Students of human behavior agree that few persons achieve their potential. Many do not even gain a meaningful part of what they say, in passing, that they want from life. They believe they have the ability to achieve, but what they want may be less than their potential might generate. They miss better performance, with its gratification, for various reasons: 1) uncertainty about what to do; 2) distress from circumstances; 3) interference from persons, sabotaging in some way the process; and, 4) weak motivation, insufficient energy to carry through on objectives. This last reason may be the most common culprit in the story. Not knowing what to do is overcome by the education, training and experience of the individual. He or she goes to school, relates to mentors, and finds work, perhaps in variant environments. The effort is moved along at the speed the person finds for it – sacrificing time, applying oneself, finding resources, seeking information, and the like. The developing person finds effectiveness through continuing evaluation, relevant questions, periodic changes, ready energy, application, and thereby rises to worthy challenges.
Circumstances may be overwhelming when economic depressions hit society, when wars are fought, when family tragedies interfere, when health and energy fades. Were it not for World War II, it is possible that I would have gone overseas on a life mission. My wife and I were interviewed, and informed of opportunity that awaited the end of World War II. When hostilities ended, we were on another track, moving well. Others in our generation witness to the same shift, a shift that became permanent. Similar stories may be told about persons shuttled off in unplanned directions by the Depression of the 1930’s. Some were afforded the leftovers in a limited society. The most limiting circumstances relate to our personal backgrounds. Children, reared in homes where there is little discipline; where values are diminished; where learning is not encouraged; where modeling is poorly done; where proper work, some frugality, and constructive service are not encouraged – will not easily find motivation to achieve. The easy life, in affluent times, can be about as destructive as poverty, when it comes to setting life objectives and achieving them. Distractions steal the place of constructive dreams. Those in poverty may take it easy, so to get by. It may be their way of coping with the disappointments and denials of life.
Even with strong interferences, we can overcome. We assume that most persons have basic health, fair energy, adequate intelligence, right attitudes toward learning, able to take on responsibility, with respect for self and others. Where is motivation? Several persons entered my orbit at crucial moments, changing my life. What they did was simple in truth, but dramatic. One example may do. I had long wanted to complete a doctoral program. I scheduled some breaks, even took time off with a sabbatical. I had just reached my fortieth birthday. A fellow professor came into my life, listened to my dreams, and responded: Either go get it, or forget it! Why do persons like you, work hard, yearn personally, pray fervently, and talk about a project, and it doesn’t get done? Do it, or forget it! I was shocked with the simplicity of what he said. From that moment I knew it would be done, and I did it. I refused to forget it, so I had to go for it.
I did, and the dream became mine. That wise man, now deceased, never knew quite how much good he did for me. I turned the matter into a serious game, with my family and others on the team. We did it. Do it, or forget it! Here is a marvelous secret for life, and a guard against the robber of our objectives and ideals. We think about it, suffer over it, but the goal is there for the dedication of self. On that understanding Christ taught his disciples. They changed, and so did the world. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020