Happy Choosing…

I used to write more.

Over the past 6 months I just haven't had the fortitude to actually sit down, get my laptop out, and write. I even deactivated my website where I had previously posted multiple blogs. I always had the urge to do it and at least once a week I would remind myself to just sit down and write. But I didn’t. Sometime I wonder why we don’t do the things that bring us joy, ground us, or give us an outlet. Usually these things are good for you and only bring positive benefits. That’s why I wonder. There is always the excuse of not enough time or just the simple act of putting things off and instead fill that time with Netflix or pointless pursuits. Think if every time that voice in your head said you should do this - it will make you a better human - and you did it. You probably would be a better human. So again I ask...why.

I know I am not going to solve this at this exact moment but I figure it can’t hurt to wonder and express it in my own way. If I could sum it up I would say it simply comes down to motivation. Motivation is hard. I remember in my psychology class during University we talked about motivation. My professor expressed to the class that motivation is one of the only things that is unmeasurable. He told our class of 300 that if one of us found a way to measure motivation we would become a billionair. I regret to inform you that I have not figured that one out yet and I would be lying if I didn’t think about how to do it. When I do figure it out, you’ll know. I'll become a billionaire and maybe even make the news.

Anyway. Back to motivation. What we know is that it is unmeasurable. It is the key to most positive things in life. It is something that can’t be increased by external factors. It's something that is internal and only obtained by you. Yes environmental things, other people, and circumstances can play into motivating someone but I believe those things can only obtain such a response only if the individual is willing to use whatever it is to fuel the choice to motivate oneself.

I think if we had a way to tap into motivation each day we could become limitless. It kind of reminds me of love. My mom always told me that love is a choice. Growing up I would combat her on this statement many of times. I would tell her “mom, love is not a choice. It is a feeling.” We would go back and forth and agreed to disagree. Now I sit here and realize she was right after all. Love is a choice. If you disagree, find me and we can combat it until we agree to disagree and you change your mind a month or a year later.

Regardless. Motivation and love. They seem similar to me. Ones choice to be motivated seems like the similar choice of deciding to love. Every time you wake up I think you have to choose to love whoever your person is for that day. Every time you wake up I also think you have to choose to be a motivated human for that day. It's a daily choice. Day after day your person will most likely frustrate you, disappoint you, challenge you, and maybe even hurt you. Day after day your motivation will be tested as well. Life will happen. A deal might fall through, you may get denied, fail a test, not make the team, get fired even. Both of these require you to wake up the next day and decide to love that person again or be motivated to achieve again.

Here’s the kicker. Only you can decide. A close friend, mentor, pastor, spouse cannot make this choice for you. I’m sure some have tried, some may even have made the choice for you. It may seem like it worked. Unfortunately it won’t work. If you think it is working then you are fooling yourself. Only because if someone else is making this choice then you are not committed. It won’t last. You will fail.

At my church the other day we had testimony Sunday. Members of our church stepped out to share how God transformed their lives. In one of the testimonies one of the couples was struggling with sexual immorality, tension in their relationship, and making bad decisions. The other couple was struggling with addiction. Both couples talked about how they came to the church to seek help. They spilled their issues to our pastor. Our pastor being the G he is told them how to solve the problem.

He told them to stop.

You may have thought that I was going to write another paragraph on how my pastor mentored to them, prayed over them, and gave them a 15 step plan to solve their marriage issues. I was expecting the same thing as well. Then he said simply - just stop.

Most of the time the issues we face in our everyday lives are easily solvable. You either stop or you either start.

You really want to lose weight. Go to the gym and eat less than you burn.

You really want to get sober. Stop buying weed.

You really want to make more money. Ask for a raise or quit your job and chase your dream.

You really want to become a Christ follower. Ask God into your heart and repent.

You really want to date the girl you are in love with. Ask her out.

If you want to do something in life worth doing. Then just go ahead and wake up tomorrow morning and choose to be motivated. Things will fall into place. I can’t guarantee your business idea will work. I can’t guarantee that you’ll get the job. I sure as hell can’t guarantee the girl will say yes.

But.

I can guarantee that if you get bad news and you still wake up the next day and choose to be motivated even after being discouraged, denied, or heartbroken then you will become a better human. You will advance. You will grow. Your character will become stronger.

You’ll have another idea. You’ll find the one you're meant to start a family with. You’ll have the fortitude to advance.

Let’s sum it up for shits and giggles.

Don’t be a dweeb. Wake up and choose. Either stop or start.

How you do anything is how you do everything. Choose to feed your addiction and skip out on the gym. Watch this. You’ll choose to feed your adultery and skip out on your kids. Here’s another one. Choose to cheat on an exam. You’ll choose to cheat on your girl. Okay last one. Choose to not say anything when a friend is getting bullied. You’ll choose to not say anything when someone you thought you loved is hurting you.

Happy choosing.