What Is An Engine?

[jmfargo]

What drives you?

What makes you realize suddenly that something in your life needs to happen, and so you do it?

Is it friends? Is it family? Or maybe it's just that you're an extremely productive person, always on top of the game?

For me, it's realization. I almost always have to go through some kind of mental hurdle, and realize "Yes, I need to change this behavior." It's just, sort of, a mental pep-talk that helps me look at my life and alter my behavior in such a way as to lead to a better life.

So, what do you do, when you realize something has to change to make your life better? Do you hem and haw? Or do you get right on it? How do you find the courage, the strength, and the drive to get to where you need to be?

Comments

[conscience.livejournal.com]

I'm actually going through this right now, with the huge decision of my back + work = Can't

Some things hit you that you *know* you have to do. But my big push is thinking about everything, speaking to other people and getting advice to help my thinking - or more like back-up my thinking so I don't lose focus, then jumping right in.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I tend to talk to people too, but in the end it seems like something clicks into place, regardless of what other people have to say.

When you jump right in, do you do so looking forward to what the future will bring, or do you wonder what would happen had you jumped into a different possibility?

[drgnflydreaming.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I usually have to have it pointed out to me.

I'm sort of oblivious and lost in my own head, most of the time. After that I hem and haw for a short time. How long I procrastinate depends upon how big of a change needs to be made.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

It's good to know yourself enough to know that you're lost in your own head.

I think we all have things that need to be pointed out to us from time to time, and that's why interaction with others is so important for most people.

[killians1978.livejournal.com]

I recognize things nearly immediately. I'm a master procrastinator, however, and I work diligently to make sure I never get anything done.

Like the weight thing. It's there, the options to fix it are there....

..... but so is that pizza. And that couch. And GTA IV. Eh, I'll start the diet tomorrow.

I've been quitting smoking for nearly 6 months now.

I've been looking for a new job since two weeks into my current one.

I've been growing up since I was 15.

Someday these things will get done. Whether they're done by me or the grim reaper, that's left to be seen.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* You and I are similar in this. The pizza is there, or the health food is harder to make than whatever it is I can just microwave. The computer is in front of me, why would I want to go out for a jog in the bad weather?

But for one thing up there, I agree with what you have to say. You've been growing up since you were 15; I'm yet to start actually growing up. But I'm okay with that.

[killians1978.livejournal.com]

Nah, you're growing up. You're accepting personal responsibility for things, you actually -do- get involved in projects that don't necessarily benefit or profit you, like your photo blog.

You're getting there. If we're both very lucky, death will catch up with us before anyone can use the phrase "all grown up" to describe us.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I guess I agree that I'm growing up, but I don't think anyone in my life that actually knows me for who I am on a day-to-day basis will ever be able to use the phrase "all grown up."

At least, that's what I pray. :)

And my photo blog, for the record, nets me a cool twenty cents a day, sometimes, on a really good day. Heh.

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Here via your comment to popfiend ...I'm too curious for my own good sometimes.

I don't find it so much as it just sort of occurs.


Like resuming wearing my CPAP because it could keep my life going longer than I would without using it, and because I finally stumbled across a comfortable way to wear it.

Like I went back to working OT because I have things I need to get done this summer and it'll be less of a hardship if I have OT on my side.

Other things kind of fall into place like that, too. I just notice I'm doing things I should've been doing alla long.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

It is interesting to look back and see what things we've changed in our lives without realizing it, n'est pas?

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

How do you find the courage, the strength, and the drive to get to where you need to be?

From my wife.

Fortunately, my life is already good, so I haven't recently seen a need to change it for the better.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

My wife and I draw strength from one another too, when we need to. It's a good thing to have someone there to help you push on.

[pleepleus.livejournal.com]

I don't know. Things happen and something inside me just snaps. It's the end of the rope. For whatever reason, things I have tolerated and excuses I have put up with or made for myself are no longer acceptable.

I can't give a specific always the trigger. Just whenever it happens. It is DONE.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you're saying. I've had it happen before in a lot of different ways, and I can never look back and say "this is what did it."

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

My Drive?

Well short answer: Go read "Armor" by John Steakely.

It is Sci-Fi, but it sums up what drives me. I often feel like Felix in the book, and I too feel I've got an engine inside me, pushing me forward even when I feel I can't, or don't want to do so.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check it out.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

The author does an excellent job of disassociation with Felix that really 'sells' it. I think that's why I connect with Felix so much. When I don't/can't do something I put my brain on override and my engine takes over.

You'll have to catch yourself midway through the book though. There's no other way to describe it other than, "yes, you're still reading the same book; no the publisher didn't accidently switch books mid-book." That's all I can say really, otherwise it'd be telling you too much.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I've read a few books like that, so I'll make sure to watch for it. Thanks for the heads up.

[mediefal.livejournal.com]

Awesome book...

"I am going to die. But you ain't killing me, and you ain't killing me, and you ain't killing me..."

Simply awesome. Very good read!

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Yes, that book is the first book I recommend to anyone considering to read military sci-fi. Then I turn them on to some of Weber's stuff, then Drake, etc. But yeah, LOVE that book. =D

[mediefal.livejournal.com]

Weber has a few series that the wife and I read.
All the Honor Harrington, and Merc books...

I would also recomment SM Stirling Domination series For space opera
Elizabeth Moon The Deed of Paksenarrion for fantasy mercenary...

Jim

[ziyda.livejournal.com]

Good question, and my answer is simple.
Pain.
I feel pain within and it motivates me.
I see, and then feel the pain my crap brings up in others, and it motivates me to get out of the problem, and into the solution.
The crucial ingredient is for me to get myself off of the center of the universe, and practice empathy for others, and be fully aware of consequences.
This applies to the behaviors I have that I am not naturally "on top of the game" with. Everyone has things that need improvement or change, that's the nature of being human!
Have you ever heard: *Don't compare your insides with other peoples
outsides.*?

[mediefal.livejournal.com]

What drives you?
***
Outside of a vehicle, Marj. Inside any vehicle, ME.

What makes you realize suddenly that something in your life needs to happen, and so you do it?
***
Tripping over a set of shoes again and again (Size 9 childrens). Picking up 4-5 jackets in the hallway again and again.

Is it friends? Is it family? Or maybe it's just that you're an extremely productive person, always on top of the game?
***
If I was on top of the game, it would have been done the first time, and the kids would have done it... ;)



So, what do you do, when you realize something has to change to make your life better? Do you hem and haw? Or do you get right on it? How do you find the courage, the strength, and the drive to get to where you need to be?
**************
Has to is strong motivation. Something has to change. Okay. While on the topic of books, James Axler and somebody else wrote the "Deadlands" series of post apocolyptic folks. The first character you kinda meet is "the Trader" and his motto is Over, under, around or thru. Thats how you solve problems.

It has to get done. Okay. Done.