Often motivation comes after, or as a result of taking action, and not before. Sometimes you have force yourself into action; you have to be bold, have courage, take a leap of faith and then motivation catches up with you. This is what happens to young eaglets when they learn to fly: They jump into action and take a leap of faith. Well, actually, they are usually forced into action! Maybe you have heard the phrase, ‘stirring up the nest’? This relates to stirring up a hornet, bee or wasps’ nest but it could just as easily refer to what happens when it’s time for the eaglets to learn how to fly. You see, for several weeks the eaglets have sat around watching and waiting, and also being waited upon hand and foot, as it were, by the parent birds. But finally the time comes for the offspring to leave the nest and the issue then becomes how to inspire them to do so. This is where they are given a helping hand, (or wing)! One day the mother bird senses the time has come, so she stops feeding the eaglets. Of course, this makes them very eager! Next she begins to demolish the nest, literally tearing away great chunks at a time and letting them fall to the floor. This makes the eaglets very uncomfortable! Finally, – now that they are hungry and homeless – the eagle flies to a nearby perch and calls to her offspring to come. It doesn’t take long for them to get the message! Sooner, rather than later, they jump into action, take their leap of faith and begin to fly!

Sometimes, you have to push yourself (or others) into action. It’s like drawing water from a well; you have to prime the pump (expel the air) and then apply force before the water flows freely. Likewise, sometimes you have to force inspiration to flow before it flows freely.

R. Ian Seymour

R. Ian Seymour, excerpt from Discover Your True Potential