Find Your Motivation

Finding your motivation is a key point to achieve a satisfactory life. But it’s a tricky matter, as there can be an ample range of possibilities. Although one thing is for sure, that everyone need a motivation, or you would be aimless. Generally speaking, I believe that motivation is concerned with doing rewarding things, something that goes with your core principles and targets, so that they bring you satisfaction and self-assurance. In most cases, this is easier to be said than done, as we have to face with difficulties and situations difficult to overcome.

The shortage of time and money, our family, or our job, are some examples of things that we haven’t usually chosen. They can be a blessing or a curse, but I firmly believe that we can always hurdle our barriers. Most people find motivation in their family, especially in their children. Without any doubt, this can be the reason for a life, but not always is possible, and is it enough? I believe not. Above all, it is a question of  be yourself. I mean, live your own live, rather than doing what others expect of you, always in your job, in your life, whatever it is, as much as you can. I know, it’s easier to be said than done, but that is the way.

First of all, you must know who you are, what you want in life, what your core principles are; and them be absolutely self-confident and proud of yourself. After that, it is just a question of choosing the proper alternative. I have it clear that I love travelling, meeting people from all over the world and enriching myself with their life experiences. I also want to improve my job career options. And I like learning foreign languages. Consequently, I chose to enrol in this C1 English course, despite being quite demanding and difficult to me to catch up with it. Notwithstanding this, I am enjoying it a lot and, regardless the final upshot, that is my motivation.

Motivation: Autonomy, Mastery, Purspose

My Historical Event: The French Revolution

As usual, Wikipedia offers concise and accurate information, in spite of the attemps of economical “Great Powers” to eliminate these free sources of knowlegde. Then, here goes a brief definition of one of the most important historical events in human history: The French Revolution.

“The French Revolution (French: Révolution française; 1789–1799), was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that had a major impact on France and indeed all of Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years. French society underwent an epic transformation as feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges evaporated under a sustained assault from radical left-wing political groups, masses on the streets, and peasants in the countryside. Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy - of monarchy, aristocracy and religious authority - were abruptly overthrown by new Enlightenment principles of equality, citizenship and inalienable rights.

The French Revolution began in 1789 with the convocation of the Estates-General in May. The first year of the Revolution saw members of the Third Estate proclaiming the Tennis Court Oath in June, the assault on the Bastille in July, the passage of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August, and an epic march on Versailles that forced the royal court back to Paris in October. The next few years were dominated by tensions between various liberal assemblies and a right-wing monarchy intent on thwarting major reforms.

Historians widely regard the Revolution as one of the most important events in human history, and the end of the early modern period, which started around 1500, is traditionally attributed to the onset of the French Revolution in 1789. The Revolution is, in fact, often seen as marking the "dawn of the modern era". "Thousands of men and even many women gained firsthand experience in the political arena: they talked, read, and listened in new ways; they voted; they joined new organizations; and they marched for their political goals. Revolution became a tradition, and republicanism an enduring option." Some historians argue that the French people underwent a fundamental transformation in self-identity, evidenced by the elimination of privileges and their replacement by rights as well as the growing decline in social deference that highlighted the principle of equality throughout the Revolution. The Revolution represented the most significant and dramatic challenge to political absolutism up to that point in history and, despite its failures, spread democratic ideals throughout Europe and ultimately the world.

Before You Die

We all know that our time is short. Then, why on earth don’t we do everything we can to satisfy our expectations? Tricky response. An article I have recently read can be an eye-opener to us. It is about the conclusions reached by Bonnie Ware, a nurse who worked with terminal patients. She asked them about the things they more regretted in their lives, and this was the top five:

1.- Not having lived your own live, rather than what others expect of you.

2.- Not having spent more time with family, rather than working so much.

3.- Not being brave enough to express true feelings.

4.- Not having had more contact with friends.

5.- Not having allowed themselves to be happier.

To some extent, I’m afraid that the results are quite familiar to all of us. At least, it is my case. Now, the difficult thing is being brave enough to break our chains, and  move forward to achieve them.

The famous movie “The Bucket List” treats about this, although the point is to not postpone our decisions until too late. Of course, each one has their own list, but you can enjoy checking your achievements in one of the hundreds of  “bucket lists” that you can find on Internet:

Bucket List Test:  bucketquiz

And if you are feeling further interest, here you will find a complete website with 50 impressive proposals to do before you die. Swim with dolphins, see the Northern Lights, drive along Route 66 in USA, or skydiving, are some examples. Were we to succeed in doing all of them, we would meet with plenty of satisfaction.

50 Things To Do Before You Die

Go for it!

Mandela's Way: Lessons On Life

I must admit that I only had a general knowledge about Mandela, so that his book has broaden my mind about this historic figure and his impressive struggle. If I had to describe him, I'd say that Mandela is a natural leader. One of those gifted humans that seldom come up to give light to all mankind. In a few words: leadership, commitment, human values, endurance, and humility, could be appropriate to describe him.

He is man made by himself, and all the hard circumstances and extreme situations he had had to face. He had to do a lot of sacrifices, and in most cases the man had to give way to the leader. But his core principles, commitment with justice and equality, and empathy, allow him to endure 28 years of imprisonment and, instead of fall down, he became stronger and wiser.

This is what I take from him in terms of my own life. Besides, I have relished the fifteen lessons on life, which are related in a very entertaining and appealing way. I strongly agree with most of them, and I believe that are pearls of wisdom.

I share Mandela's ideas and thoughts about how we must face life. Our society wrongly makes us believe that a courageous, brave man must not have fear, but Mandela teaches us that fear is a natural, and even desirable feeling in some circumstances. The point is learning to overcome it.

Another important point is that, even in the most extreme situations, it’s no use of having an outburst or an impassioned response. If you lose control, them you lose the situation. So, Let´s be calm, as Mandela would say.

I haven't been called to be a Leader, but even in our ordinary life, we need to take risks. Passivity and resignation is not the way. Of course, it is not about being reckless, but cautious.

I firmly support the idea that it's necessary to have some core principles. Of course, a good ones. Although we will be sometimes in deep trouble, this principles always would lead us to a satisfactory end.

It's worth to take the ubuntu approach, which expresses the idea that people are empowered by other people, that we become our best selves through unselfish interaction with others. This is just the opposite of our occidental model, characterized by extreme individualism and competitiveness.

In the same way, we are taught to choose only between two options: yes or no, black or white. It’s the deliberate vision we are indoctrinated to avoid thinking of alternatives to the mainstream. But Mandela’s African background allows him to escape of this unique thinking. He would say that it’s never as simple as yes or no; that there are no simple answers to most difficult questions. Logically, he thinks that every problem has many causes, not just one. In the way he sees the world, there is no one interpretation. Both may be correct.

Going on with his lessons on life, we can see that Mandela is a man of sincerity, not a man of maybes. So, as I think, there is no space to hypocrisy or false words. You must know that the price of not saying no now makes it even harder to say it later. There are some decisions that may benefit from delay. But if you are delaying or avoiding saying no because it is unpleasant, better do it right away and clearly. You will avoid a heap of trouble in the log run.

Love makes the difference. I couldn't agree more with this. There has been little room for love in the life of a revolutionary and a prisoner, but Mandela never gave up on love. And love helped him to resist, although it was often a source of pain rather than solace. He could be defined as a pragmatic romantic. To him, loves is the most important thing. Without love a man can not have a complete life.

In conclusion, we can take a very wise lessons from this book, which can make our life better. The point is if we are brave enough to apply them. I'll do my best!.