So I've also been reading through John Maxwell's book Developing the Leader Within You this week. I found the following quotes particularly striking and somewhat counter-intuitive...
- "Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works"
- From a sign in a doctor's office: "We have news for you. Motivation is not going to strike you like lightning. And motivation is not something that someone else--nurse, doctor, family member--can bestow or force on you. The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it."
- "Instead of saying to our kids, 'Get a grateful attitude,' we ask them to give one compliment to every member of the family each day. As this becomes a habit in their lives, the attitude of gratitude follows."
I found this refreshing to read as I am finding it is more and more true in my own life. Granted there may be an initial moment of motivation, but it is the discipline that sustains and then leads to greater motivation. I am finding this in my waking up schedule, Bible reading, YMCA (though slacking a bit as of late), etc.
I think there is part of me that wants to rail against discipline at times because it can seem so formulaic or legalistic, but I am finding that is really not the case. I feel the best when I am most disciplined. I actually feel more free and in tune with how God wants me to orient my life. Obviously disciple can become legalistic, but that seems more of an abuse of discipline. It's a tricky balance, one that I am learning.
Never really thought of it that way, but I'd agree along the same lines as you. When I am most disciplined in my spiritual life- which often leads to more balanced life in terms of the time spent with family-friends, work and those other things that need to get done during the day, I would also say that it is also when I feel most motivated. However, when motiviation precedes discipline, I find my motivation is often tainted by selfishness, need for recognition etc. For instance, I should be motivated to do the best job for my employer, which usually I am. However, when that motivation takes it's form in longer work hours (which sometimes it does), I find that it can often be traced to a lack of spiritual discipline (not praying about my work day prior to getting started or not asking God to help me get the things done that need to get done and then trust Him with the rest).
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