Motivation Monday ~ The Perfect Week for Reflection and Planning

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 26, 2011 - 2011 is coming to an end and has been a tumultuous year. This week between Christmas and New Years provides a perfect opportunity for reflection and planning for 2012.  

Yesterday was Christmas and Channukah overlaps Christmas this year running from the 20th to the 28th,and Kwanzaa begins today and runs through January 1st.   It is a time of celebration and religious / spiritual awareness for most of the world.

For several years now, I have taken with the practice of saying, “God Bless” to people.  Really for no other reason than to wish “God’s blessing upon someone,” which I assume is truly the most blessed and giving thing that I could give to another human being.  And note that I do not say, “My God Bless” you, I just say God.  It could be your God or my God or some other God for that matter.  I have been told by some that they find it offensive or they just don’t like it.  However, I have also had people stop in their tracks and say a very genuine “thank you” or “God Bless you too!”  How pleasant!

I’m not sure what lead me to the practice, but it feels good and seemingly provides a greater and closer connection to other people.  Coming from an Irish Catholic background, we have family friends and people in our community that have used the phrase for years, but I don’t think that is what started it.

The genuinely good feeling or the good vibe that is exchanged when someone understands the gesture is truly contagious!  How nice to connect with others even if just for a moment and wish them well and God’s blessing, especially during this holy time of year.

During this week, between Christmas and New Years is such a special time for family and friends, but what else are we doing?  Today has become a day when people return presents or go back to malls.  Even after all the trauma of shopping last week people are still focused on the materialization of the holidays.  I know that we have a sense of responsibility to purchase “stuff” for our kids, family and friends, but at what point do we become preoccupied with the materialization and not the spiritual importance of this season.

After the tragic events of 9-11-2001, I created a day of recognition that was passed by The United States Congress called, National Motivation & Inspiration Day©.  It is a day dedicated to the importance of “motivation and inspiration” in our daily lives.  What is it to be “inspired?”  To be “motivated?”  What’s the difference?


Unfortunately, I have found in traveling all across North America that people love to use the phrase, “same stuff, different day,” which I find horrible, because it is neither “inspired” nor “motivated.”  Much like our pets, dogs and animals go from day to day without any plan or strategy; many people have no plan for life.  Most people have heard the phrase, “you plan to fail when you fail to plan” and yet they do not make the connection to “goal setting” or being “strategic.”  Almost every adult that works for any company has “goals” that are set for them at work that they must strive toward in order to have a sense of professional accomplishment or so the company knows that they have someone that is not just showing up to work to collect a pay check, but rather to perform and get things done in order to “earn” their pay check.  And yet only 3% of the most successful people actually write down their goals each year.  In fact, statistically, 85% of people forget what their New Year’s Resolution was by the end of January each year.  Very sad.

I have written and distributed this Motivation Monday© column for almost a year.  Each week trying to provide information that will either inspire or motivate people into “taking action to make things happen©” in “becoming the very best U that U can be©.”  Whether you see it as “goal setting,” “planning,” or “strategy,” establishing realistic goals for 2012 is something we should all do, especially our children and young adults.

Next Monday, January 2nd is National Motivation & Inspiration Day©.  We have set a goal of having 10 million Americans, especially young adults join us in setting 5 goals for themselves for 2012.  This week then can be a time of reflection to determine the things you are grateful for and what are the things that you would like in your life. Most people establish health goals of either losing weight, exercising more or eating less, but what about the other critical components of your life?  Do you have “spiritual goals?”  Do you have “financial goals?” Do you have “community goals?”  Take this week to think about what is missing in your life and how you can create goals for 2012 to bring these things into your life!

In the end America, it’s up to you.

Go to: http://www.MotivationandInspirationDay.org for help in establishing your goals.


About the Author
Kevin L. McCrudden is President of Motivate America, Inc. and Founder of National Motivation & Inspiration Day, which is January 2nd of every year and was passed by The United States Congress after the tragic events of 9-11-2001. Creator of “I Am America Apparel” www.IamAmerica.us  and is also author of “U ~ Who Are U?” where he introduces the most significant addition to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in 60 years.  http://www.amazon.com/~-Who-Are-ebook/dp/B004GNFUR0/ref=s...

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11758014/1