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!
God uses the wreckage/brokenness/tragedy/loss/health issues..in other people’s lives to help me get my poop in a group!
My biggest motivator is fear of failure and looking like I’m incompetent.
Competition would be my first motivator. It really is that simple. I LOVE to win or know that I did my absolute best. That isn’t always pretty, but it’s the truth.
As a side note: Could you guys say a prayer for my eldest? We’re in Jacksonville, Fla. at the NCFCA homeschool debate regionals and the finals are tomorrow to announce for nationals. We pray that each of these kids glorify the Lord and Him alone!!!!! (LOVE this organization, by the way!!!)
Love ya’ll, Kristi 🙂
My biggest motivator is praying and staying in the word and the Holy Spirit takes over from there!!
Plain and simple – fear and food.
I have thought and thought. What it boils down to, in my flesh, is the fear of what other people think of me. It’s something God has been teaching me to fight against, but I’m surprised how easily it creeps back in at times.
I must admit the motivation for my biggest changes have come as a result of my fears, failures, being in “the pit”, and the valley and the journey out of the valley. My desire is to be pleasing to God and do His will. I strive to be a godly wife, mother, sister, and daughter. BUT, I’m also stubborn and sometimes needs to be hit over the head with a 2×4 in order to come to my senses. I’m so thankful God can use my weaknesses to promote change in me. Weaknesses can be blessings in disquise.
Waking up without a migraine and/or pain from my RA. And your blog is a big motivator too!
What motivates me most is a deadline. I’m definitely a procrastinator and often leave things to the last minute. If there’s no deadline, then I don’t feel pressure to get things done and will often put it off until “tomorrow,” which we all know, never comes.
My number one motivator is, unfortunately, the clock.
My biggest motivator is that I want to make a difference. I want my life to matter. I want the things I do to count. Here’s the clincher, though: When I’m in the Spirit, I want to make a difference for God’s glory, but when I’m living for the flesh I want to make a difference for my own attention/recognition/ego, etc.
AFFIRMATION!!!!! 🙂
Change. Whether it’s changing the color of the walls; rearranging furniture; a different route to and from work; reading 3-4 books on different topics at the same time; changing my wardrobe constantly… change motivates me 😉
Words of affirmation (a deep driven need which confirms my sanguiness personality) lol. Those actually motivated me today for several hours! It doesn’t take much – just often lol.
Great question! And while we are at it pray for our Alabama Siestas who are now without homes…aka Lisa the Preacher’s wife. 🙁 of course she is mostly concerned for her neighbors. 🙂
love you! Chel
What motivates me is when someone says the words well…… she, will never be able to do that……. wrong word sister, I will do it or bust!!!! This is going to sound terrible but I love competition. And Im not the best looser, but I get over it quick. I mean I will break somebody’s finger in spoons… you said to be honest right? Okay so I really wouldn’t break your finger but I would want too. Im kidding. I love you!!! 🙂
I think that fear is usually my motivator most of the time.But if it is something that I feel God has pressed me to do, I am have some single-minded focus and determination to do that thing.
If you aren’t familiar with it, I suggest Tamara Lowe’s book called Get Motivated! 🙂
Kind words
On a daily basis, my biggest motivator is the “To Do” list. I LOVE ticking items off of a list and basking in the sense of accomplishment! (And the list never seems to end, so there is never a shortage of motivation around here. :))
Fear of disappointing someone I love and/or bringing humiliation upon myself
Amie – Motivator – hardest question I think you have asked! Desire to please people even when I don’t want to – very rebellious!
I think it would have to be failure, not being ready for dinner guests, staying up all night to be ready Christmas morning and sewing Easter dresses as we walked out the door, and not following through with what He has led me to do, but it has been turning a bit to knowing I have pleased the Lord with my day, actions and obedience. His estimation of things helps me keep things in perspective Knowing He is pleased with me brings such a blessing. When my Dad was alive and I would do something on the spur of the moment to help someone else he would quietly say that’s my girl. That is what I want the Lord to be saying of me.
Affirming words.
The beautiful morning sunrise that our precious Lord gives us. What a motivator to start the day just right with His light! Every thing I do in the Sonshine is always better! I’m glad I’m not a night owl!
Great question, Beth! Thank you. After nixing my initial thoughts, I spent some time meditating on it, and although there are many “cause and effect” diversions, when I boil everything down, I believe that my core motivation that drives my intentional choices is to live a victorious life that brings pleasure to God.
Richmond, VA
Fear…most often the fear of what others will think of me.
Relationships – forming them, nurturing them, seeing the fruits of them, watching them fail, humbling forgiveness and the beauty when you see them restored.
Fear is the unhealthy thing that motivates me the most.
Words of affirmation (praise) is my healthy motivator.
Over the last few weeks, I have had a big problem with motivation. I manage to get things done, but end up having to hurry, or get frustrated with myself because I don’t get things accomplished. It is really not expectations from others, it is my own expectations I do not accomplish. So right now, the thing that motivates me is “deadlines”.
Great question…
For me loss, specifically death. After the death of my dad I had put up a wall around my heart. I didn’t realize it for a few years, just let the business of life carry me through. 10 years later my 19 year old nephew committed suicide. I thought, God I can’t do life on my own anymore – I NEED YOU. It was like living, not in God’s will, and always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not a good way to live.
Not long after that, my husband and I were invited to go on a Walk to Emmaus (retreat) – best thing we ever did. Really helped solidify our priorities. 6 years later still a great motivator.
Beyond, that I like to do a good job and be recognized for it. Chocolate is a good motivator too.
Wow. After thinking about this for several days I am finally going to comment: which means I am finally going to put into words what I really don’t want to read or admit. My biggest motivator has always been rejection and/or the fear of rejection. As a child I would always behave, act, talk, do, “whatever” to keep from being rejected by my parents and teachers. Praise God He changed me before I graduated from high school. I still am a people pleaser though. 🙁 But I am MUCH better now than when I was young. It’s OKAY if others don’t love or accept me…..MY JESUS DOES AND THAT IS ALL I NEED!!! 😉
I think the most effective motivation for me is words of encouragement.
Panic. Sheer panic.
Beth — Such a hard question! What motivates me? God has really been dealing with me lately, but I’ve found that unless I bring myself to that place where I can hear from Him, I generally don’t change. So, I think the answer is desperation! When all else fails… is that stubbornness, or just thick-headedness?!
feeling loved!!!!
Fear is my unhealthy motivation.Trying to work on this one.
Seeing my kids and my husband smile or laugh is my daily motivation. When I see or hear them I am filled with a joy that gets me through my day.
The Fear of Regret.
I do not want to say “I wish I’d spent more time in prayer for my family….I wish I’d made the Lord the priority…I wish I’d been a better example, etc.”
I kind of think of it as the Fear of the Lord?
What motivates me? Honest answer: Accountability to another person. That is it. Long and short
My Director three years ago asked me that question on my performance review. He said “I want to KNOW what motivates you.” I said “A good word”. He said, now this is exactly what he said ” I can’t do that.” He was serious! He said thats hard for me….Good Lord!! Thats it for me. Give me a kind or good word it ministers to my spirit and can motivate me beyond.
Same with a big smile and worship music!
Making a difference in a life.
Hey Beth! I just now found your blog and I am SO EXCITED! What motivates me most has been the promises God has given me in life. The year the Lord told me I was going to meet my husband, He waited until the very last day to introduce us! He has promised us children but we have not seen that promise come to pass. We have lost one baby but I am going on the promise that He will provide! I hope you and your family have a blessed year!
My biggest motivator – honestly? Approval. It works in both good and bad ways. I’ve had people really believe in me and their approval really motivates me to push myself. Then again, I’ve bent over backward and worked myself silly to gain approval from people who wouldn’t give it anyhow. Thank God for His eternal approval through Jesus!
My biggest motivators are fear and deadlines.
wow! tough question! i think the honest answer would be fear of making a mistake, messing up, or being humiliated (others finding out i made a mistake).
on a lighter note, i think my second biggest motivator would be clutter and/or huge projects. they motivate me and get my organizational skills turning, which is when i begin to have a little fun with the huge project, no matter what it is.
Knowing what I do will make a difference. Sometimes it makes a difference in someone elses life and sometimes in mine. And sometimes in mine and theirs. Hope this makes sense. Example, I quit smoking many years ago, but my motivation was if I ever had grandchildren I wanted to live a long life so I could dance at their weddings,(sounds crazy)so I quit. So maybe the motivation for me is REWARDS. (My love language is gifts, so this makes perfect sense)
Wow, this really IS a tough question, Miss Beth …
I am quite sure that my biggest motivator used to be fear, and/or fear of rejection . . . However, praise be to God, I think that has changed, for the most part, though I still need to work on it with our Lord, now and then.
I think my biggest motivator now might be wanting to help others learn [mainly children, in my case, as an elmentary teacher]; and wanting to use the gifts that God has given me in doing so. However, hearing affirmations of praise still motivate me, too.
In Christ’s Love
Music motivates me. Sometimes I need a real jolt with a lively tune and other times a soft quiet tune. I love Christian music but sometimes it is something different that motivates me.
Fear is my biggest motivation. Fear of what others think of me, fear that I will not live up to someone’s expectations, fear for the safety and well-being of my family, fear of failure as a wife, mother, daughter,…etc. I am learning to fight back by speaking the truth of God’s Word over my fears.
My girlfriends…most consistent motivators in my life. whether it be to save more by clipping coupons, getting started on a healthy diet/exercise program, showing my husband I love him, showing me I love myself (grin), encouraging me to change bad habits…you name it,they love me and motivate me best!
Curiosity motivates me…and often fear.
Curiosity because I love to read about almost anything. I would read the enclyclopedia as a kid and now LOVE the internet for its research resources. You really want me in a trivia contest!
But sadly, fear is also a motivator which results in being overly cautious and often on the sidelines of life.