M is for…
Motivation
“There are two basic motivating forces:
fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love,
we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.
We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections.
If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others
or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in
the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”― John Lennon
Find the entire A to Z sign up list here and happy hopping!
Find the entire A to Z sign up list here and happy hopping!
Self-love is a tricky one. I was certainly brought up to not do it - and it is a piece of childhood conditioning I find hard to counter. Which is sad and bad.
ReplyDeleteAnd how I wish my cats only lapped at my water glass. Jazz dips his kitty-litter scratchers into the glass, sucks the moisture off and repeats. Eeeuw. And now I have a bedside water bottle.
Self-love is very tricky, EC, especially for sensitive people. We are always evaluating our faults.
DeleteI have one paw-dipper as well. Dips into the water bowls all day long. Yes, ewww!
Love is the better motivator.
ReplyDeleteAnd that cat was really thirsty.
Love is a great motivator, Alex! I have a big dog who does the face-squish quite well. :)
Deleteya it is too tough to do any think when u r not that motivated. good one
ReplyDeletedropping by from A to Z -http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.in/
Hi, Afshan! It's hard to be motivated if you're down on yourself!
DeleteI wouldn't say that I love myself....but I am very much in love with my partner so I hope that brings out the good in me.
ReplyDeleteRepeat three times daily, JoJo...I love myself! :) That's awesome you have such a great relationship!
DeleteI need a dose of that love so I can find motivation again.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, Ellie! It's hard when we're worn out by life's events.
DeleteThis pic reminds me so much of my sister's old cat. She would do anything to get drops of water from the bottom of a glass - even though she had a whole bowl of water in the kitchen LOL.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Julie! The motivation can't be for the water itself. It must be for the challenge. :)
DeleteI have to agree. Cats are oddly perverse in the challenges they take on.
DeleteMe? I'm just oddly perverse. Something about me...I love. :)
Oddly perverse is an awesome pursuit, Kevin. ;)
DeleteWhat an amazing quote. I love John Lennon!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Ellie . . . I need a does of that love, too!
And the picture of that thirsty cat made me laugh out loud. He was very motivated to get a drink of water. haha
John Lennon has a lot of wisdom, Chrys. Something I've come to know more in retrospect than when he was alive.
Delete*tosses a dose of love to Chrys from Jezebel's cache*
I have to wonder if that cat thinks something special is down there...maybe a goldfish surprise?
Hey River,
ReplyDeleteGotta' agree with that John Lennon quote. Motivation comes from love. Motivation from love, the catalyst that inspires. I recall seeing my son crying by my hospital bed when I nearly died. His tears of love and pain, motivated.
Gary
Your story sent shivers all over me, Gary. Yes, love is a strong motivator. Hate is, too, but it doesn't inspire and I think that's the key.
DeleteOpen your heart and the world is yours. John Lennon had so many more songs for us. You can tell by the ones he left.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Lee. It's sad that his message was muted while alive by all the fodder about Yoko.
DeleteThat is an adorable picture! Good quote. Self confidence is important. Going through the comments, I saw the term self-love and realized I have a dirty mind...
ReplyDeleteBwahaha! Oh, Loni...whatever shall we do with your mind... ;)
DeleteWhat a great quote!
ReplyDeleteAnd love the kitty picture! My cats do that to my sister's glasses all the time because she never puts them up.
I have one dog that does that, Cherie, and one cat who is a paw-dipper. No glasses sit around my house. :P
DeleteThanks, River, for this wonderful quote from one of my heroes. I've never understood why loving oneself is supposed to be perverse and shameful. If I can't love myself, why should I expect anybody else to? Now I'll listen to "Imagination" one more time.
ReplyDeleteToo true, Ron! But some of us need to learn to be less self-critical. "Imagination" is a terrific song. :)
DeleteThat picture is hilarious! I was just thinking about the concept of fear last night. Fear really puts up walls that are harder to break down than build up. I enjoyed your short and sweet post!
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting from the A to Z Challenge.
http://5heartsonefamily.blogspot.com/
Hi Fivehearts! Short is a byword around here...sometimes sweet, sometimes not. ;)
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