Motivation – Naty Matos

I really do not believe in coincidences. I do believe in a masterplan, which is like a puzzle with many pieces that need to fall into place for the complete picture to come together. Here are some of the issues we face when we are trying to complete the puzzle.

Too many pieces

When we look at all the things that we are juggling we become overwhelmed. How is this going to happen? How is that going to happen? It can be overwhelming. But just like a puzzle, you can only put one piece at a time together. The same way, start with the corners. In real life, the corners are those small tasks that make it easy to check off our lists. It will give us a sense of accomplishment to have something done.

I am currently helping homeschool one of my nephews. It is a lot of material that I must review every week to make sure that he has all the lessons he needs to complete. It is also a lot to review afterwards. I made a spreadsheet. That is my way of organizing my pending tasks. I have all the subjects we need to cover with the dates that we will be working. Every week I go cell by cell of that spreadsheet, adding each task that he needs to complete per subject. If it gets to be too much, I do something else and come back to it.

I printed all the worksheets and literature that he will be reviewing this semester and it is in piles in my office. Once I schedule on my spreadsheet the tasks for the week, I go to my piles and pull out those sheets, then I put them in a binder for him.

If I were just looking at the piles of work that needed to be completed, I promise you that I would freeze and get nothing done.

It does not fit

Many puzzle pieces look alike, and we do not understand why this one is not fitting in place. We can be exceptionally good at trying to get a square peg in a round hole and get frustrated of why is not working. When something is not working, it is time to take a step back. Are you trying to do something that is not beneficial to you? Are you trying to go about something the wrong way? Are you trying to take a shortcut when the only way to get to the goal is by following the steps? Stop, see what you are doing and why are you doing it? Be honest with yourself. Talk to someone you trust about this roadblock. Sometimes another set of eyes can help you see where that piece fits, or if that puzzle piece is not part of your picture at all.

I have tried several business ventures. Aside from writing, I would like to be an entrepreneur, but not all business models are right for me. They do not fit my schedule, my personality and/or my values. I have had to take inventory when things are not working and realize that is not lack of dedication or motivation. This one is not for me. That is ok, not everything is for everyone.

Communicating, writing, interacting with people, that, is my gift. Selling products is not.

It is taking too long

I complete puzzles every day for fun. I do it on a mobile app. The game allows you to do as many pieces as you want. The same puzzle can be divided from 36 to 400 pieces, your choice. My usual setting is 144. The smaller numbers are too easy and boring. The larger numbers take me too long, usually more than one day and I want to see at least one complete puzzle a day. But the game has events that include puzzles of all sizes, you cannot customize those. I am not going to lie; I live the 400 pieces one for the end. It takes too long! But if I do not complete it, I cannot complete the event and get my reward.

The same happens to our daily life. The constant pressure can be paralyzing and give you the desire to give up. Sometimes it is ok to take a break and then come back to the task. Giving up is not a choice if you want the reward. Stopping and restarting is not failure, not continue to try is. Of course, that is if it is not something harmful that you need to stop altogether.

I hope this motivates you to go on today.

Blessings

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At the beginning of each year we decide that we’re going to do everything new, those resolutions usually last until the second week of January because routine sets in and life goes back to normal. Part of why we tend not to come through with our resolutions it’s because we set unrealistic goals.

So, does that mean not making New Year’s resolutions? Not necessarily… These were my lessons from 2010.

Look at the root of the problem- Sometimes we are addressing the symptoms and not the real issue. When you don’t resolve the actual issue, your chances of success decline significantly because the behavior will either return or transform. The most common issues are food and finances, but this applies to anything as well. People enter into diets or financial plans to resolve debt, but within months they return to their bad habits, that’s an example of treating the symptoms and not the issue. Why do you eat or spend or drink or whatever the issue is? Is it loneliness, self esteem, boredom, lack of skills. Once you identify what’s really causing the problem, even though it may take a little longer to see results in the changes, you may experience more permanent changes and more satisfying results. (Matthew 13:20-22)

Identify the reasons for the change- Are you making these changes for you or for someone else? Sometimes we have the tendency to join a wagon because our peer jumped in it, but are those things that you’re pursuing beneficial to you. Look if your goal will have a physical, emotional, spiritual or even financial benefit for you. This may be extreme, but for example, I have a friend who is anorexic and the last thing I would want for her is to go on a diet with me. (Romans 12:2)

Find out what works for you- We are not truly created equal, we are as different as the stars in the sky. Find something that works for you in the accomplishment of your goal.

Divide your big goal into small steps. I think the principle of one day at a time and small changes very well applies here. I get it! In the microwave mentality world that we live in, we want immediate results, but are those the ones that really last? Whatever you’re trying to change in your life didn’t happen over night and it will not go away over night. You will feel like a failure when you don’t get the results you want or when the results are not lasting. However if you start with smaller goals and celebrate those smalls victories, then once a goal is achieve you can up the bar to another one higher. By the end of the year you will be able to look back and see not only that you have accomplished more than you honestly expected ( Ecclesiastes 3:1-17;7:17)

Seek help- if you have tried to achieve this goal before and the things you’ve tried has not work, there’s no shame on seeking help. Having someone to guide you through the process, encourage you and celebrate with you your success may be the formula to finally conquer that obstacle that you’re trying to overcome. (Deuteronomy 1:12-13)

So start working on your game plan and much success in 2011!!