Some days it’s hard to be motivated. Things aren’t good or bad. Life moves along and things get done, but it’s not like “YEEHA! This is great! I’m on a roll!”
It feels more like the little engine who could: I think I can … I know I can … chugging along, uphill all the way.
Maybe it’s the economy or the summer heat, but I’ve heard lots of people talking about that sluggish, uphill feeling.
I asked several business people what they do to pick themselves up when they’re not feeling motivated. One toothy Tony Robbins-type flashed his pearly whites and said, “I’m a motivational speaker! I’ve trained myself to be up!”
I ran in the other direction. That was scarier than being unmotivated.
Most of the other responses were pretty textbook, pretty boring: listen to music, hang out with “up” people, read inspirational books. All good answers, but none with real juice.
Squeezed Butts, Free Spirits
Except one—and that came from a little kid. When he wants to shake off being sad, he literally shakes it off. He said, “I squeeze my butt
really tight and hold my arms and legs really tight for as long as I can. Then I jump in the air really loose and yell ‘Wheeeee!’”
The little guy might have a point. We’re already uptight and tense—why not hold it as long as we can, intentionally, and then jump
in the air and let it all go! “WHEEEE!”
It seems that we have this idea that we always have to be on, be motivated. And when we’re not, we push against the stream and force ourselves to be positive and optimistic. Secretly, I think we’re all tempted to do the Cher-thing in “Moonstruck” and slap someone and say, “Snap out of it!”
But most of the time, as business leaders, we teeter on and off this uncomfortable imbalance of wanting to be good role models and inspirational to those around us. At the same time, we want to be honest about our fears and uncertainties, especially in the not-so-good times. The question is: How do we do both?
Appreciate the Present
I had a dream a while back that may provide some insight.
I was swimming in a big body of water. And I was swimming in spinach—not cooked spinach, but fresh, leafy spinach. I wanted to swim to a certain point, but was getting bogged down by all the spinach leaves. In my dream, I knew I could get to that destination, but it was just going to take longer than I wanted it to take.
And in my dream, I thought, well, as long as it’s going to take a little longer, then try to enjoy where you are right now. The water is clean and clear. The temperatures of the air and water are perfect for swimming. And the water feels good on your skin. Just enjoy all of that. Take your time,
relax and enjoy the swim, just the way it is. Don’t fight it.
When I woke up, I thought, “That’s my life!”
I’d been “swimming in spinach” and was acting like I was in a triathlon. It was a race, and I was ignoring the weight and entanglements around me—thinking I could persevere and push through, unscathed, on-time, winning and victorious.
So maybe these experiences weren’t about winning, or demonstrating strength and fortitude and stamina.
Maybe the lesson is more about pacing yourself for the long haul. Appreciate the present circumstances for what they are, not what they’re not. Next time, rather than pushing against the flow, being tough and having a false bravado, just try “swimming with the spinach,” not against it, and see what happens.
