Motivation

Everybody has their own motives for what they do.  Everyone on this planet is fueled by different passions and pushed to succeed for different reasons.  My cousin recently asked me what has driven me down this path I am on, so being who I am, I decided to answer his question here.  What motivates me to give everyday my all, to chase my dreams, and go into this world believing that I can accomplish anything?

What drives me harder to succeed that anything, is people who don’t believe in me.  The naysayers.  Those who say, “You could never do that.”  Or, “Your economic background isn’t good enough for that.”  Or, “That piece of paper called your diploma isn’t from an esteemed enough institution to open that door.”

I was born premature to a man who spent some of his teenage years homeless, dropped out of high school and got a GED and to a mother who tinkered with the idea of college but never completed a degree.  I think it’s safe to say that when I was born, some members of my extended family didn’t have the highest expectations for what I would do with my life.

Yet, the two people who brought me into this world told me constantly that I could do anything I set my mind to.  They read to me daily, challenged me with new ideas and instilled in me beliefs, that by educating myself and being nice to others, I could open any door in this world.

My mother also took me to church every week.  And it was there that I learned, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

The combination of these lessons gave me a strong enough belief in myself, that when other people doubted my abilities, dreams and hopes, I kept pushing on.  It is that push that has made all of the difference in my life.

The push has led me down interesting paths and has peppered my life with experiences for which I’m grateful.

Someone doubted that I could graduate from the best engineering school in Colorado, so I earned my diploma there.

Someone didn’t think I could make my college’s cheerleading squad, so I became captain.

Someone thought my blog was a waste of time, so I pressed on and got a broadcasting agent.

The biggest motivator in my life has always been the belief within my heart that I know what I am on this planet to do, and because I can do everything through Him, I am going to set out to do it.  If I were to fall victim to critics–to disbelievers–I would be doing not only myself, but this world an injustice.

I believe that each of us is put here on this planet for a reason.  While many search  high and low throughout their lives to find that reason, I believe that at age 28, I have figured out what that reason is (note: I will probably re-read this at age 40 and get a kick out of what I thought the meaning of life was at 28-years-old).  The reason is to go into the world, and do the good things that are written on your heart.

For me, that is to share others’ stories.  To get to know people and really understand them at their core and then take the messages found from their experiences and share them with the world.  It’s charting a path based upon my background and experiences to use the talents I have been given to make this world a better place.  The other day, someone told me that this is something that can’t be done.  So, as per usual, I am going to give my all to get it done.

At the same time, my motivation is also an acceptance of who I am.  And part of this acceptance, is that people can take what I can offer, or they can leave it.  I do not come from wealth.  I did not graduate from an Ivy League law school.  I am a Christian and a sorority woman who believes that life is far too short to be too serious.  I have a hard time being mean to people, and laugh after almost everything I say.  I am a sensitive soul who bottles up that sensitivity by putting out an air of confidence, that only my true friends know is a mask.  I am someone, who just given the opportunity, will lay my heart and soul out on the line and put my best foot forward.  Every single time.

Motivation is personal.  Yet, at the same time, I would aim to guess that most of us are motivated by the same thing:  someone who disbelieved.  And, I beg to argue that nothing tastes as good as proving a disbeliever wrong, save for celebrating with those who have always believed in you.