Whenever we come to a crossroads in our lives and must decide on a new path, a change of paths, or just a slight detour, there are inevitably several considerations that we take into account before making our final decision.
I have recently started to wonder what types of considerations we make and what finally makes us decide to journey down that new path of uncertainties.
I suppose a clearer and more simplistic question would be “What motivates us to do the things that we do?”.
Let’s take an example that I’m sure everyone can relate to.
After having worked in my current position for a year, I have started to think about future career options. Some questions that I have begun to ask myself are:
- Do I feel that there are opportunities to grow and expand within this company?
- Is this an area that I want to pursue?
- Would furthering my education provide me with the opportunities that I am looking for?
- Am I able to continually further my education within my current organization?
- Am I able to wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work because I believe that I am making a positive contribution to society and/or the global community?
These are only a few of the questions that I have been asking myself; none of which lends itself to an easy answer.
In asking myself these questions and in questioning my motivation for moving forward in life, I am reminded of something one of my teachers once said to our class.
“People can be both externally and internally motivated. Some people are more strongly motivated by one or the other. Neither is better or worse, but it is important to understand your motivations when you choose to make a change in your life.”; or something along those lines!
I think this is an important thing to remember. Sometimes it may not make a difference what influences your decision to do certain things. Other times, the reasons for your decision may be extremely important and can impact the outcome.
An example that comes to mind as being a personal question that I am currently considering, is pursuing further education. For years, I have had encouragement from my family and friends to pursue graduate studies. Though I had no arguments against the value of such a decision, I did not feel prepared to commit to such an undertaking. Not to menion the fact that I had no idea what type of studies I was even interested in!
Had I listened to these external motivators at the time, I honestly feel that I would not have succeeded in completing such an endeavour.
Today, several years after completing undergraduate studies, after having “bummed” around for a few years without much to show for it, and after having returned to school to complete a college diploma, I feel far more prepared to take on the daunting task of graduate studies.
Whether this was a question of maturity, or of realising that dreams don’t just happen without some hard work, who knows?
Either way, I know that my next step in life is motivated by what I want and what I feel prepared to take on; and because of that, I know that I will succeed.
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