Inspiration and motivation can be found from a multitude of mediums. I often find myself searching for inspiration or messages from music. It isn’t often, these days; that music has a positive message that can inspire us to grow our lives. However, the new Disney Superstar Miley Cyrus has proven that music can still inspire adolescents and adults. In her song The Climb, Miley promotes that sometimes one can lose their way in life; that sometimes it isn’t about the destination, but the path that leads us there.
This is a message I often promote when working with clients to help grow their life. We often want quick results, without having to work very hard. I recently listened to a discussion about how American’s don’t want to be inconvenienced. The same moral applies; we don’t want something that takes to much time and energy.
Here’s an example: College education is generally a four year course. Conducting research, taking examinations, interviewing, group work, internships, and late night studying; are all characteristics of a four year college. But, the recent trend is to receive a college degree in half the time. (Generally speaking) I am not discrediting the opportunity of taking classes online affords many Americans; I merely point out that we have tried to convenience our college education. But, what is missed in the online course scenario is The Climb.
It begins with the tour of the campus. Meeting new freshman at orientation or meeting your advisor to complete your course schedule. Then you learn about the dormitories or other housing options by visiting a landlord or housing authority. Soon after you are placing an ad for a roommate or meeting your dorm roommate. After school begins, you begin the “freshman adjustment” to your new life with your new friends. You may fall in love, you might find a new best friend, and you may even join a few organizations. All of these events can build skills for your future life. Each activity is a new lesson to be learned. But, we often find ourselves not recognizing the necessity and rewards of the difficult climb.
Here’s a freebie seedling: Write down a difficult event that occurs to you in a journal. Discuss your feelings before, during, and after the event. Explore the feelings you could or would have wanted to feel before, during, and after the event. Lastly, write down the lesson you learned from the event; so that in the future, you will retain the lesson and use it to make your climb easier. Don’t believe it works? Try it for a month and let me know your reactions.
For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hearing The Climb by Miley Cyrus, here is a link to her video and the lyrics. I hope it inspires you to enjoy the path you are on and the obstacles that come before us.
