Motivations

I'm a sucker for getting lost in my own mind - letting my thoughts run wild as i try to hang on.

Today i visited a really good nurse friend of mine at the hospital where she works after I promised to deliver her some pizza in exchange for sound medical advise. While i was there, she and I chatted and she told me about her dissatisfaction with her current job and her fruitful search for a new one.

It never really occurred to me that even nurses can hate their jobs - so my mind went racing with the concept.

Now i want to say right now that my internal conversation stopped having ANYTHING to do with my nurse friend and her situation - but instead, everything to do with ANYONE and their plot in life. She did, however, act as the catalyst for my thought train. Anyway... back to racing my mind.

What would lead someone to hate their job? Their co-workers? The pay? The environment? The tasks?

Perhaps the actual role isnt a good fit? But why would someone go through so much training for something that didn't fit? Why would someone find themselves, after spending time, money and energy to get where they were - only to hate it?

All this led me to the topic of motivations. We all do things for different reasons (money, comfort, hunger, love, etc) ... no matter what it is, we each have different motivations for doing it. I started wondering if people do things because they like the idea of doing it... not actually doing it. For example: I like the idea of working in the yard on Saturday (feels good, i accomplished something - beautified my home, etc.) but actually going out and doing it... not so much a fan.

It makes me wonder how many others fall into choices based on how safe or attractive the concept (not the actual action) is. How many of us make choices for the wrong reasons - the wrong motivations? Marriage? Career? Home? Self?

I sometimes fear too many people make decisions based on what they have been told is right for them, but not really figuring out what is actually right for themselves.

I suppose it comes down to being honest with yourself, being able to face the truth - even if it means answering the hardest question you've ever asked yourself. Grab your balls... and do it.