Category: Motivation

What Are You Most Curious About?

What you are curious about as an individual helps define you. And what we are curious about as a society helps define us.

Curiosity is one of the driving forces in our development as a species. It can influence the questions we ask, and bring about the scientific discoveries we make as a result. It can inform the stories we tell, and even before that, the stories we read.

But society is made up of individuals, and what we are curious about individually ultimately defines our collective curiosity.

With that in mind: what are you most curious about? And what do you do about that curiosity?

When we are young, the interests we have drive our learning, growth, and development. That might include which books we choose to read, the friends we make, the elective classes we take in school, as well as other life choices.

As an adult, it can influence the jobs we pursue, where we choose to live, who we marry, and so on. Seen in that light, our curiosity helps inform many of the key decisions that define us.

Can you think of examples of something that made you wonder, and how that eventually led, step by step, to some aspect of your life today? Does your curiosity play a part in the hobbies you take part in? The job you have, or the work you do in that job?

Do you read books, skim Wikipedia articles, watch documentaries, or take part in discussion groups? In what ways do you satisfy your curiosity?

Related questions: What makes you curious? How can we encourage curiosity? How can we maintain wonder?

What Keeps You Motivated?

It is one thing to get motivated to take a risk or to start something new. It is another to maintain that motivation.

It is an all too common story: you are excited to start something new.  That excitement wanes, however, as you get into mundane — but necessary — tasks. It might even ebb so low that you forego the project altogether.

As it turns out, there are two different, yet equally important, steps. One is to work up the motivation necessary to begin. The other is to remain motivated, through all the ups and downs that may follow.

Building the initial excitement is not a trivial task. But let’s assume for a moment that you can work up the necessary enthusiasm. How do you keep motivated, or at the very least, keep working despite fading energy?

Do you continually remind yourself of the end goal you are trying to achieve? Or do you enlist the help of others that you hope will motivate you? Do you try and structure the project so there are a number of accomplishments along the way that you can use as little boosts of momentum? Or perhaps you announce things publicly and hope that outside expectations will provide the necessary motivation?

What keeps you motivated, particularly when that motivation starts to wane?

Related questions: What motivates you? How do other people motivate you? Where do you get your energy? When is it useful to fail?

What Role Does Fear Play In Your Life?

Fear is a powerful emotion that we all feel at many points in our lives. How do you react when faced with something you fear?

Fear can take many different shapes. You might be afraid for yourself, or fear for the safety of others. There is the gut-wrenching terror accompanying sudden physical danger, or the overwhelming sense of dread over some future danger.

Whatever the nature of the fear, harnessing it can be an effective tool for controlling people. Scared people will do almost anything to feel less afraid, including abandoning strongly held principles and beliefs, or selling out a neighbor or colleague.

Part of the reason for that is that people do not make the best decisions when they are afraid. When someone is in fight or flight mode, carefully evaluating all possibilities becomes less important. As a result, if you let fear dominate your other emotions, bad choices may result. You might easily miss an option that would be more effective or desired.

But fear does not always have to be a bad thing. There is a valid reason for it — it helps you learn what to avoid or minimize. You can also choose to be motivated to prepare contingency plans because you are afraid of doing the wrong thing. In turn, that preparation can help to lessen the fear.

What are you afraid of, and how does that fear shape your life? Can you think of times when being afraid has made a bad situation worse? Or alternately, have you ever channeled your fear in a positive way?

Related questions: Why are people afraid of death? Have you ever been afraid for your life? How does technology influence your emotions? Why does social media often bring out the worst in us?

Inspired Or Stuck In A Rut?

In your life, do you often feel you have been inspired? Or do you usually find yourself stuck doing the same thing over and over?

Share why if you wish.

Inspired Or Stuck In A Rut?
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Do You Have A Personal Philosophy?

Do you have a guiding principle in your life, one that helps you make the day-to-day decisions you are called upon to make? Do you have a personal philosophy?

Philosophy, for some, is an intimidating-sounding word. It might conjure images of long-dead, long-bearded, humorless men lecturing others on how to behave.

In reality, though, philosophy just means thinking about your life. If you have ever wondered about the world and your place in it, you have participated in philosophy.

It is one of the oldest areas of knowledge, which makes sense. What differentiates us from other animals is the size of our brain, and using that brain to ponder anything and everything comes naturally to us.

While there are numerous philosophy texts and classes, concentrating on great thinkers over the last two or three thousand years, it can be surprisingly relevant on a personal level. If you develop a set of personal guidelines, and individual mission statement, as it were, you are building a personal philosophy.

For example, one person might choose kindness a core belief. Be as kind as possible to everyone you meet, no matter their age, race, or religion. When faced with an unexpected or new situation, first think: “Can being kind help make this situation better?”

Alternately, someone might reason that the only person they are truly beholden to is themselves. Personal comfort, achievement, and happiness is what is most important. After all, you have just one life, and no one else lives it.

Admittedly, these examples are simplistic. As you live your complicated life, chances are there are a number of different guiding principles and motivations. Still, a personal philosophy is helpful to have, and useful to spell out in detail.

What guides you? What is your personal philosophy?

Related questions: What makes you you? How do we become our best self? Is there a principle according to which you try to live your life? What gives you purpose?