There is an exercise I’ve asked groups to complete in the past when “lack of motivation” begins to disrupt their goals. The exercise is simple. Step 1: Find a large oak tree and walk under its massive branches until you find an acorn. Step 2: Place an acorn in the palm of your hand. Step 3: Look up. A majestic tree that can overshadow you in size is staring you in the face. Step 4: Look down. In the palm of your hand you hold the ingredients for the oak tree that consumes the sky above you. Step 5: Place the acorn in your pocket or purse as a reminder of what can happen to your life when a dream, goal or resolution is made a priority and kept a priority!
I’m always reminded of the above exercise as each New Year arrives and so many of us make declarations to “change” habits, lifestyles, or careers.
But you know how the routine goes for most. Beginning January 1st, you have a desire to commit time each day to your dream. You’re excited! You’re pumped! You can already see the finish line and taste success! All is going as planned for the first few weeks or months!
Until….
One morning you wake up and your body is tired, kids are sick, deadlines are flying by at work and, truthfully, your development isn’t where you thought it would be. Even your coworkers and friends may have stopped asking about your progress or sharing encouraging statements.
While in the shower, you begin thinking about all you have to do that day as well as making a mental list of all the things others expect of you. Feelings of becoming overwhelmed begin to ooze in. Your stress level begins to slightly elevate. And with desires for balance, security, and control, you begin entertaining a simple statement that finally becomes the first of many small defeats. “I’ll skip working on __________ today and disregard the promise I’ve made to myself so I can complete the priorities and promises I’m allowing others to make for me.” (Maybe you have never actually said or thought those exact words but I believe that is what our excuses sound like to our dreams.)
You know, on the days we feel motivated about our dreams, we feel good and life is positive. But the challenges of life ensure that “how we feel” isn’t always a reliable source of fuel for long-term success. There are going to be hard times, discouraging moments, roadblocks and setbacks.
Therefore, unless we develop a plan to act on our dreams – unless we practice daily those things that are important to our purpose and happiness – unless we stop trading what we want most for what we want now - unless we follow the acorn’s plan, the beginning of each new year will always be a “short-lived high” followed by days, weeks, and months of complacent living until another new year rolls around and we start this cycle yet again.
Therefore, if you want real long-term results with your New Year’s resolution, remember these few tips:
1: A foundation built with a “whatever it takes” attitude holds priorities in place. A foundation built with an “I’m committed as long as life and others allow me to be” attitude allows priorities to slip and slide straight out of our daily routine.
2: Before committing to a January 1st goal or dream, commit to building a “whatever it takes” attitude to keep your goal or dream firmly in place all year long.
3: When the world hears us exclaim “I forgot”, “I gave up” or “I didn’t have time”, many times our soul hears the words, “I simply did not make it enough of a priority…”
4: A gentleman I remember as Father Murphy once made a profound statement I keep close to my heart as well as a visual reminder on my desk. As he so simply declared, “If I give up on my dreams today, all of my tomorrows are up for grabs.” It has been over ten years and I still think of that statement almost every day.
5: As you will need motivation throughout 2012, take time on occasion to visit an oak tree in your neighborhood or yard, complete the exercise I opened this blog with and remember how the acorn became the oak by taking life one day at a time, using the resources it has been given, holding its ground when storms develop, and being patient while waiting on the rain. But most importantly, remember the acorn became the oak tree first and foremost because….
It didn’t give up.
