Mugs of Motivation
December 21st, 2007
okay let me tell you what the situation is like.
i cant do my essays at home because my brothers are damn noisy / my dad smokes and clouds up the whole living room / my mom keeps turning off the lights when i’m doing work cos she says electricity bill very expensive -___- / my bed is very tempting.
so that means i have to go out and write BUT! i need to have my laptop with me and it’s hard to find a place that has wifi + plug points + is quiet + has coffee + has a bathroom (so that people wont run off with my laptop while i go to a far far far far away bathroom).
so the best bet is starbucks bangsar BUT! it’s hell to go there what with the traffic, and cab fares are going to be the death of me. and starbucks can be soooooooo expensive when you realize you’re spending every day of the week there.
AND starbucks eventually closes =(
factor in that everyone is back for the winter holidays and are guilt-tripping me into spending friend-time with them. and then Martian is coming back tomorrow for a 10-day stretch. and i want to do christmassy stuff =(
and i have about a week to my deadlines. otherwise i will never go to college.
*KILLS SELF*
so i asked Voon to teach me how to focus, and you know what he said? he told me to pretend i was Morphling -_____- wtf. in his words:
Voonkiat says:
u see morphling switches from agi to str
or str to agi
so u can switch your modes to serious mode and fool around mode
Voonkiat says:
so i thought, if i could play dota all day. i could study all day too :)
i started laughing like crazy when i read that. but then i gave it some thought, and realized how AWESOMELY TRUE it is. that’s it!!! that’s the answer!!! it’s so freaking simple!!! there is NO WAY you can sit around procrastinating after it’s put into perspective like that. sigh Voon is so wise. and then he said:
Voonkiat says:
but everyone is kinda different
u need to find your motivation (which is pretty hard)
yesssssss :) that’s what i’ve been forgetting to do. you know how there are always different ways of doing things - like say if your task is to write an essay, some people would think the key is to read as many sample essays as possible to get a good ‘feel’ of what is required. then some would think that you need to come up with a really great gimmick at the start. then some would think that it’s all about the big words. there’s no right or wrong approach - they’re all simply different methods to get to the same end.
my task is coming up with some really kick-ass essays before the deadline. i’ve been trying to achieve this by fixing my focus on THE END : churning out 10 essays before the 31st of December. i’ve been keeping my eyes set on the deadline and pushing myself to my limits, not sleeping right, not eating right, not having a life outside of Starbucks where i write all my essays. determination is the key, i thought.
but after talking to Voon, i realized that my focus has been wrong all this while. i suppose anyone who knows me well would know that i get stressed out very easily, and that when i get stressed i have this tendency to turn avoidant and drop everything. so for someone like me, being so utterly fixated on producing results is NOT the best way because i only end up scaring and discouraging myself. what i need, and i have just realized this, is that i need to stimulate and inspire myself with what motivates me :)
so what motivates me? i can name a few. and i’m going to write em here in this post so that i can come back and revisit it whenever i need to GET WORK DONE :)
my biggest motivation is competition. i get excited when i know that other people are competing with me for the same prize. i love the fact that we are all capable people with our own individual skill sets and talents and modus operandi, and that we are all sharp and keen enough to want the good stuff. i love a good challenge, i really do - it brings out the best in me and completely eliminates any complacence or laziness that i have. it makes me want to improve myself and be as good as or better than my peers. if i want what so many other talented people want, i’d better make damn sure i’m better than them :) otherwise i only have myself to blame when i dont get it.
encouragement also motivates me. i’m the sort who gets very very sidetracked by discouragement or harsh criticism - i start feeling really shitty about myself and then i start questioning if i’m giving myself too much credit for thinking i was good enough to pursue this something. in many ways i admire people who can tackle discouragement and use it as a tool to motivate themselves. sometimes i do stand up to my detractors and say ‘NO, if you say i cant do it, i will prove you wrong‘ .. but even though that usually ends up in success, it just doesn’t feel good. i dont know why. what feels good though, is when people believe in me enough, and then i started believing in myself too, and then i eventually win what i set out to win. that is the best feeling because of all the positivity and encouragement that surrounds the success. and i am very, very lucky because i have a lot of encouraging people in my life. the ones who aren’t, are realistic, and sometimes a good dose of reality can be a good thing too.
knowing that people are counting on me gets me going as well. or put another way, knowing that other people will be disappointed if i fail, gets me going. because this is something that’s beyond just me, and it involves other people, and it wouldn’t be right if they trusted me and i screwed things up for them. this is what i remind myself of all the time when i feel like giving up on big events or team projects. and it always works :) the shitty part is when you’re doing something for YOURSELF and you cant use this motivation. hahaha but then that is where Aira comes in handy… she has this *way* of talking to you that makes you feel like she’s part of your efforts and that she’s somehow invested in you. there was one time i didn’t want to turn up for an exam because i didn’t feel prepared, and i called her to tell her that, and she went - ‘look, if you don’t come, i would be very very upset.’ i got scared and ended up going. hahaha. and i got an A. hahaha. i love you Aira!!!
and most importantly.. what motivates me is knowing that what i’m doing is important. to me. and to other people. it becomes this larger-than-life reason that convinces me that i’m doing something meaningful and that i’m not wasting my time and effort. and when i truly believe in what i’m setting out to achieve, i will stop at nothing. it helps when other people believe in what i believe in too - then i dont feel like my battle is self-important or futile or unrealistic.
milo also motivates me :) hot milo, cold milo, milo on bread, milo ice cubes, milo ice cream… milo anything.
okay i feel very motivated now :)))))) time to churn out another essay. go, me!!
if you guys have the time, do leave a comment saying what motivates you. come on lah, good things in life must share okay!
Entry Filed under: Musings
51 Comments Add your own
1. Sandra | December 21st, 2007 at 3:03 am
hahah..good luck with your essays… my friend saw you once at starbucks bangsar…=X…
2. pau | December 21st, 2007 at 4:15 am
i was thinking to myself “o man … wot should i write, wot gets me out of bed in the morning”
but i’m still in bed at 1:30 pm lol. i guess … others needing me, encouragement, and fear of failing :(
3. Charlie | December 21st, 2007 at 4:30 am
Yeah Pau! You da man.
I don’t know how many times you’ve heard this already, but: I’m sure your essays will be some serious pwnage. This opinion is of course just based on what I’ve read in this blog la, but from what I can see you have a knack for writing emotionally intuitive things that almost everyone can relate to on a deep and personal level. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve inwardly exclaimed “hey.. I remember feeling the same way” while reading some of your more introspective posts. And the best thing is: you’re ‘multi-skilled’. You can do soul-searching posts, you can go philosophical, and you sure as hell can pull off political stuff. So.. if this motivates you even further: consider a great deal of your competition vanquished.
You know what really gets me going. Reading stuff that is crappy beyond the Threshold of Crap, eg: 90% of the stuff on fictionpress.com. Very confidence-boosting (”As bad as I’ll get, at least I won’t be -that- bad”) and also gives me an idea of how I definitely do not want to write. But of course quite jahat la so if you do it I strongly recommend making it as un-obvious as possible, especially to the author of said crap : P
4. Voonkiat | December 21st, 2007 at 5:14 am
“Voon is so wise”
Ahaha. thanks (: very flattered.
oh yea, one more thing, don’t sit in front of your comp studying or working all there. everyone burns out sooner or later. take a break, walk around, sports, piano, freshen up (: you’ll be fine. just try your best okay!
5. Michelle | December 21st, 2007 at 7:17 am
My house has wifi, Davidoff espresso and 4 bathrooms. You’ll never need to worry of anything. Hahaha.
Well, my motivation comes from my surroundings. I see a person striving so hard to live, it makes me feel motivated. I see my colleagues trying their best to live up to customers’ expectation, I feel motivated. I feel motivated when someone challenges me to write a short story.
Almost everything makes me feel motivated but right now, I’m not looking at motivation. I’m looking for courage because fear has been making its nest inside me.
And I guess you know my fear…
6. Artificially Timtam | December 21st, 2007 at 7:59 am
tomorrow drives me. i think of it as the only way i’m getting out of the shit hole is if i do well. it’s all about the bigger picture or all the mundane tasks seem meaningless.
sorted out phone stuff. will call during m’sia evening time tmr.
7. TIara | December 21st, 2007 at 8:04 am
This entry should be an essay!
What motivates me? Fame. lol. well, the opportunity to get heard and get myself out there.
It’s also important to me that what I do matters - it helps someone, it brings greater good. This is why I have such an issue with uni assignments - no one’s going to read them afterwards, it’ll all just be tossed away. How does it MATTER?
and unfortunately, as much as I hate to admit it, the only way to get me to do something is to put a deadline with consequence. like failing. baaaaaaaaaah.
8. ria | December 21st, 2007 at 8:58 am
*hands a tall glass of milo* :D
i love this post! you just reminded me a dozen things about why i need to do the things i need to do too. lotsa luck with your essays dear. you’re a kickass writer and you gotta show them just that.
oh, in case i don’t get to check back in again, happy christmas! :)
9. sheon | December 21st, 2007 at 9:22 am
what encourages me?…..when i know something that if i do, will make the person that i care for smile.
10. songjun | December 21st, 2007 at 9:53 am
lol omg i remember making milo ice cubes when i was young!! hahaha
11. Angeline | December 21st, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Flowers do =)
yellow sunflowers =)
12. Angeline | December 21st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
oh i just realized
in singapore the word ‘mug’ = ’study hard’ (verb)
mugs of motivation
indeed.
13. Shingo T | December 21st, 2007 at 1:49 pm
There is a Mr Ego who lives inside me.
What I love to do to get things done is to boast to the whole world about something that I will be doing, like going for a marathon.
After which, Mr Ego will make sure that it gets done.
You don’t want to be seen as a “all talk, and no action”, right? ^_^
14. Ping | December 21st, 2007 at 1:54 pm
What motivates me? I think it is the outcome of the something I want to do or achieve. The fruit of my hard work, yeah, I think that’s it and of course, the long relaxation, sleep and rest that I can get after it too.
You can do it! (Yeah, it sound so lame but it is true~!)
15. nickie | December 21st, 2007 at 2:01 pm
lets see. what motivates me. hmmm.
- coffee. the aroma of it is enough to make me feel pumped up.
- good weather.
- successful people who started out as nothing.
- certain friends who’re forever motivated.
- challenges. the more difficult something is, the more i wanna conquer it.
- discouragement. different from you haha.
- my end goal.
- and YOU. yes you do, believe it or not, you motivate me tremendously. or at least, the stuff you write do. =) (and im sure im not the only one)
i hope knowing your words motivate other ppl gives you strength to strive for the best too! cheers. :)
16. k0k | December 21st, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I’m motivated to memorise the contents of telephone sized textbooks of stupid, boring, obscure medical symptoms, drug effects and side effects, and gazillions of God’s littler creations out to get our asses every single day for 5 years and beyond…
… just so one day, I can sidle up to some really hot chick in a bar or a party, swirling a drink in one hand and say with a winning smile, “Hi, I’m a doctor”.
If Japanese anime ever taught me anything, it’s that nurses are always busty and hot and not at all wearied from having to change geriatric diapers all day long.
17. nice gigi | December 21st, 2007 at 3:27 pm
watching inspiring movies ^^
18. Bernard | December 21st, 2007 at 6:01 pm
VoonKiat the bird. lol usual. :)
19. Nael | December 21st, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Just use big words.
20. Sureindran Raja Silvam | December 21st, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I agree with you. I can’t do any serious stuff at home. And the excuse is always my bed, that it’s so tempting that I feel like sleeping. Moreover, the cold whether like this can make me go ZzzZ faster than usual.
21. entwined | December 21st, 2007 at 8:24 pm
YOU CAN DO IT!!!! + what charlie said in his 2nd para in his comment.
as for what motivates me? heh. nothing like good ole exam pressure. right now, my finals are about 6 months away, so i don’t feel it yet, but i do so very badly need to find something else to motivate me before it’s too late! i’ve never really felt a sense of urgency for my studies, so it’s quite hard to suddenly change now hahaha. oh well. good luck to you and i! :)
22. Tyler | December 21st, 2007 at 8:43 pm
That morphling thing is simply..genius. If there were rep points to be given I’d give lol.
23. 'cia | December 21st, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Lately, whenever I catch Nickelback’s video for the song “If Everyone Cared” on tele, I get really motivated to make a difference, however small it may be, to make this world a better place.
24. TheRealAnonymous | December 21st, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I work best under pressure… =p
25. esther * | December 21st, 2007 at 9:19 pm
i have this reminder pasted on my ceiling so i see it once i wake up every morning. well, sometimes when days are shitty, it doesn’t really motivate me much, but most days it does, even if it’s a cliche phrase.
“when we wake up in the morning, we have 2 simple choices.
go back to sleep and dream. or wake up and chase those dreams.”
(plus, i think it works for me because im such a sucker for good quotes haha.)
all the best, girl! :)
26. aimee | December 21st, 2007 at 9:31 pm
this is damn strange but koko krunch motivates me lah.
27. pinkshirtz | December 21st, 2007 at 9:45 pm
bwahaha … so funny! Dota can be quite fun! but intelligence hero always end up dead at the end of the game … hmmph.
Anyways … merry christmas … pavilion christmas carol was the best!
28. jimmy | December 21st, 2007 at 10:26 pm
last minute work motivates the hell outta me .
29. jimmy | December 21st, 2007 at 10:32 pm
and magic shrooms aha
30. lishun | December 21st, 2007 at 11:13 pm
a holiday motivates me.
that, and that my life has a purpose.
whoopee! 9 days till finals! aargh!
31. caryn | December 21st, 2007 at 11:38 pm
yep, last minute pressure makes me work best. if only i can get those last-minute vibes earlier… argh.
to k0k: maybe i should take the first part of your motivation, and change the second part to: … just so one day, when some hot guy sidles up to me, swirling a drink in one hand and say with a winning smile, “Hi, I’m a doctor”, i can smile back with an even more bedazzling smile and say, “oh hi there, i’m a doctor too…”
and i agree with nickie. your blog’s my motivation too ^^ and also great songs.
32. june | December 22nd, 2007 at 2:39 am
go go!! you can do it!! :D
or, i can feed you with a milo ice cube every 10 mins :)
33. Sparky | December 22nd, 2007 at 5:33 am
holler if you need help with essay editing! =) good luck with them!
34. Alynna | December 22nd, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Thinking about screwing up is… uh.. kinda motivating? Looking at the clock and counting the number of hours I have left often makes me go, ok, turn off msn nowww that thing is superevilistic. :P Does that count?
Really, if I was motivated, I wouldn’t procrastinate so much. So maybe I’m not answering your question here. Hahaha.
All the best with the essays! Good that you know what motivates you. ;)
35. michellesy | December 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I think you’re one of the wisest old-souls-trapped-in-young-bodies I have ever (figuratively) met, and if nothing else, I’m sure that’ll come through in your essays =)
Case in point - listing down things that motivate you on this blog. Wise move, no? LOL!
Things that motivate me?
Fear of failure wtf. I am so screwed-up wtf hahahah.
No, but seriously, that as well as that awful sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you KNOW you’ve let someone down big-time.
Like I said, I am one big-time, externally-motivated, screwed-up person hahahahaahahah.
Good luck for your application essays babe - and imagine the buzz you’ll get when you see your mailbox crammed with letters from all these top-notch colleges, each and every one of them begging you to enrol! =)
ps: Milo is awesome - eating it straight up rocks my socks too!
36. michellesy | December 22nd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
KOK: ROTFL - you’re leaving buaya footprints everywhere! =P
Caryn: LOL - great rejoinder =)
37. Kristof | December 23rd, 2007 at 7:32 am
Instead, you could just play dota
38. lynndhia | December 23rd, 2007 at 9:46 am
good luck for all your upcoming assignments and exams babe :)
go go go!
drink more starbucks ;)
that often motivates me enough to get through a bad day
39. fern | December 23rd, 2007 at 11:39 am
go pinkpau!
a nasi lemak bungkus on early mornings motivate me :P
40. raZZbeRRy | December 23rd, 2007 at 1:51 pm
In general, I’d say PEOPLE motivate me. It is the people who disappoint you, might hurt you, but at the end of the day, knowing that I’ve done something to change people’s lives, or done something to have impacted someone’s life in any way, or having people put their faith in me, and people who encourage me, people who share their life stories, people who give me good competition :), and people, people, people…
If people motivate you in any way (which I suppose is the same for you, from the way you put your motivations), here’s something that *might* encourage you:
You’re a very good writer, and I know you’ll get your essay done (like you always do, don’t you!). What’s important is just to write from your heart and be sincere, because sincerity definitely goes a long way!
Cheers!
41. clem | December 23rd, 2007 at 3:01 pm
your blog motivates me to write, among others. honest. no boot-licking (or high heels?) intended. :)
42. natech | December 23rd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Good post!
Same with Clem, reading your blog motivates me to write and help untie the knots in my head. You’ve got a way of saying things. Articulate, that is. :-)
I remember one friend of mine and he would put on a ’serious mode’ and do his physics homework even in a room full of people. So I realize it doesn’t matter where or what situations you’re in, they’re just excuses. All you have to do is to put ur mind down and complete what you’re supposed to. Ofc we all need motivation. I try to find motivation everyday, not just once in a while when I need it. Everyday.
43. netster | December 23rd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
a person without motivation is as good as zombie :)
Cheers & Merry Christmas!
44. Christine | December 23rd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Merry Christmas! and remember to cheer up even if everything seems bad. It’s just life anyway, everyone in every walks of life will face it, so take it strong! and be happy…:)
45. miss susan | December 23rd, 2007 at 11:25 pm
i am the serial procrastinator, no body does it better than me.
i love this post su ann, it inspires me =)
what motivates me the most is when people look down on me. When they think that I will never score that high distinction in finance, I do. Yeah, proving people wrong motivates me. Is that bad?? Sighhh…. this kind of motivation doesn’t roll around much though, because people are so encouraging and supportive. Hehehe…
46. Victor Tan | December 24th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
I think your readers would be a great motivation. U just churned out one long essay in this post =P why not put them all right here . Put some funny pics of u doing it too =P
47. annonymouse | December 25th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Hello… have yourself a merry Christmas with your loved ones…
48. pohnee | December 26th, 2007 at 12:34 am
i think my motivation is my mum. cos she always says i’m stupid so i’m all out to prove her wrong, and when i get good results she’ll be like,”see i knew u could do it!” -____-
anyway, merry christmas and good luck with ur college apps ;)
49. miss.cc | December 27th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
hi su ann aka pinkpau ^^
don’t worry so much. you are an excellent writer. i inspire to be one someday so you’re my inspiration as well besides J.K. Rowling. hehehehe…..!
hmm…what motivates me?
- competition. =D
-. challenges (like when it’s too hard or ppl putting me down for some dumb reason. anyway, this is one time to be kind of egoistical so that i won’t be discouraged. hahaha!). so in other words, they’re jealous of moi. i guess. hehehehe or trying to see me fail =.=”"”"”"”
-the environment/surroundings. sometimes even in uncomfortable situations i can get motivations. like Eureka! moments. xD
-coffee! actually that makes me hyper-er. xP
-successful people
-motivational quotes
50. Vicnan | December 30th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Seeing that flabbergasted look on peoples faces as they scramble for words, but always return to omg that was awesome and smugly saying..
Duh.
51. Donetsk | January 14th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Hi from Donetsk, Ukraine. I am leaving comment here just to say thank you for this site, I am looking forward to reading more posts, hope it goes well, all the best, Jay.
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