Daily motivation 40 – know your limit

And I’m sorry to say I’ve reached mine. I’ve really enjoyed the 40 days I’ve daily posted for, but I need to take a break from the daily motivation posts and concentrate on a few other things.

Firstly, I’m going to start reading more chapters on a regular basis from my huuuuuge C++ book. It is necessary to get through the whole thing by the launch date of the company I’m meant to be working with in April, however, so I’d better get a move on.

I’m going to make a real effort to begin doing Yoga more often, and posting about it on my spiritual journal – same for Tarot. I also need to start reading more fiction – although The Hunger Games series was so very good it’s actually put me off reading because I don’t expect anything else to be as good.

I’m taking a few days off blogging so I can concentrate on thinking of a Lent project, which is why I’ve stopped this one at 40 days too – I thought it was a nice, rounded idea. If anyone has ideas let me know – keep them clean please. And preferably not food related, as I’ve already tried that before and it messes up my system a bit too much.

In the meantime have a lovely few days while I go for a blog-less rest, and I’ll be back soon!

Thanks, once again, for all the support I’ve received so far this year. I know I haven’t many comments to show for it, but the likes and views have been phenomenal. I hope I can find more things to write about that people enjoy this much.

Kirsty

Daily motivation 39 – don’t be held back by embarassment

I’ve been riding this one to the max recently. We had a family planning nurse do sessions in my building the other day, and I was the first to volunteer. I’m not in the least ashamed. I’m in a long-term relationship and I know sexual health is as important as any other area of your life. If not more so in a way, because not taking responsibility yourself can endanger your partners. I don’t think many people were swayed by my gung-ho attitude to the meeting, but I wanted to make it into something acceptable and I did that by showing no hesitation.

Another good example of being unashamed to act is a good friend of mine, who has recently been using her excellent artistic skill to commission sketches. Her work is beautiful, and she’ll happily encourage her friends to show support because she wants to promote herself and her skills, embarrassment be bound. I think this shows a strength and belief in your own abilities.

If you are looking to get any realistic portraits done her work has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. I’d definitely recommend taking a look – I wish I could draw with that much skill. I’m better at doodles and cartoons.

Don’t be afraid to sell yourself or let embarrassment stop you experiencing things, just be confident enough to go for it and you might be surprised by the results. I wrangled a free pregnancy test (negative) from the nurse, and my friend has inspired this post with her confidence.

Try it yourself,

Kirsty

Daily motivation 38 – guard your principles

Sometimes life conspires against us and doing what we deem to be the right thing isn’t very easy. I think our fear of being ridiculed can stop us doing what we know to be right or allows us to do something we know is wrong just to conform.

Still, some of the most passionate, inspiring and strong-minded people I know are that way because they stick very fiercely by their principles and their ideals. I don’t mean by forcing that upon others either – if you don’t believe in abortion then I don’t expect you to start protesting outside a clinic. But I also don’t expect you to change your mind when you find yourself in that position.

Having opinions about certain things can be very empowering, because you feel like you have substance and presence. I don’t think abortions are “wrong” because, as I have never had to make that decision myself, I don’t feel comfortable passing a judgement. But I do believe life itself, the miracle and beauty of it, begins at conception and the first division of cells. I therefore believe that children and pregnancy should never be taken lightly.

A viewpoint such as this governs my own actions, and means that I have something personal, like a possession you can’t see and something that can only be modified by you. Nobody else can influence it if you choose not to let them, and standing by these guiding principles makes you who you are. It doesn’t mean you can’t be open minded – we’re all for that. But if you’re consistent then you feel more in control, and if you’re resilient to these principles it can generate a wealth of strength and individuality for you to use in life.

Kirsty

Daily motivation 37 – maintain your standards

The inspiration from this post came from a piece about blogging I read earlier. The whole thing is very interesting, but the part that really sp0oke to my mind set was about neglecting your blog:

There will undoubtedly be times when you don’t feel like blogging. However, remember that you have made a commitment and you must honor that commitment. It isn’t always easy to sit there and get the words to come spilling out. Sometimes, you have to work hard at getting inspired. Never forget that you are committed to making it work.

I’m not usually the most committed blogger, I’ll admit. I’d like to think this blog is providing a service, in some way, as is A Writer’s Back Room. But I have gone through days when I don’t want to blog. Weeks and months sometimes, though I haven’t yet skipped a day since the first of January.

The best results come from hard work, perseverance and practice. I have made a commitment to blog for the full year, and I am going to do everything in my power to keep that going, providing regular, useful and well-presented content.

One thing I am debating is whether I have enough material to continue with the motivations. I’m hoping to start a 40-day lent habit which will begin next Wednesday, but I can’t decide whether that’s to replace the daily motivations for that period or if I should try and do both.

So I’m opening the question to you. If anyone is really enjoying following my posts so much they’d like me to fight to carry on until the well runs dry then give me a shout on Facebook, contact me via Twitter or comment below. If I don’t hear any feedback then, much as I know from my likes that you’re all enjoying my articles, I’ll consider fading them out for something which can be continued for longer.

Or maybe I’ll set a deadline? Stop the daily motivations at 50 or 100 and then change tack. What do people think?

Kirsty

Daily motivation 36 – be prepared

Seems like common sense, but we don’t always follow through. I’m not very good at being well prepared – I forget to charge my MP3 player before long journeys. I don’t bring books to places I know I’ll be waiting to help pass the time. I tend to not plan my meals so when I shop it’s horribly cost inefficient, and since I never decide what I’m wearing until moments before I get dressed I often look for clothes that I forget I’ve already worn.

But a little preparation can really help, whether it’s ways to save money by making plans for what to buy in advance or some research on a meeting or interview before you attend. I practice things I’d like to say to people sometimes before an important conversation, such as during a doctor’s appointment, so that I don’t forget what I need to tell them. It’s also a good way to battle nerves, because when you rehearse and prepare it makes you more confident and can help you get ready for a situation that scares you or makes you uncomfortable, like a presentation.

There are loads of little ways in life we can prepare for what’s ahead, even when we don’t know what to expect. It can help us meet the day ahead with solidarity, and a knowledge that you are ready for what you’re up against next.

Kirsty

Daily motivation 35 – know your goals

I’m not usually one for sports metaphors, but I like this one:

“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland

It’s a very fair statement to make. They do say life’s about the journey and not the destination but if you don’t at least have something to aim for you can turn around and realise the last few weeks, months or even years of your life haven’t achieved much.

There’s an episode of American sit-com Scrubs where an old woman says she’s ready to pass on even though there is life-saving treatment available, and when JD tries to convince her she has a lot to live for she counters everything on his list of things to do in life by examples of when she’s fulfilled the goal. Learning a foreign language and travelling to different countries. We should all aim to be that woman, having a full life of many goals and a wealth of achievements to look back 0n at the end.

Kirsty

Daily motivation 34 – trust your instincts

We all know animals are the first to sense natural disasters and shifts in their environment. Our brains are so highly developed now that our intelligence and reasoning tends to drown out our instincts. But that’s not exclusively the case

We’re still biologically built the same way. Our bodies are flesh and blood, and we do respond to our environment in many ways like an animal would. We feel intimidated when we perceive a threat, anxious when we sense danger, and often these feelings are governed by something inside of us that we just can’t explain.

I’ve been reading this article on how to know a job isn’t for you, and I think it’s a great example. Sometimes big opportunities are worth the risk, but often we need to delve a little deeper to see beneath the flash and realise they aren’t for us.

I myself have made this mistake twice. Once with a company I stayed with a week, and once when I changed my mind and called the office only to find out they’d moved without leaving a contact number or address three days before my start date. It’s easy to be seduced sometimes, but we need to be able to realise that when something feels too good to be true it probably is.

Our instincts are still pretty solid, and we need to trust them. If something feels wrong you need to figure out why, and when you do you might realise it’s safer to avoid it.

Kirsty

 

Daily motivation 33 – learn to take criticism

We know we are our own worst critics, but there are often flaws, mistakes and errs of judgement in our lives that we are not equipped to see. This is when we need to listen to the advice and criticism of others, because it’s often more simple to spot certain things in other people.

The problem arises when, like me, you are such a harsh critic on yourself that any extra niggles brought to your attention by others pushes you away. I find it very difficult to except advice from others on when I’m doing things wrong. I’m the first to admit that I’m naturally a bit too proud when it comes to making mistakes, and I’d rather hide them from everyone but the closest of people to me.

Still, it’s just another way in which we learn. We need to be able to absorb what others think of our behaviour patterns and how we can improve our habits to grow as people. Most growth has to come from external influences, whether it’s mistakes we discover ourselves or those pointed out by people around us. This means we need to learn to embrace the criticism.

Still, it’s not always how we choose to do things. It’s okay to gracefully accept someone’s opinion but respond that you prefer doing things a different way. Just try to be respectful as you can be and weigh up your interpretation of their advice against your own methods to decide what’s best.

Remember, it’s better to be wrong than to never try at all.

Kirsty

Daily motivation 32 – use your resources

We’re surrounded by opportunity. Adult learning centres and online courses, friends who are skilled in particular areas, libraries, access points, everything that can help you grow and improve. True many of the resources available incur a fee, but many don’t.

I’m teaching myself programming because I have found a passion for games in a development capacity. I’ve borrowed a huge book from my uncle and I read through it regularly. I’ve been shown tricks and tips by my friends who are more experienced in the subject. I’m even hoping to get to a stage where I can generate an income from this interest and perhaps make it a viable part of my future career. But I haven’t paid a penny or signed up to a class.

Another thing I’m self-teaching is Yoga. I did buy the DVD, but now I’ve found the right one for me I’m whirring through the practises. It’s not as difficult as we often make out to progress in life, and though I’m a huge advocate for qualifications and certificates I also know that some subjects find more merit in experience and examples. Thankfully programming is one of these subjects, and I’ll be proud to add it to my list of skills when I become more confident with it.

Find out what’s available in your area and find ways of making the most of it wherever possible. Even if it’s just a hobby, groups and classes are a great way to make new, like-minded friends and get out of the house, mix up your free time a little.

Kirsty

Daily motivation 31 – get uncomfortable

We know where our boundaries are. We know when we feel uncomfortable. But if we never push that comfort we don’t learn how to stretch those boundaries and experience new things.

I used to hate giving presentations, but now I love giving them. That’s because I’ve nudged myself into doing so many of them I can now enjoy the rapt attention of a room full of people and know I am in my comfort zone. I brought that into my bubble though experience, experimenting and repetition.

Another plus to feeling uncomfortable is how much it pushes you. I’m a huge softie at heart, but with every nudge and niggle I’m learning to be more assertive and to defend myself without losing my head. I recently sent a strongly-worded email which eloquently communicated my disagreement with a situation and resulted in not only a massive boost to my confidence and self esteem but to a complimentary gift as apology for the inconveniance. I wasn’t feeling too comfortable at the time. In fact I was destraught that I’d been placed in the position where such a complaint was needed. I’m glad I found the strength to stand my ground.

If we never stray from where we’re comfortable then we’re missing out on a wealth of growth and opportunity. Sometimes it pays to step out of the box.

Kirsty