Motivation and Perseverance...

To be moved, inspired, galvanised, that's what we associate with motivation.It's an emotional experience. It reflects how we feel. We're moved to make a remark to someone; it might be complimentary, about some feat he'd performed. Or it might be uncomplimentary, and we might have reservations in making it, but because we feel it needed to be said, we say it.

That's motivation. It's a powerful force. Not without reason is it sought by people who wish to influence. A politician who can stir the feelings of her audience will do just that as well and as much as she can. A team leader who wants a performance will appeal to feelings, not intellect. 

Feelings can change the course of a game, a battle, a war.

Feelings can move people to performance and action of which they never thought themselves capable.

But feelings can be fickle. They can be undermined, changed, destroyed. 

That's when we need the stability of purpose, when we need the will to persevere and the insight to our own purpose to stoke the fire and keep it burning. Often, in times of doubt, uncertainty, fear, a feeling will falter. Unless it's underpinned by a definite purpose, it can wither and die.

That's when the quality of perseverance can come to the fore and see us through the dark hour.

'Nothing can take the place of perseverance.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.'
​Calvin Coolidge