Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
It's Time To Love Yourself
I’ve had a tough day. I’ve had many bad days. I’ve felt unworthy and just not good enough to carry on throughout the day. Work was hectic, and all of my efforts somehow feel unappreciated. I’ve argued with my siblings and I feel unheard. I’ve spent time and time beating myself up just because — I’ve had a bad day.
By Oberon Von Phillipsdorf6 years ago in Motivation
2021–from cold resolution to burning aspiration
Failing with my new year's resolutions I have not really done well with my new year's resolutions in the past. The system simply did not work for me. Knowing myself, I'm not that surprised, especially after reflecting on the meanings of the word: a firm decision to do or not to do something or a promise to one's self to do or to not do something. The thing is, in my experience, after embarking on some resolution, I change, my circumstances change, the context changes. Over time: I would have to soften on the firmness of the decision; slightly or considerably veer away from the resolution; abandon the endeavour altogether and break the promise I made to myself or prevaricate whenever I talk about it with others or to myself.
By Oliver James Damian6 years ago in Motivation
Intention Favors the Bold
I turned 50 years old in December, just a few weeks before the end of 2020. The morning of my half-century birthday, I sat down to get a head start on setting New Year’s Resolutions. After some thought, I decided I wouldn’t set “resolutions” for 2021 after all. I would examine how I had lived my “first” 50 years and then I would set intentions, not resolutions, for my “next” 50.
By Mel Mastho6 years ago in Motivation
Forgiveness
As a young woman I was conditioned to see my anger as dangerous and undesirable. I remember being scolded for fighting with my sister and reprimanded for raising my voice. The irony of it is that my parents were extraordinarily comfortable expressing their anger. They casually waged war against one another and the world around them most days of the week. So, though I witnessed it, I wasn’t ever invited into it. And more than that, I learnt to be afraid of it and I felt powerless in its presence. I bypassed my anger and settled instead for expressing other emotions, the ones that were acceptable. This worked up until recently, when I discovered that I am undeniably and unequivocally pissed off.
By Kelly Venables6 years ago in Motivation
A Divine Symphony
Imagine for a moment the most beautiful, most exquisite musical instrument. Let’s say a piano. A stunning piece, hand crafted to perfection like nothing you’ve ever seen before. It gleams and glistens like it has been carved from one huge, single diamond, throwing beams of light of amazing colours in every direction. It really is one of the most beautiful things you have ever seen.
By Beth Croft6 years ago in Motivation
Dropping Out
Have you ever been in a race that you know you haven’t prepared for? You signed up, and then meant to start training, and then before you know it, you just….didn’t. And then the race day is here, and you start out feeling ok, fueled by the adrenaline of the other runners, the high of the race. A few kilometres in, you know you can’t keep up the pace, so you slow to a walk. This is ok, you think. I can walk the whole time and still finish. So you walk most of the time, with some running spurts interspersed; but never for long, because each burst of speed is less of a burst and more of a “fuck, I have to run again?” Eventually, you stumble over the finish line, happy to have completed the race.
By Ashley Butt6 years ago in Motivation
A year of rebirth
For me, 2020 started with a burnout at the age of 18. I was living in the student city of Groningen, the Netherlands juggling between student life, living on my own for the first time and a part-time job I had in a 4-star hotel. Living alone at the age of 18 while discovering the adult world when brought up in a loving family was definitely a challenge. I believe it is one of the most difficult challenges I've had to overcome that year.
By Zoé Gotti6 years ago in Motivation
Alchemy for Blind Boys and Men who Don't Like Gold
I reread The Alchemist this year and added it to the list of things that were going right. Below that list is another one far longer. Call me a pessimist. To fold the list in half as one does a jack knife would produce no more than a prick of a blade, and a long flat handle carved from elm—sturdy.
By Frank Rousseau6 years ago in Motivation
CHILL
'Doing nothing' is an illusion we've been chasing all our lives. For most of us, it all began when the concept of school was introduced. We suddenly realized we couldn't "do nothing" like we once did as babies or toddlers. Now we had to wake up at a set time, not when we wanted. Our mandated urgency at an early hour of the day paved the way for a long list of involuntary tasks. Taking a shower, eating cereal, running after a bus, packing a lunch box, packing a backpack, completing homework.
By Kofoworola Jose6 years ago in Motivation
