Good afternoon guys! I hope you’re doing well and staying safe.

I don’t know about you guys, but there are times when you’ve been doing something for a while, you lose motivation. Like really really lose motivation. You may not be seeing the results yet of the work you’re putting in. I felt like this with the blog at times, with university, sometimes even in my faith. I’ll explain each one, struggles I felt, but how I got through them and re-found the reason why!

University: I know some students will resonate with this. When I first started, I was so excited about getting onto this career, learning so much about the course etc. But once I started doing the essay work, other modules which I didn’t particularly like, I felt like I was losing my love of the course. I went through a period of time where I wasn’t sure if this was what I wanted to do, I was lost and wasn’t sure anymore.

However, I had to give myself a reality check. Remember why I started. This came through me answering a question someone asked ‘Why did you choose Psychology’ and it came back to me, that I started this because I wanted to help people. Though I was struggling to focus, I had to remind myself of my end goal. I do want to counsel, to help people overcome those challenges that they’re facing in their lives . That’s why I started! Reminding myself why I started helped me to keep going!

My second example my blog. Yes this one that you’re reading. There are times when I’m getting a lot of engagement, people are reading. And times I think I’ve wrote a great post but then not a lot of people actually read it. It can be disheartening, honestly.

But I realised that God can actually allow this to happen, particularly for me, because I began to rely on the external validation, rather than remember that I started to help people. Whether one person, or a hundred people read. I started, not for the applause but to spread the gospel, and to share my story. To inspire others by sharing my story and my journey in Christ and through life. And once I obey God by sharing what He’s placed on my heart, it’s up to God to make sure that those who need to hear it, find it! I honestly had to remember the reason why I started.

Also, reminding myself not to compare myself to other people, not to compare where I am. One thing I’ve always said is that most of the time when I write, it’s what God is teaching me, and I don’t even realise. This means that sometimes I have to go back and read my own blog posts and remember ‘Practice what you’re preaching’. If I encourage other’s to embrace their own journey and focus on embracing where they are, do it! If I encourage others to not wait for the applause, not to despise humble beginnings, but to keep doing good anyway, then I really have to do it.

And finally, remembering why you started in your faith! When Joshua was leading the children of Israel and they were crossing the river Jordan, God told them to pick up 12 stones and carry them, for the purpose of when their children ask about the stones, they will be able tell them the story of how God brought them through (Joshua 4). In the same way when it comes to our faith, there is an importance of having something to hold on to, so you remember why you started and keep pushing with your relationship with God. Turns out we all have something, a testimony. There are times when I would pray and it feels like God isn’t hearing, or life is just not going great. But reminding myself that God is still good, why, because I have seen Him move in my life before. The bible tells us that We love Him because He first loves us (1 John 4:19). Having the understanding that He first loved us. That His love follows us, He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Let that be your motivation too! Knowing that God doesn’t need us but we need HIM.

So as I conclude this post, let this be a reminder to you, that remember why you started, remember how far you have come. You may have to write it down, and make it plain.

Go back to your beginnings, take the time to remember. Let that be your motivation when things are tough, knowing why you started in the first place.

I pray that God blesses you and that this post helps you.

Thank you for reading and please comment what motivates you to keep going.

Have an amazing weekend.

~Peace, joy and love x

TK