Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Motivation.
The Value of Self-Reflection
It was recently unbeknownst to me how truly misguided my thoughts were in terms of living a life of virtue and happiness. That isn't to say that I haven't been happy, quite the contrary in fact; I'm attending my desired university (University of Toronto) and studying what I'm passionate about (philosophy, history, political science). But I think that while I am happy about my current affairs, I don't if I have achieved complete happiness. So, this article will be a comprehensive review of my view of happiness, heavily influenced by my love of philosophy.
By Sanj S7 years ago in Motivation
Life the Puzzle in Time
Life is really not as difficult to understand if we could just see the big picture. Allow me to illustrate my point through the use of my love for jigsaw puzzles. I have always had a fondness for puzzles and mysteries. Growing up my first introduction to words came from my mother, who is an avid crossword puzzle fan. She would say, just find the letters that match in the puzzle to make these words. It was at that moment my fondness for words and problem solving was born. One day in my early twenties, I was in a transitional place in my life, we all have them it’s a normal place to be in during our evolution. It’s a period in your life where one season is ending and your in that “I know I am suppose to be doing something else, but what” moment. During this period I had a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle on my coffee table. I had finished putting the frame together and was starting to fill in the inner pieces. I have come to learn, when I give my conscious mind a task to focus on my subconscious can be heard loud and clear. As I am holding a puzzle piece in my hand, while scanning the already connected pieces to see if this piece is ready to be connected to any of the other pieces, like a thunder bolt crashing against the midnight sky I heard I hear my subconscious voice say “When you see your big picture, you will see the direction your are suppose to go in for this season of your life.” I sat in awe of what I had heard, I looked around to make sure there wasn’t someone else in my apartment. Highlights of my life prior to that moment began playing like I was sitting in my local theater. I was taken back to a time in my life when I was about knee high to a grasshopper. I was watching an 80’s sitcom called “The Jefferson’s.” There was an episode where Louise who volunteered at the “Help Center” was helping a lady who was a prostitute. I believe she was trying to get the lady to change professions, but as I was watching I heard myself say, “that’s what I want to do, help people.” Then the flashback flashed forward and just like adults do, they ask little kids “what do you want to be when you grow up?” My response was child psychologist. The adult seemed impressed, but I had no idea what it was or where I had ever heard the words. I had no idea that years and years later I would begin my journey to becoming a psychologist who would work with at risk youth. Everything I have ever done in my life that has ever given me an intrinsic joy has always been solving problems and helping people find their way. It was at that moment that I realized that I was the puzzle piece in my hand, waiting to be connected to create my big picture. Bells were ringing, whistles blowing, and the sheer excitement of that moment has forever been etched in my mind, leaving me with the understanding that just like the creator of the puzzle in a box I was working on, the creator of life the puzzle in time, created a big picture associated that can be seen through the experiences we experience. Each of us have our own big picture. If you dumped the bag of pieces onto your coffee table, it looked like a confusing mess to he who has yet to be taught the art of putting jigsaw puzzles together. When I compared what I saw to life, it corresponds with the our incarnation. We enter this dimension with a bag of experiences that when put together will give us our big picture. Don’t allow experiences to just lay on your coffee table of life. If you have to have these experiences, why not put it together and see your big picture?
By Kandra Brown7 years ago in Motivation
Your Responsibility
Firm boundaries weren't familiar to me. My boundaries weren't always respected. At a young age, they were violated. It was hard forming firm boundaries for myself. I didn't know how to enforce one in the first place. That's something I never had the tools for. I wasn't taught healthy boundaries and growing up I wasn't able to demonstrate or form firm boundaries towards others. Especially in sexual relationships. I became an impulsive person and I didn't think about the consequences. Even if they would float up, I'd tie up a boulder and let it sink back down. I was indecisiveness, which came from the part that I wasn't clear with my own needs. Knowing our boundaries and needs are important and it keeps us from being manipulated and taken advantage off. They are the guidelines that we've put up to be able to have a safe, respectful, and supportive relationships with others.
By Merichel Sanchez7 years ago in Motivation
Goodbye ana, and hello to me.
To Ana To me. Ana, you've been with me a while now, but I think that it might just be time to let you go soon. So please don't tighten your hold on me. You are a demon that only I can see. Or so I thought so anyway, until I realised that others could see it written all over my face.
By TBIRRA7 years ago in Motivation
The great office temptation
It’s day two of me quitting sugar and alcohol for a year. I’ve done a month no sugar once before - I remember it being difficult for the first couple of weeks, then once you get past the insane withdrawal headaches and the insatiable cravings it gets a lot easier. I was ultimately successful in proving that I could do it for a month, but as soon as the month was over I jumped straight back on that wagon with an enormous slice of cake and I haven’t looked back. I feel quite positive going into this experiment this time around, but I’m quickly realising there were some things I hadn’t thought of. When I quit sugar the first time round I did it in the middle of the year rather than immediately after the Christmas holidays. I also work a 9 to 5 office job and figured that going back into the office wouldn’t be any more difficult than it normally is after nearly two weeks off. That was until I wandered through the doors this morning.
By Sarah Wells7 years ago in Motivation
Dear 2019,
I thought past years had tried me, but man was I fucking wrong. When I think back at the year I think of all the heartbreak. The moments where I thought I’d never be happy again. Or the moments where I felt so lost and like I didn’t belong anywhere. I had thought I had already hit rock bottom, but it turns out that there was a basement. If the Bailey at the end of 2019 was to tell Bailey at the beginning of 2019 where she’d be…for lack of better words she’d be suspicious. It’s a cliche thing to say, but cliche’s are cliche’s for a reason. 2019 was the year of heartbreak, but a big year for personal growth. By the time 2019 had rolled around it was time for a new me. The one that needed to find love for herself and focus on finding her own happiness. In the process of growing through heartbreak I changed the parts of me that needed to be changed and learned about some other parts along the way. Genuine happiness was something I didn’t know anything about. The last time I was genuinely happy from within was probably when I was a baby and it was because my mom handed me a cardboard box or some shit. But let me tell you, getting told “you look happier” from people who have witnessed you at your worst is an elite compliment. Through months of focusing on myself and making myself my number one priority I had found genuine happiness from myself; not from some food or friends or a significant other. Those other things just fill a temporary void and it’s unhealthy because when those things leave or are gone, you still feel empty. There’s the saying that you need to love yourself before you love anybody else and I was one of those people that believed in that. Until I realized you need to go through heartbreak to learn how to love yourself. Although I found self love and happiness, my mental health wasn’t the best. I might preach sometimes that it’s important to take care of yourself, but I’ll be the first to admit that I actually suck at doing that. My mental health was a struggle this year which made me realize my mental health has to be a main priority of mine. I never want myself to get that low ever again. Although this past year was filled with one too many lows, there were oh so many highs. Not only did I go to my first concert ever, but I went to a couple more after that. Including one that I took my mom too, which was fun watching my mom sing along to Shaggy. I made so many memories with my best friend that we still laugh about to this day. Later on in the year I spent a good amount of time at the beach which always helped me from being committed. I’ve also met the love of my life. I couldn’t have even dreamt of a love like this yet, here I am. Some might say it’s too good to be true, but I could only hope that everyone has a love like this in their life. A love that is simple, secure, and safe. So although my 2019 definitely felt like two different years, I’m beyond thankful for every up and down I had. If there’s one thing I will most definitely take away from 2019 it’s to truly love myself, flaws and all. It’s okay to not be okay. For the love of everything good in the world, just cry. So, 2019, you’ve been one emotional year…but thank you.
By B7 years ago in Motivation
Let’s Celebrate!
As you remember, the original journey began last year, the day after my birthday. That day, I realized the next birthday was going to be one of the “big ones” that we tend to celebrate in life. If I am lucky enough, I will be able to celebrate 4 more “big ones”, but today we are celebrating this one!
By Heidi Fitzsimmons @RiseLoveLive7 years ago in Motivation
Why Starting Your Day In The Right Way Will Change Your Life
I have always been what one would call an early riser, ever since I can remember. As a kid, I would get up at the crack of dawn since there were things to be decided for the day ahead, i.e. what to wear to school, which kids to hang out with, (or which ones to ignore), which snacks to fill my rucksack with that would make me look classy and yet cool at the same time (Italians & their food obsession!), what story to entertain the whole class with (it never occurred to me they may not actually have been that entertained at all!).
By Antonia Lyons7 years ago in Motivation
