Reflecting on my past now, I realize that every motivation I ever had in the past sort of brought me to where I currently am.
I remember when I was growing up, nobody would force me to read or tell me how important reading was. Not my parents nor my brothers. I developed a love for reading all on my own, without any pressure or persuasion.
I can recall starting to read at a very young age, topping my class since I was in primary three. And I did that throughout my years in my secondary school.
My biggest motivation then was the joy of seeing some of my older siblings come home in their own cars, relatively big cars.
Since they all went to higher institutions, I strongly believed that their success was a result of their education and hard work, and that inspired me to focus on my studies. I was determined to get admitted to university, read law, graduate, and eventually get a job to buy my own car, too.
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What even motivated me more was that many of them were living in bustling cities like Lagos and Abuja, and I concluded that education was my ticket out of my village. So, I poured my heart into reading and studying, knowing it was the path to a better future.
However, this motivation slightly changed after I entered university. People do not get rich or buy a car by just going to school or having a job. I saw many of whom went to school, but are still stony broke.
I had to find another motivation to read and study hard(er). By that time, everybody already believed I had prospects and somehow they trust I would always do well regardless. This expectation that people had of me became my biggest motivation.
But as time passed, I began to realize that I should be living life on my own terms, not solely to meet others’ expectations.
Now, my motivation comes from a different place. I am driven by the desire to provide a better life for myself and my future children, coupled with my desire to be seen as a responsible uncle to my nieces and nephews. I also want to ensure my kids grow up in a loving environment with less struggles and more enjoyable moments.
I can go on and on to talk about how I get motivated these days or what drives me to aim more, work harder or be the best version of myself, but the list is endless.
The key is, something must drive you, anything. It can be money, the hunger for a better life, or even the desire to make your exes regret not marrying you in future.
If it makes you get up very early in the morning or spend hours at night trying to become a better version of yourself, then that is it: your motivation, the reason behind your drive. Because a man with no motivation is a man who has no drive, just existing and flowing with the vibes. And he can’t go far in life.
