Actively Generate Motivation
This morning, I woke up needing a bit of a boost. I spent about half an hour listening to motivational speakers—lecturers, storytellers, even the occasional yeller—and watched some videos. It’s one of the ways I get myself going. I’ve realized that motivation doesn’t always show up just because I want it to. It’s something I have to actively create. Over time, I’ve built a toolkit full of mindful and physical exercises to help make that happen.
Today, I pulled out the tool of motivational videos. We’re lucky to have access to so many of other people’s stories and experiences right at our fingertips. We get to choose, to some degree, what comes into our day. And today, I chose stories of breakthroughs and inspiring moments from other human beings. I flooded my system with the thoughts I wanted it to have. That’s the choice I have—I get to decide what I pay attention to.
If I tuned in to programming full of anger and hate, I’d be feeding my mind in that direction. That’s why it matters to be intentional. Instead of passively wandering into someone else’s negativity, I actively seek out ideas that nourish me.
Just like we need to pay attention to the food we eat and our physical health, we need to think about what we feed our minds. What are we starting our day with? What are we consuming all day long? Imagine actively choosing where your mind goes—why not choose messages that motivate, inspire, and make it easier to flow through the day?
ACTION: Take a minute today to intentionally choose what you feed your mind. Whether it’s a motivational video, an inspiring podcast, or reading a quote that uplifts you, make it something that sets a positive tone for your day.
