Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
Unmasked
As a therapist, I say a lot of inspirational and positive things, such as, "Love yourself, you're perfectly imperfect." or, "The world is your oyster. It is up to you to find the pearls." I mean those things when I say them to others; however, with myself, I realized that I was saying those things merely as a platitude. I do my best to wear a brave face and seem positive for the rest of the world, especially because many know I'm a therapist. I mean on my Instagram, I'm practically shooting beams of sunshine out of my ass, radiating so much positivity. It's so saccharine you need a dose of insulin to view my profile. However, when I come home, I unmask in more ways than one, not only do I remove my face mask; but, I remove the mask that everything is okay. I sit and ask myself why is it that no matter what, I keep ending up feeling unfulfilled, discontent, unappreciated, overworked, and many other unpleasant emotions. I realized that as much growth as I have done compared to who I used to be in the past, I still had to dig a little bit deeper and uncover what always seems to hold me back. I realized through working with my clients that our deepest truths usually lie beneath the parts of our stories that we seem to breeze right through. You see, I was born to a drug addicted mother. I was born three months early; and, as a result, I ended up in foster care. I got adopted by a family who was loving and nurturing when I was a baby. However, while they were just what the doctor ordered during infancy, they became venomous later; and they were abusive. They were abusive in such a way that I did not recognize it; and, they gave me everything I wanted; but, not what I needed. You see, I had plenty of material things, food, clothing, you name it. However, I did not receive unconditional love. I was not free to be my authentic self. I was not free to even fully enjoy my childhood because I was parentified. I endured sexual abuse and verbal abuse. I was also witness to a great deal of physical abuse. I was constantly put down, invalidated, and put in positions that no child should have to be in. I have told this story many times before. I thought surely I was healed because I cut my parents out of my life, I'm living in West Hollywood, I've accomplished a lot in life. However, I took a long hard look back on my life and realized that somewhere along the lines, due to my history of abuse, I developed negative core beliefs such as, "I'm not loveable", "I don't deserve to be happy", "My efforts to work hard or do my best will only be repaid with pain and disappointment." After having been abandoned by my biological mother, then, abused by the family that was supposed to rescue me, deep down I believed that if those who were supposed to love me could not love me, I must be unlovable.
By Jessica Shanel 6 years ago in Motivation
The Ingredients of Grace
There is a coffee and bakery shop downtown in Xenia OH, known as the “City of Hospitality.” I found Coffee Hub the first week after I graduated and moved out of Women's Recovery Center back in February of 2018. WRC is a drug and alcohol treatment facility for women. That place saved my life, and this place that I’m about to show you made life more bright.
By Charity Faye Alexander6 years ago in Motivation
Hello, 2021
Dear 2020, you were a hell of a year for everyone. You were a hot mess so to speak. I think I would like to speak for everyone, that we are glad that you are gone. I know that there was a lot of good things that happened for some people. For me, I ended up having a beautiful baby boy. However for others, many lives was taken due to the covid virus worldwide. I know this is about starting a new beginning due to a new year. Just a quick thought, 2020 has made us be thankful for everything that we have due to losing things. We begin to realize to be thankful for things around us as well. It has made us think of things we don’t really want to think of, such suicide, running away, learning who true friends are, etc. So with respect 2020, goodbye!
By Samantha Straith6 years ago in Motivation
New year's resolution
The new year marks the beginning. It is the promise of things to come. January 1st holds the hope and wishes of the upcoming year. This year, I would like to accomplish several things. The biggest thing would be to lose weight. I would also like to maintain a cleaner house. I am hoping to get a job as well. Spending more quality time doing activities with my children is on my list to do this year. Hopefully, I am able to accomplish my resolutions in 2021.
By Amanda Mueller6 years ago in Motivation
Doing My Best
I really sat here and thought on this for such a long time and just drew a blank. I was trying to figure out what good deed is worth mentioning or what should I write about. Because let’s face it, this year more than others, has truly tested me, it has tried my patience, broken me down, and has made me close to hitting rock bottom. I am so sure I am not even close to being the only one.
By Andrea Powell6 years ago in Motivation
Dear Me in 2021
Dear Self, Version 2021 Even before this challenge came across your in-box, you have been working on You since the beginning of December. After years of putting others' needs first, you had finally had enough. You had finally hit rock bottom. The epiphany hit like a tidal wave in the form of a lifelong friend's surprise visit. This friend knocked on your door and you froze. You looked around your house trying to see it from another's perspective having long since stopped seeing the faults yourself. Laundry, dishes, clutter all uncharacteristically left neglected. This wasn't you! As you finally answered the door still in your pajamas at 11:00 a.m, you hugged them and made some flimsy excuses. They looked at you with kind, nonjudgmental eyes and suggested that you get dressed, get out of the house, and that the two of us go for a drive on this beautifully sunny day. We drove to a convenience store to pick up picnic items and drinks and set off for a park.
By Lisa Brasher6 years ago in Motivation
Who is Daiana? Exposing my TRUEself.
Getting to know myself wasn't easy. As I try to introduce myself to the word, I find more and more aspects of me which I wasn't aware of. I'll now like to introduce myself to any audience who feels drawn to my creativity and also those who thought that knew me, but really didn't, including my myself. Today I'm letting myself free to the world. Exposing my true inner self.
By SADS6 years ago in Motivation
I'm Not Scared
“Happy New Year!!” Those three words were spoken differently this year, some said it happily, excited to begin a new presidency. Others said it with fear, what if the vaccine doesn’t work, what if we lose thousands more before life becomes normal again. Some didn’t even say it at all, vowing to not say it until life was somewhat normal again. Personally, I brought in my New Year arguing with my roommate over why being unemployed was far better than losing your relatives to COVID-19. It was a drunken argument that left a bitter taste in my mouth, one that brought in my New Year with a new resolution. First of course, get a new roommate that has more compassion towards others, and second to improve myself. I’m not just talking about the typical new year, new me, but rather a deeper more literal approach to it.
By Rose M. 6 years ago in Motivation
Hall of your Inner God
Every hair rises along your arm, fully stretching outward. Becoming as tall as they can just to reach a little further out into the surrounding world- Your very skin bristling with ecstasy, bubbling as every cell pulls outward desperately-no, eagerly shouting “what is happening next! What else can I feel in a world like this??”
By Adeptwest6 years ago in Motivation
Moving on
Dear 2021 – I certainly hope your sibling, 2020, is the worst of it. She really had me spun. But now, I am looking FORWARD. Looking at my future, my relationships and most of all, ME. I have had to re-route my GPS many times over the years, and as I entered my 40’s, found myself having a major identity crisis of existential proportions. Nothing I had planned the year I graduated high school ever came to fruition, and while I try to avoid holding on to “regrets,” there sure were a lot of things I wished I had done differently.
By Tracey Balch6 years ago in Motivation
Top Learnings from Chanakya Neeti on Wealth that You Can Use Right Now
Chanakya Neeti is a treatise on the ideal way of life and shows Chanakya’s deep study of the Indian way of life. Whenever we hear the name Chanakya we think of someone who was way smart for his time and Neetis (strategies) of which are still valid and can be used in making one’s life more meaningful.
By Aesthetic Writer6 years ago in Motivation
