Motivation Archives - Page 3 of 3

Meet my nemesis at my in-laws: their bathroom sink.

In order to have enough hot water for visiting family, my in-laws have their water-heater turned up high enough to boil an egg. And this two-handled faucet is the delivering of the rain of fire.

Winter time is the worst because turning the knob on the left will deliver molten lava, turning the knob on the right delivers liquid nitrogen.

On top of this, there's enough water pressure to blast the flesh from my fingers.

Only by equally turning each knob—and only barely so—can balance be brought to this deadly force, and then I can safely wash my hands.

We can be like these two-knobbed faucets from hell: one extreme or the other.

He's too critical.
He is afraid to be honest.
She's too yielding.
She won't budge.

Do you see this in others, too? Have others seen it in you? I know that I have the same struggle.

This is why I love the idea of “truth with love.” Because the truth is like that hot water, and love is like the cool, refreshing water. (Don't get distracted by the whole “I will spew lukewarm water from my mouth.” Different issue!)

Be passionate and learn to listen.
Share knowledge and sit to learn.
Be honest with others and be constructive.
Put your heart in what you do and save your best for the people you love.

Where do you struggle with balance in your life? How do you regulate the “hot” and “cold” sides?

Yes, this is our poor honey bear, being thrown in the hot water. And this is what we need to be like.

Honey, especially local honey, has many health benefits. But no matter where you get your honey, it will someday crystalize and become very hard to work with.

We're just like that honey.

Life isn't easy, and you know it. But sometimes, no matter how much we're doing what we love, we harden just like the honey. Call it burnout, demotivation, stress, tiredness, or whatever you want, but it happens to all of us.

Sure, there are quick fixes. We can stick the honey in the microwave oven, but it just crystalizes again and very so. We can throw our lives under some hyper energy and get remotivated for a while. But it will fade quite quickly and we'll return to our hardened state.

Honey needs a slower process and gentle hot water until every last crystal is melted. Pull it out too soon and the crystals left will cause more problems.

Sometimes, we need that slow, hot pressure around us to make us stronger so we can push through and find new life on the other side. Sometimes, the pressure will reveal that we have very little left to give, and maybe it's time to move on. Other times, the pressure will bring a new flow to life.

What have been your hot-water moments and how did they help you?

A lack of balance in life will either burn or freeze you

You have to endure the heat to improve