Daily Motivator - December

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December 14

Novelty and repetition

Novelty has its place. And so does repetition.

You’ll find excitement, intrigue, and inspiration in new things. You’ll find strength, endurance, and a sense of belonging in repeating the stories you already know so well.

Without repetition, novelty loses its meaning and its anchor. Without novelty, repetition becomes flat, stale, and meaningless as well.

Seek out what’s new, what challenges you, what pushes your curiosity in directions it has never known. At the same time, keep alive the goodness that has well proven itself over the many years.

The world can change quickly, and accelerate in that change. Yet amidst such an explosion of newness, there’s great value in being firmly cognizant of where you came from, of where it all was not so long ago.

A life well lived is one of great ambition and desire for novelty, tempered with context and perspective. Treasure, honor, and serve well in your role as the essential connection between the wisdom of the past and the promise of the future.

— Ralph Marston

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December 15

Value for your time

There’s no time to waste, so what do you do? You hurry, and while all that hurrying can create much activity, it often produces poor results.

Rarely is it a good tactic to put yourself into such a rush. In the effort to hurry because time is short, you can easily end up wasting even more time.

Consider a couple of things. First, if you really don’t have time to focus and do a good job right now, could you wait until later, when there’s more time?

Second, is that urgent next activity you’re rushing off to actually urgent, actually important? Or is it something that could be delayed, maybe even canceled altogether?

If you regularly find yourself pressed for time, there’s an excellent chance you can benefit from a re-evaluation of your priorities and procedures. Rather than assuming that rushing is inevitable, challenge yourself to make your time more intentional and focused.

Instead of convincing yourself you’re making progress by rushing around, look for a better way. Give respect and value to your time, and it will return great value to you.

— Ralph Marston

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December 16

The time it takes

Value is built over time, with sustained effort and commitment. Don’t cheat yourself out of that value by chasing instant results.

In order to turn a corner, you must first get to it. When you seek to create a breakthrough, you have to lay the groundwork for it.

Get yourself moving in a positive direction, then enjoy the ride and give it the time it takes. Even though the fulfillment is not yet complete, you can already begin to experience it.

Don’t be afraid of the time it will take to make real progress. Be thankful for the opportunity to continue giving your best effort as time goes on.

You’ll find great joy in meaningful effort. The longer and more committed the effort is, the more fulfillment you experience.

Give yourself and your work the time it takes. Choose a worthy destination, and treasure every step of the journey.

— Ralph Marston

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December 17

Wins and losses

You win some and you lose some. Both are valuable.

Victories and achievements bring their rewards, yet they also can bring complacency. While losses and disappointments are painful, their pain can teach you and engender great determination.

Difficult times give you the opportunity to transform weakness into strength. Good times provide the opportunity to transform strength into treasure.

Sometimes your troubles are due mainly to your own choices, and other times those troubles come in spite of your best efforts. Sometimes your good fortune is mostly your own doing, and sometimes you just encounter a streak of good luck.

Whatever the case, be thankful for the opportunity to make the best of it. With a steady purpose, move forward from wherever you find yourself.

The pains and the pleasures, the wins and losses, all add substance and value to your life. Embrace each season as it comes, and find true goodness in it all.

— Ralph Marston