Driving forces
The act of creating takes inspiration. What muses haunt the painter, novelist, or musician to spend countless waking (and dreaming) hours mulling over their works in progress? Honing athletic bodies takes similar determination. Indeed, how could the mental elixir be bottled and sold that gets the competitive swimmer, skater, and gymnast out of bed at o’dark thirty to go through their workout for the millionth time at the pool, rink, or gym?
Psychologists and behaviorists have developed long lists of what spurs folks to action. External motivators (think carrots and sticks) can work for some but typically fail to spark the long-term dedication needed, for instance, to type “the end” on the final page of a 100,000 word novel. No amount of HBO cash seemed to be enough for George R. R. Martin to finish the GOT series.
On the other hand, intrinsic drivers find their roots in deep personal interests and desires (source). Take Ilia Malinin, the “quad god” world champion ice skater, who recently quipped, “My motto is: I always like to compete against myself and push my own limit.” (source)
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In his New York Times bestseller Drive, Daniel Pink, “asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction — at work, at school, and at home — is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.” (source)
Pink’s approach seems to fit creatives, athletes, and everyone else. Striving for purpose and meaning ignites the soul to accomplish astonishing, breathtaking, and impossible things.
Finding and feeding a life passion comes from reflecting on the stuff daydreams are made of, the things that bring joy, the longing for legacy, and those moments of sheer liberation. How often does that happen? How often should it? Some food for thought today.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman
