I like to reframe things. Reframing is the act of adjusting how situations, experiences, events, ideas or emotions are viewed. This might mean allowing myself to feel positive about making a small amount of progress when my intention was to make a large amount of progress. Or allowing myself to take a break from being productive and NOT feeling guilty about it. Self-care or quiet rest is a vital, yet often overlooked need for our overall health.
Thinking about things in a different light is one of the ways I keep myself motivated.
EXAMPLE: Paperwork… monotony… the less exciting or engaging parts of my job… are all still important.
Some days I turn it into a game. How quickly can I sort and organize those documents for processing? How many of the day’s loan packets can I finish?
Other days I focus on the impact of my work, and that gives me a boost of motivation.
This stack of 20 pages is just paper and ink, but what it represents could be a dream come true for that 1st time auto buyer, stress relief for someone needing a reliable vehicle to get back and forth from work, or the benefit to the community in connecting people of all ages with opportunities and education.
The ripples of that impact can spread far and wide.
If you’re feeling unmotivated, take a moment to recognize that the impact you make to your family, workplace, and your community is SIGNIFICANT. Think about how many people it takes to create the things around us, and the role you can, or do play in those creations. Consider the mission of A.J. Jacobs, who “…set out to thank everyone who made his morning cup of coffee…” and his experience of gratitude. Full story The power of a simple thank you – NPR, TED Radio Hour
MONTHLY CHALLENGE #2: Find someone in your world that contributes to that ripple of creating something better, and thank them for their contribution. The more you look for places of gratitude and appreciation, the more you’ll find.
Have a great day!