Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
I love the above statement. Not only does it show how our actions are totally and completely dependent on decisions that we make, but it also shows us that there are a few other factors that we can control which affect what we do – motivation and attitude.
Being motivated is a tough task, especially in a world where people spend most of their time telling you that you can’t do something, you are doing something wrong or that you are wasting your time doing whatever it is you are doing. Unfortunately, many of us face this kind of negativity from people whose opinions we cherish the most – be it our parents, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend or siblings.
How often have we come across situations where we have been passionate about doing something, only to have our enthusiasm thwarted by someone whose support we depended on? Whether in school, at work, or at home, we have all had our moments when we have been disappointed because a special task or project that we wanted to undertake was not met with the same feelings we have.
Imagine what it would have been like if Christopher Columbus had believed what everyone else he knew believed in – that the world was flat? Where would we have been today if Mahatma Gandhi had not wanted to act on his feelings of being excluded and had decided to just live with the idea of being ‘different’ from the others he worked with? What would we do today if Steve Jobs had decided to quit on his dream after being asked to leave Apple, because he was too disappointed with those he considered friends and colleagues?
Imagine the world we would be living in today if none of them had wanted to go against the norms of their society, and had been willing to live with their feelings and ideas bottled up inside because they were afraid of being thought of as ‘weird’ or ‘different’ or downright ‘crazy’.
None of them were happy with believing what the majority believed in – they knew they could do something better, and they were willing to take the risks of being social outcasts to prove what they thought was right.
They had the right attitude to take on the task, and they were not willing to let demotivation from others hamper them in any way. Each of you reading this today are special in your own right and have the power to make a change for the better in your society. Each of you would have noticed something you do not like or think you can change in your school, in your office or at home. Take on the challenge to act on what you want changed. Only you can make the difference!
This was written by a STITCH volunteer.
Learn more at www.stitchmovement.com |
E-mail
