Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
How to Set Intentions
Ah, yes. Another year has passed, and you know what that means. The gyms become jam-packed, new organizational tools line store shelves, and artful advertisements about weight-loss programs seem to pop up during every commercial break. (What a time to be alive.) These shame-inducing tactics are geared towards one thing: the money companies can make off of New Year’s Resolutions. Yet, every year, so many people waste their money on things they don’t even really want to do or really even need. And with each passing year, the cycle continues. Why? One word: pressure. Pressure to do better. To be better. Pressure to look good. Pressure to be the “health nut.” Societal pressure…self-pressure...any kind of pressure, really.
By Rowan Flores7 years ago in Motivation
The Crazy Rambles
Let's just say multiple people can be in the same person. They can pretend to be a million things. They can be a beautiful person that has their face painted on every day. They could be that person who bottles everything up. They are the ones that turn to alcohol and drugs just to get by and help them feel better.
By Sheena Ann7 years ago in Motivation
Does the Law of Attraction Actually Exist?
My uninformed impression of the law of attraction was that what you put out into the world is what you get back. On the surface this seems like it could be appealing, and support the notion that the world is a fair place.
By Ashley L. Peterson7 years ago in Motivation
Why I Don't Make New Year's Resolutions
It’s that time of year again. Your social media friends are all claiming “New Year, New Me!” And we all know, most of them aren’t going to change a single thing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure a lot of them had all these good intentions. The problem lies in that a new year doesn’t actually mean you have any real motivation to make all these changes and improvements. That’s exactly why I don’t make resolutions. A new year just is not enough to motivate me to actually make the changes I want to see in myself.
By Myriah 7 years ago in Motivation
New Year. New Me. New Attitude
I usually make New Year’s resolutions. I did not do that this year. Last year opened my eyes to a lot of things. My circle of friends got smaller. I was reminded that I am the only one who is in control of my life. I cannot rely on anyone else to make me happy. I did a lot of thinking last year and I reminded myself that there are things that are never going to change. There are people who will really never care about anyone else except themselves. Those are the people who are manipulative and will do whatever they have to do to make themselves look good and other people look bad. I do not want to associate with people like that. That is not who I am. People did a lot of damage to me last year, and I have spent the past few months trying to get out of a major slump. I am not back to 100 percent yet, but I am definitely doing better than I was 3 or 4 months ago.
By Pamela Dirr7 years ago in Motivation
A Fresher Perspective on New Year's Resolutions
I want to change the conversation around resolutions. I want to change the annoying perception of how meaningless the phrase of “new year, new me” has come to be. The truth is, this fad had spread like wildfire over the last couple years on social media until it finally lost its grandeur.
By Paulina Pachel7 years ago in Motivation
In the New Year, a Mindful Inventory
The first days of January are spammed with social media posts of stuff like the “2000-something best nine” Instagram pictures, quotes that compile the lessons we learned from the year’s experiences, and so on. But it often takes a lot of guts to actually sit down and reflect about what worked and what didn’t: the actions that either helped us move forward or sunk us to the ground, the thoughts that influenced our outlook on life, the relationships we maintained, and the toxic circumstances we kept coming back to. As 2018 came to an end, I pictured all of the important moments I lived throughout it as different boxes stacked inside a basement, boxes I would examine as if performing an inventory. Some of these boxes I’ve decided to keep, and some I’m throwing out for good.
By Maria Paula Serrano7 years ago in Motivation
The Key to Freedom
You see, the desire is to leave. To leave, in a sense, everything: electronics, the pile of unneeded clothing, and the "necessities" that aren't even necessary. The longing is to leave behind the material that is not truly a part of life. The longing is also to part with the places, the people, and the feelings that are no longer needed to live a happy life.
By Ellen Gibson7 years ago in Motivation
The Sheep or the Wolf?
We often like to think of ourselves as "introverts" and "extroverts" in terms of our social makeup in how we act socially and how we get along with others. However, I like to think of another spectrum for which deserves some thought and introspection. Both of these classifications are not anything new, but I would like to put my own personal spin on what they represent, the good and the bad characteristics, and how these two personality types interact with other people.
By Ben W7 years ago in Motivation
Mountains
Mountains are full of duality. On the one hand, you have breathtaking scenic landscapes like those found in the Rockies or Alps, perfect for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, or camping depending on the season. On the other hand, you have hostile landscapes such as Everest, where a single miscalculation could mean the difference between life and death. And yet, people are drawn to both aspects of mountains. Personally, I'm drawn to the former—I love skiing and camping, and the daily views of the Rockies is one of the many reasons I love living in Colorado. But today, I want to talk about a different duality involving mountains. This duality is more metaphorical than literal, and hopefully you'll be able to draw inspiration from one, or both, metaphors.
By Joe Kramer7 years ago in Motivation
That Control Freak
“I have driven down this piece of the highway many times. I really should know it with my eyes taped shut. Something just doesn’t feel right though.” Why does it feel like I am going the wrong way? As I converse with myself and Diesel; who isn’t paying me much attention, other than to see if I have something like a quick snack that he can partake in. I glance at my phone’s map and then quickly back at the bright green luminescent signs meticulously spaced on the interstate. Looking at one, then looking at the next mile marker. Yep, going the right way. It just feels like I am headed in the wrong direction. Way, way, way back of my mind I knew why I felt this way, I was just to scared to be honest with myself for fear of what my family, friends or any other person who thought they were entitled to an opinion about what I should do with my life or what I should do would think. Of course, they know what’s best for me! Wait, do they really? Do they know what the desires of my heart are or how miserable and unfilled my life feels? Do they really know what makes me happy, what gives me joy? No, not really because they haven’t taken the time to ask what I want. Their intentions are in the right place, they only want to protect me and see me succeed according to the time old formula of how people succeed. Go to school, get a degree, work, get a home, pay your bills and if you have something left over then you enjoy yourself going somewhere temporarily, but right back to the habit of life. So, I sat there with eyes full of tears because I knew that while I know consistency and stability are important that is not the life I have ever seen myself existing within; not the same robotically programmed life that most people live. When I did it often lead to me feeling incomplete and like I was going through the motions, something was always missing. I had always felt like God gave me all these wonderful abilities and I am just supposed to hide them, sit on them because others couldn’t see? That can’t be right. I had to decide, either continue to settle and be miserable or get uncomfortable and at least try and see what happens. So, I called one of my best friends and gave her the run down of what I just experienced. Not at all surprised by her response she replies, “V you know what that means?” Like a little girl wanting to throw a temper tantrum; because I didn’t want to hear those words, although I knew exactly what she was referring to, without her specifically stating, but I didn’t want to face it. Facing it would force me to make a decision that went against what other people thought. I dreaded that, I was so fearful of that. That—standing up for me, taking a chance on me, going against the grain.
By Altavise Walker7 years ago in Motivation
