I have been so motivated the last few weeks, which is a welcome change from the hum drums that I had been going through. In an earlier post I attributed it to my new phone, but, as we all know, it is more than that.
Motivation comes from so many things. It can be because of happiness or peace in your personal life. It can be part of a cyclical effect from accomplishment. It can be a driving force to meet a goal. It can a physiological and psychological effect of the endorphins in your body from good amounts of exercise. All in all, it is a wonderful thing.
This morning I was thinking about Marines. (I know, go figure..lol.) I was thinking about forced motivation, about boot camp. No matter how “gung ho” you are to be a Marine, boot camp is hard. I can’t say that from personal experience, but, I’ll trust those that have gone through it.
From the Parris Island MCRD website:
Without doubt, Marine boot camp is more challenging — both physically and mentally — than the basic training programs of any of the other military services. Not only are these requirements much higher, but recruits are required to learn and adhere to the core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
…
It has been said time and time again by former Marines that Marine Corps recruit training was the most difficult thing they ever had to do in their entire lives. In order to train the world’s most elite fighting force… It has to be that way.
At some point, all the motivation you brought with you from the outside world must get used up and you I imagine you begin to crumble. That’s when your Drill Instructors come through and “force” motivate you and bring you back up to where you were and then help you to exceed even your own expectations, past your own motivations.
I was thinking about that same relationship in our personal lives, in our day-to-day interactions with people. Rarely, it seems, that two people naturally do this for each other. Push one another, encourage, help them through the low spots. That is amazing. But what about consciously thinking about it. Thinking about, planning, and then actively pushing someone else.
That’s what people that work out together do. That’s what some couples do (those ones that reach their dream goals). Do they think about it? Do they know that they are doing it? Can you learn to do these things more effectively? Hmm….
