Motivation

What does it take for you to undergo a certain task?

Now take that task and place it in the wee hours of the morning (or if you're a morning person at the late hours of the night).

How much more effort must you exert to go do that same task?

Has your attitude changed at all?

If your attitude hasn't changed then I commend you for such passion and love for whatever task you're given.

But if you're a normal person your attitude definitely changes to that of dread most of the time. And the effort you have to exert to force yourself to do that task definitely increases.

Nevertheless if you set out to perform whatever task, you my friend are motivated.

Now motivation can lie in different areas: a certain goal, proving of oneself to another, pride, or just affirmation in one's own abilities.

These last few years for me, I've been working towards a certain goal and thats what mainly kept me going. However it wasn't til the beginning of this year that I realized that when one sets out to do a task over and over again, the best motivation should lie in the love for that task. And I fully support that because love does trump all and it can lighten the burden and mood of any situation. 

But that's not all, lately I've told myself that I can do certain things. Mainly because in the past I had done similar or harder things. If I was able to do this or that back then, what's stopping me now from being able to accomplish that? I guess for me a certain motivation arises from past experiences that I've persevered through. So now whenever a hardship arises and it shows any similarity to a past predicament, I aim to do my best and reaffirm to myself that I can pull this task off. 

This recurring theme of affirmation of one self, just reminds me that we humans are creatures that want to be loved and affirmed. May you be toddler or an old geezer there is nothing out there when you are reminded either by yourself, a peer, or a person you respect that YOU can do this. 

But I digress back to the main point.

What motivates you through life?

Can you honestly answer and say its something not purely selfish or egotistical?
If not I challenge you to reconsider your motives.
And to reassure you perhaps, I have/am/will be reconsidering my motives along with you.

The Epitomizing Measuring Stick

There is always a standard.

Whether it be in a menial task or a highly lucrative position.

The bar is set when one single person goes above and beyond the requested. Or in a team aspect when a level of achievement is so high and dominant.

We all strive to work towards that standard. Sacrifices are made, tears shed, bodies broken down, relationships made and broken. All for the sake of becoming THE measuring stick. 

Sure that's great, one can reach an apex of anything, if they put their mind to it. However what good is it when that's all we do. 

The REAL standards are set when the person or people who set it, do it without even thinking. 

Did I lose you?

Let me explain myself. I say that because the ones who set the bar of excellence tend to be the ones who have a passion for whatever they do. Sure the passion usually ends up being interconnected with talent. But they do whatever not because they have to, but because they want  to. And they do so in an excellent manner. Sure when they first began, they had to have had a goal. But once becoming so wrapped up in a task that brought them joy and happiness, the self-centered thoughts begin to fade away. What replaces it is pure unadulterated results. And for the truly blessed that ends up becoming work or success that is unparalleled. Aka what normal people like me aim to be. 

I hope what I said makes sense. 

Probably lost you more than once and forgive me for that.

Resentment... and Joy?

There are always those moments in life that one just wishes they were somewhere else. For me right now, its a place that I've worked and paid my dues for (least thats what I think, perhaps in the eyes of others I really haven't). And yet here I am nowhere close to my goal destination. 

Wouldn't be so bad if that goal was unique only to me, but alas this destination is highly regarded by many across the nation. And so here I am in a state of resentment and maybe even envy of those who are actually there. 

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against those who have paid their dues and are now reaping the benefits of their work. Actually I'm quite happy for them and wish them the best of luck along their journey. 

[It just tears at me when perseverance and willpower just doesn't seem to cut it when one needs it to.]

How so then can I be feeling these mixed emotions of resentment and joy for the exact same group of people. Perhaps I'm just weird and things just aren't working correctly in me. But I wanna say that isn't the case. 

Are these two emotions together, justifiable? 

Meaning can they actually coexist? 

(Obviously they can, me being that case). 

Guess the best remedy would be how James 1:2 puts it "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds....

Be Brave, Take A Chance...

So many of you are familiar with the story of Jesus walking on water and the sidestory of the disciple Peter who attempted to do the same thing.

Now growing up the moral of that story has always been on how our faith in God is always so lacking, so little. That being said, I'm not gonna say anything to change your mind on that. Mainly because thats exactly what it is. However we always tend to focus in on our faults and flaws. So when Peter who is on his way to Jesus begins to sink and drown we narrow in on that and remind ourselves how we have to keep our faith in the Lord and to not waver in our walk.

Yet stumbles and sinking are just inevitable, we are flawed. What can you expect?

But thats besides the point, this entry is pretty similar to one of my earlier ones. As well as probably another one. I apologize for the repetitiveness of some of my entries, unfortunately I seems the underlying things that I bring up are of the same subject time after time again.

Now if you're still reading this I would like you to open your Bible to Matthew 14:22 and read til verse 33. So its the story that I mentioned above, glad that you caught on.

The disciples are in a boat and in a scary storm, all of a sudden they see a ghost? No it's Jesus (He must've been like "Seriously?! You can't even tell its me?). But then Peter (in verse 28) out of all the disciples asks Jesus "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Verse 29, "Come," he said. Verse 30 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water.... OK hold it right there.


Lets analyze this scenario real quick. Stormy, wooden boat, big waves, probably soaked to the bone, thunder, lightning. AND you wanna get out of the boat and walk to Jesus?!

Yes we often capitalize on Peter's diminishing faith, but holy smokes. At this moment Peter essentially shows that he's got the guts to do anything for the Lord.

I don't know about you but you have to give Peter props for that.
Disregard for a moment his lack of faith in the subsequent verses.
Think if you were in his shoes if you would've done the same.

Be brave, and take a chance...
With an unwavering faith in Him.

The Intricacies of a Person

How long does it take a person to get accustomed to another's mannerisms?

For some people its just a matter of days, between others it can take years.

Why is that?

Those bonds that we create with each other can bring out the real us.

However the more quality time we spend with a person helps us realize who another person is. Even just time spent with another makes us aware of people's actions and what not. But why is that at times years can pass by and you can end up not knowing the slightest details of a person you've shared countless memories with?

Isn't that just sad?

Perhaps you have some kind of lame excuse to counter my argument. But to me, if you become acquainted so well with another person, you ought to at least become aware of their likes, dislikes, and some mannerisms. Even the least perceptive person should be able to pick up on things like that. So why is it that people trying to be friends can't manage to do that?

Sadly it's probably because humans just tend to focus in on our own selves. I'm definitely guilty of that.

That being said I challenge you to become someone who does not only befriend people, but understands them.

Mind you though to gain ground, you must also give some. Remember that and with understanding as your goal. You'll truly become a friend/person that can be depended on, trusted, and a friend any friend would love to have.

Sunshine, Friends, Rita's, and Wendy's.

Above is a picture I took today when on route to a Rita's Italian Ice. Being the first day of spring and all, a 30 minute drive for a free regular ice at Rita's was greatly welcomed.

But back to the picture, the scenery may not be the most beautiful. However such a sunny day with friends and an awesome time brought happiness to the four of us.

It's always the little things in life.
Take a second, some time to enjoy whats around you.
You could be amidst awesomeness which in turn could bring you great joy.

Failure: Life's TO

Amidst all this March Madness, the hustle and bustle of college hoops has overrun the nation.

Now time outs are crucial to these college teams. Whether to cool the opponents current fiery drive, give a break to the already weary players, or to regroup and focus the athletes' mentality.

The last part is what I feel failure is in our lives.

We all stumble in our journey. Making mistakes here and there. Regret prevalent in our minds.

However amidst that, failure allows us to zero in on what we just did wrong or messed up. Allowing us to focus our thoughts on how to not repeat the same mistake. We then set out with a new and vigilant vigor to succeed. Yet time after time we screw up again. This cyclical process repeating itself over and over again.

Doesn't it suck? You think that perhaps, "I've got it this time"; but unfortunately you just can't seem to do it.
Well next time you fail, stop and think. Take the timeout. You need it, to have failed means you are weary and need the rest. Then once you begin again, set out to not mess up as usual but be positive, know that you ARE capable.

Determination/ willpower are powerful tools. If you have even an ounce of them, it can take you a mile.
So I urge you to once again rethink your life and be brave and determined to be the best you can be, the child of the risen Lord you were made to be.

For through Him, you can achieve anything.