Motivationally Demotivated

 

Motivationally   DemotivatedMoti

 

Quite often we come across words such as – Enthusiasm, Motivation, Positivity etc. And somehow it helps us inch closer to our goals, whenever we derail. Words, oration, and certain frequency of positive vibes, that is all it takes to move ahead amidst the gloomy fog of uncertainty and despair. Human emotions have always been a driving force for market. This includes that of “Motivational Speakers.”

 

Every living soul must have faced the moment when it is impossible to move ahead or go back. Impossible to breathe or die. Impossible to smile or cry. Impossible to speak or keep mum. Such combinations of contradictory emotions are quite the symptom of lack of motivation in life. No matter how energetic one is, ‘Time’ is a powerful weapon to suck one’s soul completely dry. Life does not happen linearly. There are phases of crests and troughs. There is always a Sunset to a sunrise and vice versa. So, the need for nudge, a push, always remain. Here comes the role of a “Motivational Speaker.”

 

Now, as a job, how exactly these things work? If things go as planned, we do not need a third person infusing fuel to our ambitious journey. It is the moment we get stuck that we need an external lever. Let us understand the position of a motivational speaker. Are they truly getting your emotions? No. There are a lot of assumptions attached to such a position. And the most common is – “You need to work harder.”

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Luck or destiny is often ridiculed upon. Things such as astrology or planetary effects over a body is a matter of superstitious thinking. At the end of the day, fault lies with the “depressed” being. And somehow shouting that out is going to help the being. Billion dollars business of infusing enthusiasm with the help of well-articulated and perfect amalgamation of words and pitch. The moment the so-called motivational speaker tries to help you out by pointing your mistakes, he gains supremacy over your thoughts.

 

Everybody must have studied about the Indian National Freedom Struggle and the role of Mahatma Gandhi in it. Let us recall few history lessons and see if “Emotions” such as motivation and depression played any role? The Movement starting in 1920 by the name of “Non-cooperation” was at its peak when it was called off by Gandhiji. Why was it called off? Apparently because of violent clash at a small town of “Chauri Chaura.” But was it that simple?

 

Gandhiji had a philosophy. The capacity of masses to sacrifice is limited and quite often an unlimited period of struggle wears down the masses. So, he preferred “Struggle-Truce-Struggle” methodology. His way of protest never changed at fundamental level since his days in South Africa, what changed was his command over the timings.

Now, even though leaders like Nehru or Bose disagreed with Gandhiji, it was time for a two year long Movement to seize its existence. Do you think any quantity of “Motivation” would inspire the masses to keep sacrificing under the garb of illusionary Freedom?

 

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Let us come back to individuals and their struggle. Yes, a little push, little positivity and a little motivation is needed every now and then. But is it possible that the same motivation work as an irritating, depressing and demotivating factor?

 

The graph of motivation is never exponential and there comes a time when even a so-called positive word acts as bullets of anxiety, piercing through the skull of an already down soul. This world has seen examples of exemplary, extra ordinary, and serene beings showing the mettle of iron to withstand the hardships of time and destiny. This world has seen the grit of survival, pursual of goals and stories of achievements beyond imagination. Books, movies, acts, theatres, we have it all, filled with the ocean of motivations. What is missing?

 

Let us first understand what is Struggle? If something is not happening according to one’s plans, is that struggle? No. The act of indefinite input of efforts without an iota of output, with diminishing and flickering strait of hope of success, that is Struggle.

 

Hoping for someone else to understand this quicksand is stupidity and relying on others’ words of motivation is a sin. This is what differentiates Realism from Idealism. The world is not ideal and neither is the phase one go through. Denial of any aspect of a multi-dimensional situation and relying solely on the “hard-work” theorem is childish at the least. Is it possible that the honey-wrapped, bundles of energy coming out of a speaker’s mouth turns into spears of agony at the ears of an already depressed soul?

 

Things are happening and will happen. Looking at some arc in a particular Frame of Reference and assuming it to be a straight line only shows how myopic the viewpoint is. The bigger picture is never revealed to an individual within that frame. One must go beyond the frame to understand it. Simply put, “Let it Be.”

 

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