As a young mom, my will to care for my children provided amazing motivation for many goals. There was little need to dig deep for motivation to reach those goals. The same was true with regard to teaching, I was intrinsicly motivated to do a good job. Now I am staring a few more difficult goals, pursuits I have chosen that will require greater focus and intention. Why the difference?
Conditioning
I believe that I was deeply conditioned for goals related to parenting and teaching. Essentially I was a teacher and parent of sorts from a young age as the eldest of six children in my family. I also grew up with a mom who loved being a mother and a dad who spent a lot of time teaching so I had ready mentors for both roles. It's much easier to achieve goals related to your conditioning than goals that oppose early conditioning and support.
Myths and Prejudices
The goals I am reaching for now do not benefit from early conditioning. In fact, my conditioning as a young woman and dutiful daughter worked against some present goals. To a large part, this was due to old time myths and prejudices that existed related to women's roles and supports, myths and prejudices that are not supported by research today. So to achieve these pursuits, I have to re-condition myself in ways that erase or unlearn old patterns and mindsets. This takes time and attention.
Making Time for New Pursuits
It takes time to rework old routines in order to make way for new pursuits and goals. This too takes time and attention. As I begin this journey, I've been noticing how easy it is for me to resort to old routines and mindsets rather than embrace the new journey. I am doing research about this as one way to strengthen my direction and resolve.
Taking a Break for Old Patterns
To embrace the new patterns appears to benefit from making some dramatic turns from old routines. It's not that I can't return to those old routines in some ways later, but for now, in order to empower the new direction, some dramatic steps are needed. I watched my husband make some significant lifestyle changes a few years ago, and noticed how that included some dramatic changes at the start--changes that served him well for the long run.
It is a luxury to have time to focus on new goals and pursuits. I don't want to waste this time or potential. Onward.