The Reason Nothing Happens - Is Because Nothing Is Happening!

I hear many clients declare how boring and stagnant their lives have become. As they disclose their concerns, the answer usually bubbles near the surface, but never quite makes it to the top. However, after a few minutes, I usually ask, "What are you doing to re-energize your life?" The most common answer is, "I dunno what to do!" Ah, the answer to the problem in itself!

Life becomes stagnant for varying reasons; however, the most causes include 1) forgetting how to re-motivate oneself and 2) waiting for the next "thing." In both cases, it's a matter of fast-idling in a comfort zone in hopes that something better will come along. However, while you wait and hope for the best, opportunities are passing by because you are not open to having them in your life.

--- Re-Motivation ---

Motivation is tough. It requires an objective, a plan, and a reason. If any of these items are missing, then the reason for the pursuit of a dream disappears. We sometimes become so stuck on a way of life, or a direction, that when we encounter a loss of any type, the resulting change causes us to stall. Life, as we once knew it, is over. This, because we've been so focused on a given path that any sudden changes knocks us off balance. But, the end of one way of life is indeed the beginning of a new life altogether!

In such cases, we have forgotten how to motivate ourselves and decide that it's easier to idle with imitation projects in a comfort zone to fill our voids as opposed to breaking out and chasing a dream. We work hard to stay where we are by devising busy-work to occupy our minds that then become excuses for us to remain stationary. However, re-motivation is a necessary part of life management as it allows us to adapt to changes (i.e., success, loss, and trauma at the end of a cycle or period of extremes) that can affect our lives.

--- Just Waiting Around ---

"Waiting around" is a situation that we all encounter from time-to-time. We just "wait", for any number of reasons, including fear and "holding out for something better." In the interim, our minds run amok and we stall at the top of a downward spiral.

We sometimes become so accustomed to allowing our environment to "rain down" on us that every time we try to move forward, we stop and wait for the "other shoe to drop." This is not an uncommon feeling as many people remain so set in their situations that they fear what might occur if they move on with their lives.

In other cases, we occasionally enter into a situation that "looks good", but we feel that something better is just around the corner. With that, we put our current plans on hold to see what happens next. However, over time, we've accumulated so many unfinished projects that we don't know where to begin. Is it fear of commitment? Perhaps, fear of success? Or, perhaps once we finally make it through to the end of these plans, we don't know what will happen next? Many times, it's not so much that we're waiting for something better, but we're afraid of not having something to dream of or aim for once our current plans conclude.

--- What's next? ---

In all cases, life stagnates because we allow it to do so. During change, you must find something to replace the loss imposed by trauma or success so that you can continue life's journey, albeit, on a new path. However, the only way to re-motivate yourself and stop waiting is to have a Vision or a "dream of meaning". Defining a Vision can make all the difference between stagnation and a fulfilling life.

Instead of waiting or worrying that there will be nothing at the "end of the rainbow", start making plans for your next dream so that you can achieve the life you desire. Don't just hang around in hopes that something better will come along, go out and find that something better, and take it!

About The Author

Edward B. Toupin is an author, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, technical writer, and PhD Candidate living in Las Vegas, NV. Among other things, he authors books, articles, and screenplays on topics ranging from career success through life organization and fulfillment. Check out some of his recent print and electronic books as well as his articles covering various life-changing topics! For more information, e-mail Edward at etoupin@toupin.com or visit his site at http://www.make-life-great.com or http://www.toupin.com!

Copyright (c) 2004 Edward B. Toupin

etoupin@toupin.com

---

How Self-Made Millionaires Overcome Procrastination

Do you want to know how the super successful overcome procrastination?One fascinating hallmark of all highly motivated millionaires is their strongly held conviction that they will succeed. Whatever it takes and despite any... Read More

Forward Motion

The natural cycle of life is to grow and move forward but moving forward brings with it an element of the unknown. It is human nature to fear the unknown. Often it is... Read More

Practical Ways To Motivate Yourself To Learn A Skill

One way to motivate yourself to work hard at anything is to risk wasting your money if you fail to put in the necessary effort.When Charles Simeon, the great preacher and theologian, was... Read More

Why You Should Write Your Obituary Today

Writing your own obituary sounds and feels a little strange, I know. If the idea doesn't appeal to you, try pretending that you have just won an award and the newspaper is doing... Read More

Passion and Purpose

Who are we, standing here on this planet, looking for a place to be? Are we the "forgotten ones" from a time gone by, a piece of pre-history perhaps, that lets itself unfold... Read More

Todays Trivia

I received an email today that said I could: "Make 500-10k from your living room," which I find to be an amazing claim, seeing as how I'm here, in my living room, making... Read More

Commit To Applying Lessons Learned

When growing up as a child, the concept of learning a lesson becomes so routine, that many of us just set it aside as unimportant like many other principles that otherwise should be... Read More

Motivation: The Power of Action, Part 2

The Three D's of Action are Decide, Do and Distinguish. Let's look at each of these in detail.Decide - that something has to and will change.Remember that success is a choice. Deciding means... Read More

Cure Your Burnout!

Do you ever get those Sunday night blues? Dreading the week ahead, feeling the daily grind just draining away all of your energy before the week even starts? Or what about those days... Read More

Motivation: 3 Keys to Lasting Change

David Bowie once sang, "Ch-ch-changes, tryin' to face the strain."There are times in life when trying to change can be a strain. If you are like most folks, you have tried to change... Read More

How to Tune In Your Brain and Feel Motivated in Minutes

Want to know how to run your brain and be more motivated?Let me tell you a true story...One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school principal wandered into our... Read More

Going with the Flow

This whole idea of change is founded on a single principle: CHANGE IS ALL IN YOUR MIND.First comes a desire or need to change. Then comes an attitude that permits it. Then come... Read More

Discover The Spark That Motivates You In Business and Life

Can There Be Any Other Business Like Your Own Business?"Whatever you persistently allow to occupy your thoughts will magnify in your life."-Dennis Kimbro, PhD., Author, Small Business Consultant, and Lecturer for the Napoleon... Read More

ACTION is More Important than Knowledge!

It was Albert Einstein who stated that 'imagination is more important than knowledge'. Now if he had been addressing a room full of entrepreneurs, I hazard a guess that he might also have... Read More

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

It is not just new age hype, studies in the area of quantum physics are leading to a growing acceptance of the theory that we can control the outcome of events by concentrating... Read More

Ill Put My Money On The Kid!

Now, the Fun Part. It is nigh time to find a way to take all the buck out of this bucking bronco we call the internet. I mean take all the gamble out... Read More

Forgotten Your New Years Resolutions Already? How To Get Back On Track

How quickly we forget. We are only a few weeks into the New Year, how many of you have forgotten that you even made any New Year resolutions.Why is that we start the... Read More

It Is Up To You

One of the first things successful people realize is the old adage, "if it is to be, it is up to me." That is, for you, the fact that your success and your... Read More

Making Decisions

You lost your job. Your partner left you. Your car was re-possessed. You find your life barren like the desert.Your self-esteem plunged. You don't think you are good enough for anything.You will never... Read More

Magic In The Leadership Zone!

"Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak - and esteem to all." - George WashingtonIn 2003 we lost one of our most famous... Read More

5 Fun & Easy Ways to Get Out of the Rut

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel less than great. Low, grouchy, fed-up and bored are all words you could use to describe what I'm like on those days. Thing is,... Read More

Making the Most of Now

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other... Read More

Is Failure the End of Everything?

"The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose." --John McEnroeMuch as we would like, not everything is going to go our way. Even if we prepare for what we... Read More

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!

"I have heard it said that the first ingredient of success is to dream a great dream." John A. ApplemanHow often do you dream or aspire? What do you dream of? Why do... Read More

17 More Things Ive Noticed Along the Way So Far

Three areas of life in which we get very little training, yet we all seem to have a strong opinion on: marriage, parenting and money.When all is said and done, it really is... Read More

Three Fs and a Challenge

It's no secret that life is a tricky animal to understand and it's even harder to tame it so that it delivers what you want. But from my work in the world of... Read More

Do You Know Which Door To Open?

Do you remember that old television program that gave the contestant the opportunity to choose one of three doors and receive whatever was behind the door?I was reminded of this television program the... Read More

A Perfect World ... Imbalance Creates Motivation

I am a big proponent of balance. Everything has to be just so. I believe that we should all strive to obtain balance in our lives. Balance between career and family. Balance between... Read More

Motivation and Success: Improved Techniques

Changing our internal programming that limits us has never been simpler or easier; we just expect it to be more complex! When we associate images or objects that provide a state of relaxation... Read More