion to meet the demand of the situation. We do not see ourselves separately from others; non-duality at play. "Nondualism primarily refers to a mature state of consciousness, in which the dichotomy of I-other is 'transcended', and awareness is described as 'centerless' and 'without dichotomies'" - siva
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
5 Apr 18
@Shiva49 If we are going with the flow, sometimes, it is a good idea to check whose river we are in though...LOL...
There is the general flow direction, taking all rivers to the ocean, but the journey each river takes is a personally devised individual one, planned for us by God, and our higher self, I think.
Sure, we have free will, to take the planned journey or not, but if we do not take it, we lack the support of the infrastructure of the whole Universe assisting us then, and we have also stepped away from our being of our true self too.
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@Shiva49 (28385)
• Singapore
6 Apr 18
@innertalks I believe each has been given a talent and passion and they should not be stifled and stymied.
However, we should not go against the overall direction and act as a party pooper! We should bring all our talents into play like we do here too but the administrator here keeps us on a tight leash! On the other hand, we can get carried away in personal lives with a "to hell with it" attitude. Ultimately we reap what we sow, so we should know the consequences of our actions - siva
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