Category: motivation

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motivation

When Setbacks Happen

Sketch of me with leg pain illustrating when setback happen.

Earlier this month, I went for my weekend run. I was going to run six miles, determined to keep on my plan to run a half marathon this fall. Then the pain started, and I found myself pondering what to do when setbacks happen.

  • Should I quit?
  • Should I cut today’s run short?
  • If I push through, will I injure myself?

The pain didn’t go away. Eventually, I decided it was foolish to push my knee to the point of severe damage. Ironic, isn’t it? I wrote a post on sticking with it, and I injured myself.

It was so ironic, I didn’t want to write this post! I sat on it for two weeks. How could I write a post about a setback right after encouraging others to stick with it? But that’s exactly when I needed to write it.

Sticking with it is easy when slow and steady progress is unimpeded. It’s much harder when I have to take a detour. But that’s when the successful learn from failure.

What do you do when you have a plan and reality throws you a curveball?

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motivation

Sticking With it

Sketch of a guy sticking with it when the sun is hot and his legs ache.
  • Is this it?
  • Is my goal over?
  • I thought this was a worthy goal.
  • God, where are you in all this?

When the negative thoughts come, sticking with it feels like an impossible task. But that is where the magic happens.

During a marathon, when the sun was hot and my hamstrings were screaming at me, I discovered that goals are crucial, even when they don’t feel attainable. Besides, what good is a goal if it is easy to reach?

That moment taught me something more profound than fitness or a goal. It taught me the value of endurance and perseverance.

What has helped you stick with it during the hard times? Leave a comment below.

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motivation

Start with What is Right

photo of man writing on blackboard
Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

Compromise is a fact of life. The question isn’t whether we must compromise but when and how much. That is why it is essential to start with what is right in the beginning instead of starting with what is acceptable.

"Start with What is Right" Franz Kafka. Quote accessed at https://brainyquote.com
www.brainyquote.com/s/a_1d2f2

If we start from the mindset of, “This is good enough,” what happens when things don’t go as planned and it’s not good enough? Or if we aim low, sure, we may hit the target, but could it have been better?

When we are in the beginning stages of planning, it is too early to settle for “good enough.” Aim for the best solution, for what is right. If setbacks and compromises keep us off the mark, at least we won’t end up with a less than acceptable result.

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motivation

A life of Excuses

black claw hammer on brown wooden plank
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

What do we do with a life of excuses? What should we do when we find ourselves living a life of regrets and could-have-beens?

It’s too easy to make excuses when things aren’t going the way we thought they would by now. What do we do when we are tempted to put the blame on the system or a tool?

This quote by Charles Spurgeon reminds me that excuses come too easily for me.

Lazy people always find fault with their tools, and those who do not intend to work always find some excuse.
Charles Spurgeon

photo of a tractor with flat tires
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

What’s your excuse?

When things don’t go as expected, we can either give up or work to fix the problem. A flat tire can either be an excuse to stop working or a challenge to overcome. We don’t have to be burdened by problems. We can fix them.

Of course, if we find we can’t fix them, we can always seek help too. Maybe we don’t have the skills or tools to fix the problem, but someone else does.

Sometimes, we aren’t moving on because we are too lazy to fix it. Other times, it’s because we are too proud to ask for help. Either way, there is a solution if we are humble and diligent enough to seek it.

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discipline growth motivation

Rooted and Established

photo of dried leaves near tree
Photo by mali maeder on Pexels.com

Take a moment to ponder: where do you have your roots? Where are you established? Is it a place, your family? Or is it your career, maybe your possessions? Reflecting on these questions can lead to a deeper understanding of your values and beliefs.

We live in a time of great anxiety. Stock market portfolios look shaky. We fight over values and may even compromise our values because the ends justify the means.

Continue reading “Rooted and Established”