What is your Motivation?

Misplaced value. That is the problem with the world. 

As far as I can tell, what this state of mind does to everyone is leave them spiritually depleted. Yes, that is correct. Spiritually depleted. So then, what happens, is most people spend most of their time trying to fill the gaping hole in their lives with things that will never fill it. 

Shopping. Drugs. Booze. Food. Addictions. Obsessions. 

It spans all economic categories and classes.

No amount of money or power or food or sex or things are capable of sustaining the fullness of this hole for long. It may temporarily make you think you are happy and fulfilled, but eventually the day comes when it no longer suffices. You look at those shiny expensive cars, or jewels or shoes and realize they are meaningless. Or you realize your addiction to substances is merely a mask that keeps you in denial and eventually your health becomes so compromised you actually have to stop before you kill yourself and take a look at the core reason inside of you that is causing all the pain you are so desperately trying to avoid.

What are you afraid of? If it is true that we are only motivated by fear or love, then does it not follow that in order to love yourself, you have to face your fears? And from where I sit, I see a lot of fear. I don't think I know a single person who is not afraid of something. Often it is the primary motivating factor in one's life and THAT is the problem. 

The fear is usually of loss. Loss of status. Loss of reputation. Loss of income. Loss of approval. Loss of time. Taken a step further, being judged for those losses. How many people do you actually know that can say they really don't care what anyone else thinks? Sure, as we get older, we tend to care less and less. But in reality, we still care. We want to go to our graves leaving behind some snippet of dignity. She was a wonderful mother. He was an awesome father. She worked diligently for the underprivileged. He devoted all his free time to coaching disabled kids. They created grass roots charitable organizations wherever they lived. 

Wait a second. None of those tributes had anything to do with how much they owned or how they looked. So, why then, do most people spend so much time and money on the acquisition of material possessions and lotions and potions and surgeries to change their bodies? Will their gravestones say things like, "She spent her lifetime perfecting her nose." or "He never had less than 16 cars in his garage at anytime." 

It is a crime. It is a crime that so much time and effort is wasted on such trivialities when millions of people on our planet are struggling to survive without food or shelter or health care. The reason comes down to misplaced values. We all need to reconsider what we value. What is truly important? Get creative. Do one small thing each day that helps someone. Even if that someone is yourself. Be kinder to yourself. Smile at a stranger. 

Stop and ask yourself if you are being motivated by fear or love and choose love.

Live consciously. 

Start today.

I am going to start by actually posting this blog. These are thoughts I have all the time but until now, I have been afraid to publish them in case I was judged. Judged for being some kind of crazy peace advocate or hippie or new age do-gooder. I imagine eyes will roll and some people will scoff at my naive notions or shake their heads and say. "Oh boy, Deb has really lost it now!" "she is nuts if she thinks she can save the world." 

I heard a quote once that went something like this..."If not now, then when. If not me, than who?"  

I reckon I have about 30 years or so left on this planet. If the first 56 years are any indication, I know one thing for sure - it goes fast and time is-a-wasting. 

Time to really live "me to we". 

Some musical inspiration....Turn it up and feel it!