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The key to motivating another person is understanding their heart. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? Of course, it isn’t. Most of us don’t understand our own hearts and what motivates us! We tend to put a happy face to most of our motives. All our motives are good and pure. The motives of others? Not so much! Particularly if they hurt us. There couldn’t possibly have been a reason why you said something to me that hurt my feelings that had anything but negative and hurtful motives behind it!
The key to motivating another person is understanding their heart. Sounds so simple doesn't it? Of course, it isn't. Most of us don't understand our own hearts and what motivates us! Share on XBut it just isn’t so. How many times have you been busy and not even thought through even scenario in your head and said something you later found out hurt a friend? When you found out how it was taken, you were amazed. Why? Because she was coming at the conversation from a totally different perspective!
So motivational speakers don’t really excite me. They think they understand who I am and where I am and they are rarely even close! I prefer one-on-one conversations thank you! stop
That way I can look in your eyes, see those subtle responses, ask follow-up questions, take time to hear your answers and go off into apparent rabbit trails that tell me more of your story and lead me deeper into your heart.
For Christians, we have the additional layer of the Holy Spirit to give us insight into the needs of each other. He gives us clues. We don’t hear a voice that spells everything out, but we have a lot of clear teaching from the Bible…that we sometimes misunderstand of course. But He promises to guide us if we obey Him.
And I am sure of this,
that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion
at the day of Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
For Christ did not please himself…
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
grant you to live in such harmony with one another,
in accord with Christ Jesus,
that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.Romans 15:1-7
Martha, I like your thought on that we need to understand people’s heart before we can motivate them. I also like your point that the Holy Spirit can give us insight to what is on someone’s heart.
When you get right down to it, though, don’t you think a person has to be a self-motivator? We can offer guidance and inspiration but we can’t motivate another person unless they are willing.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s always so interesting to see the different paths people’s writing takes!
yes, jerralea, i think we all are self-motivated…to do what we want to do! i was thinking in terms of helping motivate another person move toward change in a certain direction…especially one they aren’t motivated to make, but need to. you made a great point! i tend to skip steps in my thinking. so glad you stopped by.
I like your take on this prompt. I agree, one to one conversations where you can really listen to another person and understand them can help way more than general advice or encouragement.
i had a hard time with this one. this was my third try! couldn’t get it together. i guess that’s what happens when i take too many weeks off! i’m glad it finally worked:)
One on one conversations are my preferred method too.
so here we are writing blogs:) haha!