Fuelling Motivation and Achieving Success: Navigating Setbacks

I would like to start today's journal by talking about yesterday. Yesterday began with positive energy toward a particular goal I've been thinking about for a while but haven’t been able to tackle. My friend from the US was visiting, and we spent about two or three weeks together. I got some work done during the second week when he was away, but I still couldn't do much.

Determined to focus on my goal, I finally decided to work on it yesterday. Then, boom, I opened an email from the uni skills department about a Three Minute Thesis (3MT) presentation scheduled for today, June 11, 2024 at 10:40AM. This news put me off because I wasn't prepared at all—no script, nothing written, not even close to being ready. So, I felt discouraged and didn't do any work on my goal. I left my study and watched a couple of videos, just distracting myself. I did a few other things because I wasn't feeling motivated. Before I knew it, it was lunchtime. My wife brought in lunch, and afterward, I kept moving around the house. I didn't go back to study for the rest of the day.

In the evening, I tried to do something after watching a couple of other winners' videos. I wrote down two or three paragraphs, but then I lost motivation again and left the study. I played around, went to the bedroom, lay on the bed, and just didn't feel like working. I slept and woke up the next morning at 4 a.m.—today. I still hadn't done any more work and had only 6 hours and 40 minutes left before my scheduled presentation. I still wasn't ready.

My wife gave me some encouragement and positive feelings. She asked me a couple of questions, and before I knew it, I recited the first two paragraphs I wrote the day before. This made me realize I had started something. The first step is crucial, and it was that step that reignited my motivation. It sounded good to her, and she said I could do it, giving me a positive vibe.

The day before, I wanted to speak with my friend Dami to share how I was feeling, but we were unable to connect. I was already tired and just wanted to sleep. Of course, I slept until the morning.

Moving forward, after the conversation with my wife, she suggested I sleep for another two hours because I often don't get enough sleep. About 30 minutes into my rest, I woke up with strength and energy. I went back to my study and expanded my script from about 40 words to 100, then 120, then 170, and before I knew it, I had 300 words, which is an average length for a 3-minute thesis. I did a couple of recordings using VoiceNote and moved on to using a teleprompter app to see myself as I read. It was fulfilling to hear myself and realize I had done something well. It sounded like the ones that could win a competition.

The day started with so much energy. I tried to get a haircut to look presentable, but the barber didn't show up on time, so I proceeded to the campus. I presented my thesis, and they found it quite interesting and engaging. Despite telling them I hadn't prepared and would be reading from the script, they felt I didn't use it much. Their positive feedback re-energized my day and gave me a significant boost. I was very happy about that.

Well, that's how my day went today. I'm just putting this down as a note. I know there are some lessons to draw from it, which I'm going to note below.

Key Lessons:

1. Starting Small: Taking the first step, no matter how small, can reignite motivation.

2. The Power of Encouragement/Support System: Encouragement from loved ones can significantly boost confidence, drive and impact performance.

3. Adaptability to Unexpected Challenges: Being flexible and adjusting plans when faced with unexpected events is essential for progress. Adapting to unexpected challenges is crucial for progress.

4. Persistence: Pushing through initial setbacks leads to eventual success.

5. The Importance of Starting: Taking the first step, no matter how small, is crucial. It can reignite motivation and lead to progress.

6. Perseverance Pays Off: Pushing through initial setbacks and lack of motivation can lead to eventual success.

7. Taking Breaks and Rest: Adequate rest can restore energy and improve productivity.

8. Self-Reflection and Learning: Reflecting on the day's events and learning from them helps in personal growth and future planning.