Hey, Siestas! I have a question rolling around in my mind and I’d love to throw it to my favorite community. Here goes:
What motivates you most effectively?
That’s it. Pure and simple.
Ground rules:
*You can only name one kind of motivation. Think of the one that tends to work on you more often than the others.
*You are asked to name your real, live most effective motivator and not the one you wish you had. (You may honestly respond best to a healthy motivator and, if so, say so! But, if the truth is, you are more often effectively motivated by something negative, please also say so.)
This hint might be of help to some of you as you roll the question around in your sweet head: Think back on times of substantial and lasting change in your life. What motivated the real change? (Of course, we all know that, ultimately, the Holy Spirit brings about transformation, but what did He use???)
You bless me to no end. Watching for your responses!
To be honest, the greatest motivator, for me has been
suffering. Suffering through depression, cancer, and
life’s difficulties has made me grow closer and closer
to the Lord. Suffering has kept me on my knees and
more dependent on God. Amen!
I am motivated by the rewards of God. I desire to see answers to my prayers (mainly the salvation of children, loved ones) so I want to be found abiding. I want to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I want to glorify Him, who alone is worthy. I want to delight myself in the Lord so He can give me the desires of my heart. The fear of the Lord goes along with this motivation.
Accountability is what motivates me. Every substantial change in my life is because I have chosen to bring myself under some form of “self-discipline” that involves meeting a deadline, being open with other people on a consistent basis, taking part in a challenge (such as the Siesta Scripture Memory or summer Bible study offered at lproof, or read through a one-year Bible), Weight Watchers weekly weigh-ins, training for a half-marathon.etc. Accountability does it for me…I desire many things, but desire alone is not enough. I do better when I find a way to be disciplined and accountable–usually nothing happens.
Heidi~Lindale, TX
Thank you – you spoke to my heart – just want I need to start looking for: more accountability.
Me too. Accountability is a good motivator for me as well
It’s funny because 5 years ago I would have to say that I was motivated by mostly negative things, fear, doubt, anxiety, they were my constant companions. They also caused me to work harder than maybe I should have. Now that I have a closer walk with Him I am more motivated by Peace and love and goodness. My perspective has changed!
My most effective motivation, unfortunately, is getting things accomplished…checking things off my list.
The number ONE motivator for me–to get me where I need to be is being held ACCOUNTABLE!
If I say it out loud —my mission to get the job done–I realize that I MUST be held accountable to the Lord and to my family.
When I see a lie in progress. Whether it’s one a person is telling or a trick from the enemy! God has sort of made me a human lie detector cause I can spot one a mile away (my own as well)! It get’s me fired up when someone starts sharing with me a situation they are facing and I can see it’s lie from the enemy, I tell them “it’s a trick! Don’t fall for that don’t believe it!” I think it gets me excited because I know that it’s God peircing the darkness the enemy is trying to cover us in! Sort of like a lazer pointer! It makes me feel that much closer to Him and I’m all about that!!!
Three things:
1. The desire for others to know and feel the love of God in their lives.
2. Not wanting to disappoint God.
3. Deadlines–whether self-imposed or real.
Chaos. I will stay with my plan and my feeling of control until the Lord pulls that rug out from under me. It is then that I realize I am not in control and I am motivated to leave behind my plan and false sense of control.
Mine would be a toss-up between LOVE and FEAR – fear, more than I’d like to admit.
Hi Beth,
The first thing that popped into my heart is the voice of the Lord. When I hear from HIM…there’s nothing like HIS voice. When I hear it I am secure, comforted, at peace, content in all things….nothin like HIM.
Thank you Jesus and thank you Beth for the way you lay out HIS TRUTH to all your sistasss!
Melissa – OKC
Change is a motivator for me. The thrill of something new makes me excited, gets me interested and engaged and willing to through my all into solving the puzzle/problem to make everything fit again. I was sorta reminded of the scripture where it says that God will “shake everything that can be shaken.” I say shake away!!
The impact the finished product will have on others. Loved ones, hurting friends, those God may desire to touch with His love and healing and freedom through whatever it is He is asking me to do. Envisioning how what He’s asking me to do now will impact others is my number one motivator. There are a variety of ways God gets my attention to something He wants to change within me or do through me but the number one way He gets me to follow through with His plan is by envisioning how the finished product will impact others for His glory.
I am motivated by my past, specifically not repeating my past. I will not allow Satan to re-trap me nor will I allow my children to experience the same victimization and chaotic environment that I grew up in. I have a little note posted on my mirror that pushes me on everyday, “Today belongs to the Lord. The battle is His; He was already won! Glory to God! Bask in His glorious victory!”
Tough love. When someone loves me and pushes me hard, I can face & plow through the hardest, most painful, & most difficult things I’m asked to face. I believe what really pushed me
To overcome my strongest of addictions was the tough love in your writing. It triggered something in me that sugar-coating things never does. And it was a lot of tough pushing from someone who loves me that helped me lose 60 pounds. For whatever reason, getting in my face in love does it.
The devil himself… When I know he is attacking me, family or just those around me it motivates me to seek God more abundantly. My pastor died in a devastating way a little less than 2 weeks ago and sent our church into a tail spin but we recongnize it for what it is…A blow like none other from the devil himself. He knew right were to hit us and what was his attempt to split our church has turned into motivation to come together stronger than ever focus on God. By doing this we magnify God and not the situtation. So the devil has been my motivation. He is really good at what he does but it motivates me to keep my focus on God!
My immediate response was a sense of accomplishment, that I completed something however when I really thing about it the real underlining motivation is FEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!. No wanting to let someone else down(more than myself), a fear of failure.
I wish my answer were different, but I think my main motivator is the approval of others. At times, I think I am convinced my motivation is simply to please the Lord, but as soon as I see that someone may intrepret me negatively, I find myself broken. I will say yes to do things I do not want to do because I do not want to disappoint, I will try to shape my personality to fit with the people I am around….it is a tiring job that God does not require of me. It is funny that as tiring as it is, I am still motivated by gaining the approval of others.
Liddia – I can so relate to what you said. I think I do it so much I didn’t even think of it first, denial.
The Apple of His Eye….
WOW. Amazing how a question asked can totally spin how you look at something. THANK YOU for this question. (I’m answering the real and lasting change part….as opposed to an “everyday” motivation). Real and lasting change for me came at “THE END OF MY ROPE”. Twice now – instant, miraculous, total change of mindset/lifestyle….all at the end of what seemed to me to be a HUGE problem in my life that necessitated constant, unending prayer because it was constantly on my mind and I sought God for answers. Then, in an instant….miraculous change. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this question….because I have been going through a 4-month “dark night of the soul” that I despair will never end….and now I know….that change will come….at the right time, in His time…and it will again be miraculous and leaving NO DOUBT who changed me! Thank you the hope that this question now gives me.
So my answer would be TRIAL.
I think for me it’s my friendships or close relationships. The feeling of having someone by my side gives me the cofidence to work harder to be better or do better in things in life. One other is not wanting to let people down.
I try to think about my future and how my current decisions will impact the rest of my life. If I suspect a dismal outcome, based on a simple decision, I am motivated to change my thoughts, actions and ultimately, my habits.
Being encouraged by someone motivates me. When someone says I’m going a great job (doing something) it makes me want to CONTINUE to give my all.
The pull in my heart to pray for others!
I’m involved in several areas of ministry which involve children. Teaching is my profession and gift and I love to tell children about Jesus. What motivates me more than anything is the TRUTH of God and His Word. I’m so passionate about ministering to children and presenting them with the TRUTH because I KNOW it will change their present life and, more importantly, their eternal destinies. It gives me that drive, that energy to keep going when I’m tired and stressed and over-committed. I love to see young ones “get it” and know that someday we’ll be worshipping God together in heaven.
This question really got me to thinking, so I had to sleep on it before I could come up with an answer. I have been challenged and blessed to see the progression over the course of my journey through life on this topic. I believe that the best way to describe what has motivated me the most and continues to do so is knowing that I’m enriching someone’s life. I love the feeling of knowing I’ve made someone’s day better or that I’ve been used to teach someone something.
Guilt
By far, the hugest motivator in my life that I turn to most often when I am looking for and needing motivation in my life is BOOKS. The Bible, Dan Allender, devotionals online, and onward from there. The written word is the primary source I look for motivation from. It also comes from within me however, I am rarely motivated by anyone criticizing me or saying I “should” do such n such. My own desire to please the Lord, a healthy fear of him combined with gratitude for the overwhelming tidal wave of what He has done for me and given me and called me to. I know where I would be and what I would be without Him and so turning to His word and others who can remind me of that motivates me.
Other girlfriends who are doing things well also motivate me by their example.
Book is how I try to motivate myself. But maybe really God knows that’s a way to get my attention.
Negative motivator with positive results: being STUCK in an emotional pit that I was tired of being in and got MAD to do the work with God to get out.
My motivation has been more my children and being a more positive example as I live out what God has planned for me in this season of life. My children hear me talking and praising and praying but I think the real picture is living it out. This often means having to adjust other needs and prioritizing His best for me with schedules, friendships and my wants. As I guide them for better choices He reminds me to do the same. I always make sure and tell them how proud of them I am and that they did a good job and now they are telling it to me. I hope this obedience however small strengthens their love of Him and and as they do in life, they serve Him and of course He will bless.
The approval of others- ugh, I hate being a people pleaser!
most of the time, the biggest motivator for me is a deadline, and the HS used the WAIT for the deadline to arrive to teach me some pretty important stuff about myself and about Him.
Knowing that I am bringing God glory in a situation/event.
Most often reaction motivator: getting ticked off; at myself, others, or organizations. You want a clean house just get me mad. Funny thing is I don’t get mad easily.
Best in the long run: Vision – Show me how life will be better enough it’s worth it. Help me see a healthier life.
1. HOW DOES GOD SEE THIS????
2 Ends the argument
Love and fear.
Accountability is definitely the greatest motivator for me.
My motivation comes from my family. When I see myself through their eyes it motivates me to do better in every area of my life.
For me, substantial and dramatic change has occurred when there has been loss of some kind, or I am at a point where I can’t rely on myself or anyone else. At those moments God reveals Himself as my security, hope, the sure foundation for my life.
Being told that I can’t or that I shouldn’t do something is probably my most unhealthy motivator and was the cause for many problems around my high school years.
In terms of life changing motivators God definately used my Husband. Even when we first met in college there was something about him that made me want to make him proud of me. Luckily, despite all the times I think I fall short as long as I am loveing Jesus with my whole heart he is proud as he can be 🙂
My biggest motivator is helping someone else reach a goal. If they have a plan and need help, I will do anything I can to help them reach it. Eleven years ago I quit smoking by helping my step-dad quit. Sadly he died only six months afterward but since I did it for him I have remained successful in it. BUT if it is something I want to achieve I struggle because I don’t like to draw attention to myself or use the time for me. I can only achieve it if I am helping someone else – putting the attention on them as I work along side them.
My biggest motivator is always another woman a little or a lot ahead of me in life and speaks from her heart about what God is doing in her heart and life and family.
Stewardship motivates me.
Lots of people think of money when they see this word. So do I, and this includes how I handle my finances, but it goes so much broader than that.
The Lord has entrusted so many things to me, including:
My husband (how I respect him matters to God)
My stepsons (how I love them and disciple them matters to God)
My job (My attitude toward it matters to God)
Friends/family (how I invest in them matters to God)
My life (how I live it matters to God)
This thought terrifies me: Missing out on something wonderful He had for me because I didn’t invest in all the precious people/ministries He lay before me.
The approval/disapproval of others. Their approval will motivate me to continue and to do more. Their disapproval will motivate me to quit.
Sad and sinful I know, but true.
Cindy-
Wow I am not alone9 I do not say that in a wrong way) I have struggled with this issues myself. Thank the Lord, He is helping me to change one day at a time. It is hard, have you had anything in particular help you in this area? I am always interested to hear others opinions. Also started reading a book called “Boundaries” by Dr Clod and DR Townsend
The fear of failure/being seen as less than perfect or polished is the biggest motivator. The motivation rockets up even further with a concrete deadline.
experiencing “order” replace “chaos”
Precious Beth,
KNOWING THAT I AM ONE DAY CLOSER TO MEETING HIM FACE TO FACE!!!!!!
With Love & “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Kim Safina
Hm-m. motivator: pressure, as in, if I really want to get my house clean, I invite people over.
I am motivated by those around me. If they are encouraging I am motivated to do things, but if not, I can’t even get out of my own way. God has been teaching me to do it for Him and Him only….I can tend to be a lazy person and I need encouragement to get moving and keep moving….I don’t like to do things alone….living in a house of all men is hard they can do only so many girlie things! 🙂
Lyn
Wow Mama Beth, ya sure know how to drag the “stuff” right out of me.
My single top motivator (that with God’s help and husband’s)
~Serving others to make them happy. That can be a double edged sword right there. To keep it at service and not people pleasing.
Meant to say-with God’s help and husbands I am working on telling the difference!
My greatest motivation is my motivated husband. When he’s in a task oriented mode I can’t help myself. These are the day’s when I get closets cleaned out and windows washed. All the stuff I never want to do. Outside of house work, when my husband has a goal, whether its personal or financial, I find myself working hard to make his goal a reality, usually for the both of us. I love that man!
I am most motivated by encouragement…..being caught doing something good rather than being reminded of my failures all the time ( I do that to myself enough!). When someone notices a behavior they like and encourage me….I find myself emulating that behavior even more.
Like you Beth….you are souch a great encourager! Thank you! Georgete