Ignite Your Spark at a Motivation Workshop

A motivation workshop might seem like a frivolous thing to participate in, or something that your boss has signed your team up for so you are obligated to attend - maybe begrudgingly. But if you stop and think about this article, you might think a little differently about them.

Often we go through the motions of everyday living and do so in a half-hearted manner, not even registering half of what we are doing - it's become a subconscious pattern that we follow or are stuck in. Because of this a lot of what we want to accomplish doesn't get done, or done to the best of our ability. Often we do not really know what they are capable of doing until we are pushed to our limits and given no other options.

However, the good news is that you don't have to experience a lot of pain in life in order to realize that you can have, and be, more. Most of us know where we need a push, or a spark of motivation to get the best, or at least better out of ourselves. And if that is you then you are someone who could find benefit from a motivation workshop. Motivation workshops are powerhouses of ideas and inspirations - by awakening that power inside you through motivation, you can actually reach way beyond your wildest imagination.

Choosing The Right Motivation Workshop For You
There are many motivation workshops being offered in learning institutions, management organizations, community buildings and more all over the nation. If you are interested in enrolling you might want to pick out a course or workshop that is suitable for your present job situation: if you are a freelancer and you are still at the crossroads trying to figure out where you want to go in your career, a motivation workshop that offers direction setting, goal identification and the like might be a good fit.

When choosing the right motivation workshop for you, take into consideration who/what company is holding it. And remember that the expertise and credentials of the speakers and the workshop facilitators matter. Also consider the accessibility, the duration and cost of the workshop - note that the venue, duration and the content of the motivation workshop will affect the cost.

Another consideration is the online motivation workshop. There are many out there and they can vary in features. If you are in a remote location or work nights, or just plain don't like to socialize, then these can be great ways to motivate, but in general it is the interaction with others that will ignite that spark of motivation, and then continue to fuel the flame.

Words Of Inspiration

Whenever you feel less that optimal, words of inspiration can do wonders to help you get out of a rut, emotionally, physically, spiritually, creatively... in all aspects of your life.

Words of inspiration are especially meaningful in the world we live in today, where everything is happening at such a fast pace, and where people are often overwhelmed by the emptiness and meaningless of many of the things that take place all around them.

With all the sound bites, multi-tasking and just plain speed at which we are supposed to accomplish things, it's not surprising that we think what seems to be an unending array of thoughts - from the moment we awake, until the moment we close our eyes to sleep at night.

It is almost the norm to repeat meaningless sayings day in and day out, and it is estimated that on an average we think about sixty thousand thoughts daily – often repeating the same thoughts over and over again.

It is no wonder that the work of spiritual leaders such as Eckhart Tolle are gaining in popularity. We feel an emptiness in some aspects of life and an overabundance in others. We need balance. And where there is emptiness, or an inability to make a change, words of inspiration can motivate us and move us forward in the right direction - and help us live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

One of the foremost exponents of words of inspiration was none other than the great Indian soul known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi, who inspired millions of Indians and whose sayings still inspire people not only from India, but all round the world; whose writings, and sayings were filled with meaning that had struck a chord with readers, or listeners, and swayed the masses into following his Civil Disobedience Movement that eventually led to the Independence of India from the British just sixty years ago.

There are many high profile individuals who have swayed the masses by using words of inspiration that often, when boiled down to their very essence, are so obvious and logical that we often wonder why we are unable to come up with them ourselves. But you don't have to have suffered to be able to inspire - you are an inspiration to someone, whether you are aware of it or not. I am inspired daily by those around me, but if you were to ask those people if they thought of themselves as inspirational they would most likely say no.

The Real Effect of Motivation Articles

With so much available to us it seems like we are forever hurried and taxed with things that need to be done. And with so much that we deem needs to be done in our lives, it’s not hard to see why motivation and inspiration are hot topics. I myself have taken to writing motivation articles, and started up this inspirational/motivational web space to house them. I didn’t intend on writing artidles per se, just getting the words out that I felt needed to be written.

Motivation articles are written for different reasons: Internet business owners use copy to draw traffic to their websites; coaches and mentors use them, and books, to create awareness about how effective motivation is, even to the average Joe, as well as to promote their services.

Motivational pieces are a form of inspirational technique to empower and enable a person along the road to success. If someone reads a well written weight loss article, for example, it can help them to reach their goal of weight loss because motivation instills a mindset that you can do something whether anyone else believes it or not.

In whatever area of your life that needs a little push, you can find some information, especially online, that can give you a spark. Assess what aspects of your life you feel lack within, and then find an online community where others are sharing that lack. For weight loss there are many wonderful social web sites that help motivate and inspire people the world over to lose weight, and stay in shape. My favorite place to do that is at Spark People – and best of all this wonderful service is free.

But if joining an online community is not your ‘thing’ then simply reading motivational posts and articles online can really give you a boost. Why not subscribe to a motivational web site [like this one!] and get a spark delivered to your inbox on a regular basis – you don’t need to visit all your chosen websites to see what’s new as it will come to you!

And as a final note – if you were looking for motivation articles in a search engine’s results page you might have found this web site, because it has them. If you would like to use any they can be reproduced, with credits to this web site included and I would love to hear from you if you use any of this website’s content.

Motivation Theories

Motivation refers to the reason, or reasons, for engaging in a certain behavior. There are many motivation theories under the umbrellas of drive reduction, affective-arousal, need and cognitive. Let's look at some of the most popular.

One drive reduction theory is Cognitive Dissonance Theory which manifests during feelings of uncomfortable tension. This tension comes from holding two conflicting [dissonant] thoughts, or cognitions, at the same time. The tension, increases with the subject's importance, how strong the thoughts conflict and if we are unable to explain and rationalize the conflict. A good example is a person who wishes to give up smoking because they know of its detriment to health, but they continue to smoke.

Under the affective arousal theory umbrella is found Interests Theory. This vocational choice theory, 'birds of a feather flock together,' comes from the work of psychologist John L. Holland. Holland is the creator of Holland Codes, which are six personality types, used in the assessment of interests. Holland argues that 2-3 types dominate in each person and the types are: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional. This theory works on the principle that people like to be around others who have similar personalities and so in choosing a career, people choose jobs where they can be around other people like themselves.

Of all the motivation theories Abraham Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory is the most widely discussed. The basics of Maslow's theory state that humans have unsatisfied wants/desires which influence our behavior. All our needs are ordered according to how we deem their importance [ranging from the basic to the complex,] and that we advance up through the levels when minimal satisfaction has occurred. Progression through this order shows more 'humanness'. The hierarchy is physiological, safety and security, social, self esteem, self actualization and self transcendence.

Cognitive: Goal Setting Theory
When we set goals they have components that we deem acceptable, so that we do not give up or fail. These goals are clear, challenging and achievable. What this means is that we know exactly what to do and can remain focused, that there is enough stimulus to deter boredom and that the goal is attainable enough so we are not likely to fail. If we set our own goals we are much more likely to succeed as they meet our criteria, not someone else's.

Our goals fall into two categories that contain different levels of deliberation: directional and accuracy. A directional goal drives us to an end which we can get to by narrowing our focus and choosing certain beliefs that will support the desired end result. There is not much deliberation and, therefore, more optimism about reaching the goal. An accuracy goal is where we strive to reach the most accurate conclusion. This requires a lot more effort as being inaccurate can have high penalties. There is greater deliberation with this goal and thus more realization that the goal might not be attainable, unless we search for improvements, and again this goal works by influencing our choice of beliefs, as well as decision-making rules.

As we go through goal setting, whether using directional or accuracy, we need feedback to ascertain the success of the path we are on. Feedback, if done in a positive manner encourages and motivates, while negative feedback - from others or ourselves - is a demotivator.

We have only just skimmed the surface of motivation theories here. From decades of studies about what motivates, these theories are interesting, and varied, and enlighten us on all aspects of human behavior.

Using Inspiration Poems At a Funeral

In times of great loss it is often very difficult for loved ones of the deceased to put into words how they feel about them. But often a favorite poem or song of the deceased can be read and shared that will be a beautiful reminder of them, or the chosen piece will encompass their characteristics or personality. Whichever, an inspiration poem can encapsulate so many feelings, and that is why they are so often used in funerals today.

Beautiful Words During the Funeral Program
It would be a good idea to include all set readings in the funeral program so that guests can have a copy of it to keep for as long as they want. If the person reading gets emotional during the ceremony, then it would be a good idea to have someone else finish.

During a eulogy when stories about the deceased are recalled: funny moments; touching moments; any memories about them that are strong and lasting, inspiration poems add a feeling of intimacy to a funeral that more general recollections cannot. All inspiration poems carry a whisper of caring and love. They also represent the thoughts of the entire family related to the deceased.

Though there are thousands of beautiful classical inspiration poems in circulation today, in many cases a family member, who may be the very one reading the poem at the funeral, is also the writer. The content of the poem is geared toward the feelings that are still strong for the deceased, and the sadness that family members are experiencing over the loss of that loved one.

A eulogy poem was used in movie scene that brought tears to the eyes of all. By WH Auden, Funeral Blues is an example of how a piece of poetry can evoke strong emotion:

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

But if you are trying to write an inspiration poem about a loved one who has just passed away, remember to let the poem resonate with memories that are of love and are uplifting. Don’t try to say everything because your loved one's life and memories won’t be able to fit in one poem. Say the most important things and leave room for the listeners' own recall or curiosity and imagination.