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How can we help a person who lacks motivation or does not know what (s)he wants?
Ernesto's paradigm might work for helping communities. Among several people, it's likely to find someone with passion and motivation. But how do we apply this philosophy to individuals who lack motivation or don't know what they want or want things that we consider harmful to them (e.g., a teenager with lack of experience, a person with depression, or an addict)?
Topics:
helping others motivation
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Lejan . 30+
Before kindergarten most of us explode by our creativity. We just can't sit sill, because there is so much to explore around us. So much to do and play. So much to discover. Our future profession changes almost daily and is related to what is in our very focus at a given timeframe.
In kindergarten the first signs of stagnation kick in, as our energy gets controlled, scheduled and set on topics which we might have not choosen ourselfs. Future professions keep changing, yet mayve a little less in frequence.
At elementary school our creativity and energy get tied up in the corset of conformity and stays this way up to the very point where we are finally allowed to retire from the professional world.
How do we deal with people who are dropping out of this corset for what ever reason? How do we motivate if the result would be to tie them up again?
The answer to your question may be found if we look at our process. Something get lost on our way from before kindergarten up to the point were we become professionals. At least for many of us.
Comments like 'get real' or 'grow up' may be hints on such a search. Are we expecting a different reality when we are young then the 'one' we finally get to see once we enter, once we 'grow' into it? Is this form of resignation and demotivation which occur to some the result of disillusion? If so, what was our illusion when we started?
Not to know what to 'want' may imply to know what is unattainable and to have no 'good enough' alternative instead.
As a society our main focus of interest usually don't stick to our children and growing up people, so 'loosing' some of them doesn't really 'ring the bell', as we have no alternative to offer anyway...
Gail . 50+
Haley Goranson
Colleen Steen 500+
It is too bad that college age people feel pressured to decide what they want to do the rest of their lives! How about picking a major that you are very interested in right now? You can always take more courses when/if your preferences change.....yes? I also suggest (if you have time) volunteering in an area that you think you might like to pursue. That might give you an idea if you want to go further with that particular interest or not?
Haley Goranson
Colleen Steen 500+
Sounds like you are very "grown up" and are taking some good steps toward your exploration of life:>) I have always pursued what I enjoy doing, and often, what evolved into a professional experience, was first a hobby that expanded and became a profession, for which I was paid quite well:>)
I totally agree with you that "everything always works out" when we have curiosity, and an open heart and mind. I found that with an open heart and mind, the world opens up to us in magical ways:>)
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give..."
(Winston Churchill)
I like to combine what I get (learning, growing evolving) with what I give:>)
Haley Goranson
I've decided to give Elementary Education a go, by the way!
Much love
Lejan . 30+
Creative people like you have little choice but to never really 'grow up', as creativity is just another form of 'playing' and curiosity its source of energy. We do not teach our children how to play, as this comes naturally by our instincts, and so does curiosity. And just for the sake of conformity we discharge our little ones, ourselves, repeatingly ...
Fortunately, not to 'grow up' in this context got nothing to do with being childish or to have a 'Peter Pan' syndrome. It somewhat describes to have managed to keep some of our childlike nature alive within us and against all the odds.
So keep up your positive attitude and 'life, the universe and everything' will have no other ways but yours... :o)
Arkady Grudzinsky 50+
Colleen Steen 500+