Motive

adjective – producing physical or mechanical motion

noun – a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious

In both these definitions, motive is a force for change.

Unfortunately, this word had largely been monopolized by police dramas as a primary component of crime. While correct, this is a special case, not the larger meaning.

Motive is a force for change. The change can be anything, and the motive can be anything, and their connection may not be obvious or even well perceived. Interestingly, motives can move us to act even when we don’t understand them consciously.

Motives exist throughout nature, animals and plants doing their best to survive and procreate. We have all those same motives as mortal creatures.

But unlike the rest of nature, we have an unparalleled ability to abstract and to self-perceive. This gives us the ability to consciously direct ourselves. We have the ability to defy our basic nature, to choose different, to choose more. We have this ability because we have a dual nature. Our higher nature understands fair play, good sportsmanship and the rule of law. Our lower nature is driven by biology, subject to urges as they arise.

Like every other skill, choosing our higher nature requires effort to develop. Growth takes time. As we choose to develop our higher nature, we can grow.

One example of choosing our higher nature is fasting. We can choose to forego food despite the urge to eat. When done with a higher purpose, and in a balanced way, this can enable spiritual benefits.

This brings me to an important concept: sacrifice. We can choose to sacrifice lesser things for greater. In fact, to obtain greater things, lesser things MUST be sacrificed.

But what will drive us to make these sacrifices?  The key is the proper motive, the proper motivating force.  Force is energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed, only harnessed.  We cannot conjure from thin air the motivation to accomplish great things, anymore than we can telepathically fill our cars with gas.  But we can perceive the need for gas, and prioritize the time and effort to go get it.  And we can do so because we recognize the value of getting gas before it runs out.

And this leads me to the question: What do we value?  What we value, what we want, is the “carrot”.  So why don’t we accomplish all our dreams and always use our time wisely?  

Conflicting motivations.  The truth is, we are usually not consistently motivated by the same forces all the time.  Those who are accomplish much along their chosen trajectory.  Let us recognize, though, that much accomplishment is not the same as maximizing potential.  Motivations can be selfish, and much accomplishment in being selfish is not a way to be happy, or better.  

Since our motivations will push us wherever they will, being the force for change that they are, should we not then be selective about our motivations? About what we value?

This website is based on a theory of energy movement where the known laws of physics and the intuited and/or revealed laws of spirituality aren’t different.  I’m seeking to draw parallels between the two realms to demonstrate that they really are one and the same.  So what’s my motivation?

I want to make the world and the people in it better.  I believe that unity between people, especially around a good cause, creates joy.  And if we can all agree on how some basic principles of the universe work, unity between people has a chance.  

So good or bad, right or wrong, effective or ineffective, this is me reaching out to the world, inviting us to be better.  We can do it, because the energy to do so is in the system already.  We don’t need to invent more.  We just need to use what we have been given in a better, more effective way.  And I hope to help us do that by helping us all understand the basics of spiritual laws by equating them with basic physical laws.  

So there’s the motivation for writing this blog.  What motivates you through your day, week, month?

Below are some questions to consider when examining motives.

What are you currently making with your talents? Your time?  Your money?

Are your spent resources creating joy for yourself and others?  If not, what are you willing to change to create joy?

What are your motives manifesting? What are your motives making of you?

Which motives are moving you? What motives are in the driver’s seat? When? How often?

Do you like where you are headed?

Challenge: Identify at least one motivating factor that is influencing your life.  Evaluate what that motivation is creating in your life.