“Head up, heart open. To better days!”
— T.F. Hodge
Struggling to find your motivation? Feeling unsure about everything today?
There are just a few things you need to know right now.
This quick read is for YOU…
Once upon a time there was a woman in her mid-sixties who noticed that she had lived her entire life in the same small town. And although she had spent decades enthusiastically dreaming about traveling and seeing the world, she had never taken a single step to make this dream a reality.
Finally, she woke up on the morning of her 65th birthday and decided that now was the time! She sold all of her possessions except for some essential items she needed, packed these items into a backpack, and began her journey out into the world. The first several days on the road were amazing and filled with awe — with every step forward she felt like she was finally living the life she had dreamed.
But a few short weeks later, the days on the road started taking a toll on her. She felt misplaced and she missed the familiar comforts of her old life. As her feet and legs grew more and more sore with each new step, her mood also took a turn for the worse.
Eventually she stopped walking, took off her backpack, slammed it on the ground, and sat down beside it as tears began streaming down her cheeks. She stared hopelessly down a long winding road that once led to an amazing world, but now seemed to lead only to discomfort and unhappiness. “I have nothing! I have nothing left in my life!” she shouted out loud at the top of her lungs.
Coincidentally, a renowned guru and life adviser from a nearby village was resting quietly behind a pine tree adjacent to where the woman was sitting. When the woman began shouting, the guru heard every word and he felt it was his duty to help her. Without thinking twice, he jumped out from behind the pine tree, grabbed her backpack, and ran into the forest that lined both sides of the road. Stunned and in complete disbelief, the woman started crying even harder than before, to the point of near breathlessness.
“That backpack was all I had,” she cried.” And now it’s gone! Now everything is gone in my life!”
After roughly ten minutes of much-needed tears, the woman gradually collected her emotions, stood up again and began staggering slowly down the road. Meanwhile the guru cut through the forest and secretly placed the backpack in the middle of the road just a short distance ahead of the woman.
When the woman’s teary eyes fell upon the backpack, she almost couldn’t believe what she was seeing — everything she thought she had just lost was once again right in front of her. She couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. “Oh, thank heavens!” the woman exclaimed. “I am so grateful! Now I definitely have what I need to continue onward…”
Sometimes we need a wake-up call.
As we journey through our personal and professional lives, there will inevitably be periods of incredible frustration and despair. During those tough times, it will sometimes appear to us that we’ve lost everything, and that nothing and nobody could possibly motivate us to move onward in the direction of our dreams. But just like the woman who stumbled across the guru, we are all holding with us a backpack of support that comes in many forms — it can be a simple DM or text message from someone we respect, inspiring blog posts, insightful books, helpful neighbors, supportive communities, and so much more.
When the going gets tough — when we’ve lost our motivation and feel unsure of everything — we need to wake ourselves up and remember…
- To trust the journey, even when we do not understand it.
- To accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in the road ahead.
- To start exactly where we are, use what we have, and do what we can, one step at a time.
- To look for the blessings hidden in every struggle we face, and be willing to open our hearts and minds to them.
- To recognize our backpack of support — our external sources of hope and motivation — before a random guru (or someone with far more crooked intentions) has to steal it from us so that we can finally see what we have always taken for granted.
- To be present and tap into our own hearts and minds — our internal sources of hope and motivation — which have the power to push us back up on our feet and guide us down the road to our backpack of support, even when it appears to be lost forever.
- To laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and appreciate the lessons found at each twist and turn.
- To not compare our progress with that of others, and accept that we all need our own time to travel our own distance.
- To see how many of the things we never wanted or expected ultimately turn out to be what we need.
- To be OK with not ending up exactly where we intended to go, while opening ourselves up to the possibility of eventually arriving precisely in the right place at the right time.
Bottom line:
If you are struggling right now, you’ve got this!
No matter your circumstances, you always have what you need to take the next smallest step.
Or as Epicurus so profoundly said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
Be mindful. Be present. Keep going, one day at a time, one small step at a time.
Now it’s your turn…
Please leave a comment below and let us know:
What’s one source of motivation (or gratitude) you typically turn to when you need it most?
Anything else to share about this essay?
Angel and I would love to hear from YOU. Your feedback is important to us. 🙂
Finally, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.
Dania Lynne says
I just want to quickly say thanks. Your weekly essays and emails are such an inspiration. I am at a crossroads in life at 50 and am not sure which direction to take. Your writings provide me with motivation to not sit down in the road, but instead to take those small yet important daily steps. Thank you, as always.
Lee Ann says
The entire first part of the story about a woman is me. I endlessly dreamed of seeing the places that thrilled me inside before I died. At 65, I realized that I don’t need them. Places are different but people worldwide are all the same: same needs, same desires, same endless searching and all we ever needed to be was thankful and satisfied with the marvelous things and people we share all our lives. Thank you for the reminder as well as sage advice. You are true gems!
Susan H. says
Totally agree with you!
HN says
It’s funny how I stumbled on this article in the mist of dealing with uncertainty today. I am finding it difficult to keep going some days. I have been recovering from burnout recently but I have a lot who depends on me (husband, kids, parents, and work), and I love my family but I find myself feeling like I cannot give anymore. Thanks for reminding me of the “small steps” I can take today.
dede says
Thank you. Your essays and stories are unfailingly inspiring. One particular sentence really hit home for me. I am at present almost decided to sell my house (downsizing) from the house in the city where I currently live. For a long time I wanted to live in this space more than anything else in the world. There’s a lot of other things; it’s been a city where I’ve lived the dream’, working at a university and having a full life. Circumstances changed and at 74 and I’m now living alone. Although I still have my house the city is so full of memories – and the house too – that I feel I have moved on. My life has been rich and I have travelled, but the urge to start fresh – to move closer to my family is really strong. I always vowed I’d never move to be close to either of my children. I feared being too dependent on them. It’s really such a difficult situation, but your letter made me think slightly differently. I just don’t quite know what to do. But I think that’s okay for now.
Sue Campbell says
I can so relate to your current situation. I am 72 and on my own now. I sold a small Florida home and a small Michigan home. I decided I could no longer manage the two homes so far apart. I moved closer to one of my three children. That has proven to be an issue with my kids, sibling rivalry never ends. I feel I caused the problem to rise again. I am frustrated, feeling like I can’t quite settle in. I have had many losses the last few years too, from devastating personal deaths to noticeable changes in my body not being able to be totally independent. I find it difficult to be positive and have a reason to get up on some days, and yet I know I must. Anyway, your comment made me feel less alone right now. So thanks.
Anne High says
Sue, I can relates much to your situation. After my husband died 5 years ago (we were both 69 years old) I sold my house in Michigan. My two children were both moving to Columbus Ohio. I made the decision not to move near them. I knew that as much as I loved them and my grandchildren I would be exhausted by always being “on call”, helping in every way and encountering little disagreements. I moved in with a friend in Oregon. There are days when I still wonder what I am doing and why I am so far away. Yet I am thankful for the ability to travel to see them and I’m grateful to have a roof over my head. When things change again I hope I will be ready. I have been able to stay more positive and realize that this is just another road in the 4th quarter of life. I hope you find your pace and purpose. Practice finding peace and happiness. You are not alone.
Faye says
My husband and I recently retired, sold our home in Wisconsin and moved to Arizona. We took a minimal amount of things and gave away the rest to our kids and donated for good causes.
It’s been a year now and I’m having problems with doubts and questioning why I ever left the familiar. I question myself every day but promised my husband (and myself) to give this new move a chance.
I’m having problems leaving my house (for the first time in my life) just to go out to eat.
I have been reading your writings for a couple months now which really resonate with me. I’m getting ready to go out to eat as we speak, my heart is pounding, BUT I can do this after reading your writing today especially!
Thank You!
Faye
Normanvb says
87 years-old and I can still get better. Life is a journey, and I’m still on it. Thanks for the extra inspiration today.
Maria says
Hmmm…thanks for this. I was very ambitious growing up, but I didn’t see it as a bad thing because I know I’m multi-talented, and everyone around me (including me) expected great things in my life, as I was also a top student from kindergarten to the University. However, after school, things started taking a downward turn even when I put in more efforts and showed resilience. At 40, I feel that I have nothing and have failed my parents who are dead now.
I’ve been really down over and over again in the recent past, but I’m learning to be at peace with where I am now. And I’m inspired by the idea that there is more growth on the path ahead for me.
Tammi says
Yes, you have a lot to look forward to. I’m 59 and I’m still having to remind myself to slow down, cause my body isn’t as young. Anyway, I had to comment to you, age is so much more than just getting older. The wisdom and enlightenment that comes is amazing. Kinda hard to explain but most things that mattered before are almost none existent now. It’s time to relax and do little things that will show up from time to time that you might have ignored before.
Age is truly just a number, your state of mind and physical being are most important the older we get. I Really hope anyone that reads this will self reflect.
Adele says
Thank you for this wonderful article. I’m 72, and have always felt positive and strong, but the past couple of months have been weird to me. I have felt a bit down, but why? I’m having trouble getting motivated to do the things that have proven to be right for me, but why? Went back to my part time job yesterday after two and a half weeks off and felt a little better, especially seeing the wonderful team I get to work with. So some of these tips are making me think about all this and hopefully will get me back to my positive self!
Shelley Jeffers says
I am amazed at how many of us are in the same basic situations. Getting to be 70 in two months has been bothering me. I don’t want to be 70 and I don’t want to be old. None of us do. My husband is losing some of his memory and ability to work things out. I am working full-time and that keeps me getting up in the morning. Retirement is not in the equation at the moment. I lived my dream, buying land and a horse and for the last 20 years that has kept me going, but my horse is gone and the land is empty. I know there is something on the horizon, but do not have any idea what it is right now. Thanks for encouragement.
D says
You’re able to pack so much food for thought into the statements that you make, that I have to read them over again to make sure that I’m getting out of it what pertains to my situation right now. I read this post three times just now. I have all that I need! I feel that’s an amazing statement. But I’m really content with what I have on hand to do each day. Studying, meeting people, even the shopping and the cooking and the cleaning are engaging. And even though I sometimes go through a “loop the loop”, I seem to always land on my feet. Haha! And I thank God for that. He manages to help me take things graciously. I’m looking forward to my next fun filled, fascinating little adventurous steps forward.
Your essays are definitely an exciting addition to my adventures. Thank you! You’re great!
Andrea Gerardi says
A good reminder to be grateful for what we have but also to have courage to make necessary changes. There are times when our decisions may not be the best. We have to learn to be compassionate with ourselves and continue to move forward. Just one step in the right direction for me today…
Ashli Pearce says
Intention, Purpose & Embracing the NEW!
Thank you!
Twinkle says
I was going to delete the email linking to this and something told me to read it. It’s *exactly* what I need today. I have been facing so many set backs and was finally feeling slightly better, only to be blindsided again. I will start where I am and take a small step. Thank you.
David says
Hi. All glory belongs to God. For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.
A great essay and thank you for the insight. Hugs
Mare says
I enjoyed this article very much. It reminded me to embrace what I have and in the unsettled moments to look for the gift or lesson.
I will keep this article and refer to it on the days I struggle to be motivated or feel helpless and down.
Olukunle Olaoye says
I can only say ‘Thanks’ for this write – up. It reinforces my believe that thankfulness should be a way of life for me and that I should not be afraid to move on in life to fulfil purpose even when despairs sets in. This motivating
Mary says
A big thank you for this today. Everyday I struggle and miss the things I had … My mother passed away four years ago on mother’s Day, before that my daughter and I had a disagreement and she hasn’t talked to me in close to 8 years, my dog of 11 years passed away February of last year , I lost my job, and had to give up my car as I could no longer afford it. I know that’s life but it just feels like too much most days.. I’m going to be 61 at the end of this month and most people tell me I don’t look it. I have sooo much pent up energy I had to do something so I joined a gym and I do an hour on the treadmill, I pace myself, not too intense, and then I do another 20 minutes on another machine and some stretching, and it feels great ! But … the problem I’m having is the negative energy I get from people. ..and I don’t know what it is. When I was on the stair climber today at the gym out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the personal trainers that was training someone point at me shaking his head and when I was finished stretching he walked right by me when previous days he always said hi and was really friendly ! I am a very, extremely sensitive person which makes my senses heightened and I feel everything! EVERYTHING! I try to just let it go but it’s getting very hard to do. I have had premonitions that come true , every feeling , every vibe I get I am usually right . I have no one to lean on, and losing hope. .I know something is going on but no one is telling me anything. I feel like I’m losing my mind. Anyway. , I just keep praying ,and hoping for a miracle.