By BIMBOLA AMAO
I should turn in my article every Wednesday though it gets published on Fridays. But this is Friday morning and I am struggling with my different drafts, notebooks and laptop. I am simply uninspired to follow through a draft and make it worth reading. There is that temptation to text the publisher with a ‘fine excuse’ for not writing. But I want to be able to look back in December 2018 and have at least 60 articles with my bye-line.
Sometimes, most times, I feel really lazy and unmotivated but the goal is not to be on my dying bed with flashes of things I could have done but did not do because no motivation (spelt – L.A.Z.I.N.E.S.S.)
Do I need inspiration/motivation to write? Yes.
Can I write without it? Yes. Why am I not writing then?
Today, I need grit, I need eyes on the goal, I need focus to pull through and beat laziness. A man once told me, “If you don’t have good enough reason to do something then it will be hard to get it done”. The reason is all the inspiration I need for today. The deadline to write my column is up and I must deliver. May inspiration come another time.
Waiting for that inspiring thought, insight, feeling or incidence to do the magic and make you act and come alive is putting your life in the hands of a cruel fate. What if it never happens? I have been waiting for inspiration to write since Monday. What if I get inspired tomorrow after the deadline?
What if when that magical incidence or inspiration comes, your season is passed, you have no energy to come alive or in Fredrick Nietzsche words “your limbs have gone to sleep and your spirit have become too heavy”?
Are you masking laziness and have given it a fine name?
Thomas Edison said “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” I should maybe make a plaque of this and put it at my workstation. Writing really does take discipline to sit down and get on with it – Inspiration of no inspiration!
What’s the difference between being lazy in life and not motivated? I don’t think there is any except there are underlying health issues sapping your energy. I can hand you a list of 101 Ways to Be Motivated and your motivation meter will still be ice-cold because being motivated and staying lazy reflect personal choices.
Laziness, motivation, inspiration – or are we dealing with fear? Life with all its ups and downs feels us most times with trepidation. We all are afraid yet moving. No one is promised security by the universe, we are just swinging along, but in the end, those who would be happy are those who found strength to even swing.
You will only live once, let your dreams not remain dreams. Go create the life you want even if there is no motivation, and there is fear or insecurity.
Our fears, laziness and lack of confidence holds us back and prevents us from taking serious decisions, making changes, or in my case writing my column. The truth is that unless you start, you don’t know how much you can do or achieve. You have to be and are your strongest inspiration and cheerleader, no one will come fill the role for you. “I was thinking one day and I realized that if I just had somebody behind me all the way to motivate me I could make a big difference. Nobody came along like that so I just became that person for myself.”- Unknown
Fate that is not in your hands and is not your friend, your fortune and rising has to be intentional. Replace your waiting for inspiration and motivation with a get up and go attitude and see how it goes. Laziness is that demon denying you greatness, get rid of it.
Today is the beginning of the rest of your life, so go ahead and make this a life worth living. Don’t spend your time thinking of all the things you will like to do, now it is time to actually get up and follow through with them. Kick out your lazy attitudes, be done with making excuses as to why you will “do it tomorrow.” Do it now. Do it today! It is up to you to do whatever is needed to make sure you succeed in your goals.
Photo Credit: Vector Stock Photos.