Self-Motivation And Diligence

Self-Motivation And Diligence Of A Successful Youth

To be self-motivated is to do things without being prompted, coerced or forced.  Diligence is hard work, being studious and industrious.  The ants are weak creatures, yet they prepare their meals in the summer (dry season). They are self-motivated; they look at the future and diligently prepare their meals ahead of time.  There is need to rise to the occasion and prepare ahead for the glorious future God wants us to have.  We need to motivate ourselves and be diligent today because slackness, idleness, laziness and lack of foresight will result in sorrow, want and certain regret in future.  As a student, a whole world of opportunity is before you: you can attain very great heights in all spheres of life and make heaven in the end.  For this to be possible, among other things, you must possess Self-Motivation and Diligence (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4; 12:24, 27; 30:24-28).

Self-Motivation: Self-Motivation is the ability to get started with any task or goal you have in life without any external force putting pressure on you.  This is the attitude and disposition of the ants.  The love to be successful creates a drive, a desire and a moving force to lift a youth to actualize his goals to get to the top.

Self-Motivation is a combination of will-power, goals and ability to continue attaining the highest level of success.  It is not only about academics; it is also about anything we want to achieve in life, such as breaking a bad habit, learning a new skill, developing a reading habit, and so on.  It is what keeps you going when the going gets tough.  Your motivation is the gateway to self-esteem and success and is the best method for achieving your goals.  It requires you to know that you are valuable and significant.  Motivated people are able to focus on their goals and will not let any obstacle or barrier stop them from fulfilling their dreams.  They know what they need to be successful.

You need to take the following steps to motivate yourself:

i.     Define a clear objective of the success height you want to achieve;

ii.    Believe in your ability and potential to achieve the desired goal;

iii.   Stay positive, focused and consistent with your thought process;

iv.   Set the time frame to achieve your objectives;

v.    Set objectives that you ability and potential can cope with;

vi.   Look constantly at the goals to achieve and encourage yourself that since others have done it you too can.  Remember, personal motivation comes from decision;

vii.  Refuse the fear factor and reject defeat.  Look at what Henry Ford accomplished.  His motivation drove him to disregard competitors, critics and negative thinkers, freeing him to discover a way of building an automobile and making its purchase financially affordable for the general public.  Imagine the barriers he faced along the way of that fantastic journey!

viii. Pay the price of consistent diligence and hard work (Proverbs 6:6-11; 30:24-28).

Diligence: Apart from Self-Motivation, Diligence is required to achieve success.  Joseph had a dream and a vision of what his future would be.  He was fully persuaded.  God spoke to him about a bright grand future.  He never relented in painstaking effort and consistent hard work at home with his father and brothers and during years of imprisonment in Egypt.  He kept on being diligent until God fulfilled his dreams.

Nehemiah was diligent in his management of the construction of the wall of Jerusalem.  He first surveyed the extent of the damage of the wall and estimated the work to be done.  He then mobilized the people and shared the work among them.  In spite of oppositions, they were relentless in achieving their goals.  With determination and the help of God, the work was completed.

Though from a poor background and a broken home, Ben Carson diligently pursued his goals in life and achieved them.  Whatever your persuasion about your future, maintain a constant level of diligence to bring to reality God's design (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24; 13:4).

Success and Achievement: Happiness is for the self-motivating and diligent youth.  Aside from success, there is also the joy of achievement and accomplishment.  Others are: recognition for success; becoming a role model to others; possibility of reward with scholarship; fulfillment in life; glorifying God; promotion; and so on.  It will also give you confidence and assurance and make you to stand before kings and not before mean (ordinary) men. "Sees thou a man diligent in his business?  He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men".  Your bright future is assured because the hand of the diligent shall bear rule (Proverbs 12:24, 27; 22:29).