Motivation on the Run

The motivational aspect of music seems universal. The first article I wrote The Songs that Inspire, thenMusic and Motivation. These show up every month on the most visited pages for Motivation on the Run. It continues to intrigue people as they look for ways to get motivated.

Music or Silence

I am interested in the opposite side of the coin, too. Silence … Not as a motivator, but the fear it causes in today’s society. Everywhere we go, noise is the normal expectation. Piped in music at the grocery store, at the restaurant, at the local coffee shop.

I have a meeting shortly, so I headed out early to have a little time to myself. The meeting is at a local coffee shop and the music is blaring. It can be somewhat distracting while trying to think or write, but I am very good at blocking and filtering most noises, just ask the Redhead.

Over recent years, I have had the opportunity to observe people in quiet environments, and they seem very uncomfortable, even nervous. Most people seem to be afraid to be alone with their own thoughts.

Today’s Culture and Music

We are in the middle of the iPod culture, where music accompanies us everywhere we go. We don’t have to experience silence or just thinking today, we can zone out to the tunes. In vehicles, we spend large sums of money to get the biggest, baddest sub-woofer we can afford, then crank it up to drown out the surroundings (I’m sure it’s not to just show off).

Silence

When was the last time you spent an hour in total silence? What did you do? What will you do?

1. Think about your job, whether it’s your life’s dream.
2. Think about your family and the direction you’re heading.
3. Plan your life goals for success. (What do you define as success?)
4. Think about where you want to be in one year, five years.
5. Think about and plan your financial goals, both short and long term.
6. Take a break from the hectic life, just for one hour.
7. Draw a mindmap of your life.
8. Consider your life after the children have left the nest.
9. Consider how you’ll take care of Mom (or Dad), when help is needed.
10. Decide what kind of car you’d like to drive.
11. Consider where you live. Is it where you want to spend the rest of your life?
12. Write a personal mission statement to define who you are.
13. Write your personal daily affirmations to read every morning.

[tags]motivation, music, silence, think[/tags]