It is said that motivation is the reason or drive, one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. It is the fuel, the reason why we are trying to accomplish our task at hand. Motivation is seeing an obstacle, and doing whatever it takes to overcome it. I'm going to go over with you all with a story that hopefully motivates you to succeed.
In the Summer of 2012, I had a major surgery on my knee, due a complete ACL and meniscus tear (I know how Derrick Rose feels). This is the type of injury that would put anyone out of any real physical activity for 9-12 months. In short, It was the second worst experience I've ever had (Oh don't worry, we will get to the first). I've had the surgery a year before, but this one was worse. My first surgery was due to playing basket ball, the second time however I blew out my knee in front of everyone at my University...in a talent show. What the heck was I doing? A Rap song.....yep. I basically got too excited and jumped, which blew out my knee, because I didn't listen to my doctors when he said, "don't run or jump until after a year". So yeah...listen to your doctor.
Now the first month was a daze, I was drugged up on oxycodone to relieve the pain. All I could do was sleep because that's what the pill did to me. After a few weeks, I wanted to stop, but I unfortunately cut it off cold turkey. This caused me to have some bad withdrawals, primarily fever like symptoms. However, I was able to beat the sickness and continue to fight the pain without the medication...Thank God.
A few weeks after the first month, depression set in. The worst thing about the surgery wasn't the pain, nor the rehab, it was to be comfortable being isolated in your home recovering, with little to no visitors because most of my friends were still in school. I also didn't have many contacts to communicate with. No one could really understand the pain I went through. Most people gave me a "I'll pray for you, I'll talk to you later" response. I hated it, I really despised them at some point because I wanted to be like them. I wanted to be happy and to be mobile again.
I went through some dark days, and all I wanted to do, was to walk. Besides wanting company, walking was my main priority, and I was willing to do whatever it takes to do that. Going into rehab, it was tough...real tough. The pain was unbearable, and my leg wasn't healing as quick as it should. Part of it was because I was scared..I didn't want to take the pain anymore. And I remember what my therapist said...and I will never forget it. Paraphrasing, he said, "You are in control as to how fast you want to recover...NO ONE will have a bigger impact to your recovery but yourself"
So that whole Eric Thomas "how bad do you want it" speech was given to me, and at that point I didn't accept it. My typical christian response at the time was, "No, God is in control, and He will heal me when He thinks I should be healed." Man was I wrong. I mean yes it's true God will help you with whatever situation you are in, but it requires the individual to put in work as well. Biblically speaking (and I can do this because I have a degree in religion), God blessed us with the power of choice. Too often, however, we think if we just pray and chill, that God will just use His magic wand and fix everything. No, Because of the power of choice, we limit God from really working in our lives. How can we desire to be successful by praying but not putting in the work? It's like going to the gym, you can't bench 30IBS by letting your spotter do the work, because he would be the one benching, technically curling.
Now after I had heard this, as well as thinking it through for a few minutes, I figured, sure why not. I began working out 4-5 times a week, eating healthier, walked a mile 3 times a week, etc. I was determined to get better, I had no choice. The reps were doubled at therapy, and I fought through the pain. I didn't care how bad it hurt, or how tough it was. The only thing on my mind was to live and I couldn't live in bed having my parents take care of me.
If you want to be successful, you need the motivation and just do it (insert shia labeouf meme here). We all wish things just magically just got better, or that God or the universe just fixes things for us, but that isn't the case. We have to put in the work ethic to see results. You put in 100 and God will do the rest. My motivation at the time was to walk because I wanted more out of life, and I am fortunate to be able to continue walking whereas others don't have that privilege. I took life for granted before the surgery, but because of it, I appreciate it more than ever, and I am hungrier than before to accomplish my goals. So whatever it is you are going through, just know that it is when we are cornered, that we do our best to survive. You can do it.
