Motivation literally means reasons for acting in a particular way.
The word motivation comes from motive, meaning a reason for doing something.
Motivation for me is an integral component of my mental health which is why I love my work because it's all about increasing motivation, either in myself or seeing it in others. Without our mojo we can lose sight of the why's behind everything we do. We all get caught in this from time to time. Heck, if we didn't get stuck in life then we wouldn't change and evolve as human beings! For some folk getting trapped in the abyss of not knowing what we are doing and why can just be a temporary glitch, yet for others it can become chronic and a pathway to despair. I don't need to remind those who know the dark and lonely world of depression that motivation and purpose are just too elusive in this state, and no amount of 'logical advice' from others will ever help bring it back either. Trusting that there is a way through depression is a very complicated discussion and not one that can be had via a Midweek column or brief conversation. For those folks who think that people should just be able to "get on with it" need to think again. Trust me when I say that those who know depression intimately very much want to "get on with it" - it feels like our very life depends on that. Trouble is, it's the 'how' to ignite motivation and hope when they appear to be non-existent. For some of us it just doesn't come that naturally to think a warm fluffy positive thought and 'poof' everything is peace and love again. Some of us must work at maintaining our mental wellness and that often must be taught in a very practical way. For those who are affected by anxiety or depression should not assume that things are going to just take care of themselves either, or that someone is going to take care of things for us.
The walk from depression, firstly, I want to say, back to wellness is most possible, but it will require our active participation.
Depression is not a life sentence, neither is it a choice, but it is a place that some of us can find ourselves because of a variety of reasons that we may not have even seen coming. The crawl through the darkness to being able to breathe again relies on a few determinants, but knowing who we are and being able to self determine our lives is integral and we need to know how, and if we can't? Then we need to ask those who can show us some options.
Support can be found in many places, either though friends, whanau or health services. What's important to remember however is that a hand up is far more useful than a hand out. Walk alongside and don't to the walking, for us even though that's what we crave!
Eventually all those little steps that we can take, with practice and commitment, can come together to create the big leap to mental freedom - it can be done.
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Physical and mental health.
