Pushed by problems or led by dreams

An old man was lying in his deathbed, surrounded by ghostlike people he didn’t know. He wasn’t sure who they were so he asked them. One of them said: We’re your unfulfilled dreams and forgotten wishes. We’re everything you could have done in your life but didn’t.

I’m sorry -  the old man replied - but I’m glad you came to say goodbye.

No, -  the ghost said - we didn’t come to say goodbye. We came to die with you.

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Every day we wake up, stretch out and face the world. Some days we can’t wait to get out of bed and start living. Other days we just want to cover our heads with a blanket and stay in bed for the rest of the day. Some nights we don’t want to go to bed because we’re too inspired – no matter how tired we are, yet others we fall asleep as soon as our head touches the pillow. We’ve all had days like this. But the question is: Which one more often and why? What motivates people nowadays?

Treasure Chest (picture credit)

I’m guessing that the first thing that came to your mind was – MONEY. But is it really? A study done at MIT in which they gave a set of challenges to a group of students and a cash reward if they did good showed that when it came to tasks that required only mechanical skills, the cash reward worked great and people became more motivated. “But once the task called for an even rudimentary cognitive skill a larger reward led to poorer performance” (source video - recommended for viewing). So the thing that motivates us best is not money. But what is it then?

Dreaming (picture credit)

In my opinion, the best motivator is – our dreams. When I wake up and I know that I’ll work on things that I like and really matter to me, I literally jump out of my bed. And when it comes to waking up and doing something I don’t like but I have to.. you all know the answer. So next time you wake up unhappy, ask yourself: Are you following your dreams? Are you doing the things you like or are you pushed only by the problems you have? Because after all happiness is not the destination. It’s the journey.

Dreams (picture credit)

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BONUS reading - mixed and adapted quotes :)

A simple idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one (Mary Kay Ash). So don’t look at things that are and ask “Why?”. Instead, dream of things that never were and say – “Why not?” (George Bernard Shaw). Do not discourage yourself - it’s difficult to tell what’s impossible, for the dreams of yesterday are the hope of today and can easily turn in the reality of tomorrow (Unknown). Don't dream at night - dream all day! Dream for a living (Steven Spielberg).

BONUS motivational video - One Thousand Steps

Hajdi and Action Team #8