This morning I was thinking about my main motivation for the healing work that I do. In doing so, I came to the conclusion that motivation, at its deepest level, is driven by one thing: to feel better than we do at the current moment. Without this reason, why would we do anything? The “feeling better” may not necessarily mean feeling good, but just better than we do currently. If we are in pain, then feeling less pain would be better. If we are feeling anxious, then doing something to numb or calm the nerves would make us feel better. This is why many people are motivated to use drugs and alcohol. It makes them feel better than they do at the current moment. If someone wants to enjoy some of the comforts of life, they will be motivated to find a job and earn some money. Motivation is what gets us to do something.
Motivation is not good or bad. It is simply a desire to feel more joy, or less pain. What we choose to do with that motivation is what becomes what we may label as good or bad. The choices we make are up to us.
Before I get back to my motivation for the healing work, I want to explain an aspect of me that you may or may not be aware of. I am fairly sensitive and empathic. That means that I feel what others feel, in my body and nervous system. I do not feel everything, thankfully. I do, however, sometimes cry when someone else cries or when they talk about their emotional pain. Sometimes I feel their physical pain in my body where they have physical pain when I place a hand on them. It is usually a fleeting sensation that passes quickly once I realize that it is their pain and not my own. As a child, it was difficult to understand why I felt so much more, and deeply, than what I observed from other people.
So, what is my motivation for doing the work? Well, I feel other people’s pain and it makes me feel better when they feel better. My heart sings when I see that their understanding and quality of life has improved. I have a deep love for people, even those that I may not particularly care for on a personal level. We all have pain and discomfort in this world and we all want things to be better for ourselves. It is in helping others through that, that gives me the motivation to do what I do. My empathy and compassion allow me to do the work without judgement of the other person in a safe and comfortable space. It is in doing this work that I feel better than I would to just know someone’s pain without doing something to help improve it for them.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. May you have a blessed day!