What keeps you going?

[Power of three]

This thread is not aimed specifically at speech, but life in general.......

After reading this thread (http://www.stutteringforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=837) about faith, I was wondering what motivation everybody has for life.

What keeps you battling away with all life throws at you?

I believe that everything I experience makes me a better person, and in a better position to help others who may go through a similar situation.
I enjoy learning about life, others and especially about myself. I often wonder how far I could push myself in an extreme situation - ie a walk to the Poles, being interrogated, etc.

Until one has pushed boundaries, how does on know what one is capable of? So perhaps it is the constant pushing of of my personal boundaries that keeps me going. But what makes me push the boundaries?

So many questions..........so let's have some answers :D

[dbm]

If you are pushing a bounday you are still inside the boundary. Why not think beyond the situation - but perhaps not too far, initially, so that you can still feel safe enough.

[dbm]

Sorry, in answer to your final question - we are innately curious. Try Temple Grandin, an autistic lady, Animals in Translation.

[AGOFCR]

I believe that my inner fire and drive to achieve more and more in life is what keeps me going. On that note, the fuel that keeps this fire ignited is my children. I want to be able to give them what I did not have (materialistically speaking) and to give them as much support as - or even more than - what my parents gave me. Since my parents do not stutter their support was centered on reassuring me that I can do anything despite the stutter. However, since I stutter I plan to center my support for my kids around the fact that I have achieved everything I have proposed myself (once again) despite of the stutter; therefore, they can as well.

Peace,

Elliott

[CrimsonFox]

What motivates/drives me you say? Well, here are two reasons on what defines and drives me:

Starting with the motivation/drive experience, I believe it doesn't matter how many people support or motivate you into doing something, it's you who determines if you fail or succeed. I like getting motivation now and then but I don't like when others motivate me "more" then I do myself. That's just saying that I have no confidence in myself and it takes others to make me succeed (big "no no" in my book :rolleyes: )

For my second answer, I like to think out of the box and do more than is expected. If someone does 100% work, I'll do 110%. I like being recognized for what I do, not just to do something like everyone else does. Not to say that I'm overcompetitive, it's saying that I do not want to be average.

For the whole life experience and how I battle what life throws at me --
This is a little bit hard for me to answer. There are somedays where I get very angry at myself and others because I feel like I was put on the spot just to be ridiculed by everyone else. While there are others, when I feel like I accomplished something for that day and feel like I can do anything.

[dbm]

Well, Crimson Fox, when you are doing things like speaking is your attention on you or on the task or other person? Sounds to me you want recognition ( as do we all ) and that is why you give 110%. But focussing on oneself causes a problem - like an actor focussing on himself rather than the character and getting into a loop and ending up with stagefright. Sound familiar? Muscular speaking is like muscular religion it is too much and in the wrong direction. Using muscles too much also causes tension and too much causes cramp.

[Standingtall]

I think this box people keep talking about is life, because I don't see any other. My girls are my biggest movitation right now and i'm very much like Elliott. My Dad and Grandmother taught me, my stutter is not a issue in my life. My grandmother told me, I can enjoy life or don't, that choice is up to me and it took me a few years to realize that. I don't know if I can jump out of a perfectly good airplane, but I sure will race you at the Dakar Rally and have fun doing it. Making babies is very movational. I enjoy art very much, i'm a very visual person, and people are the greatest art work there is. I guess you have one life and what you do with it is up to you. The past is done with and you can't do much about it, but someone can learn from it and the choices are there what you want to do in the future.

[kilumanati]

I think that mental strength is a lot like muscular strength, it has to be pushed to its limit then with rest and time it will heal up and be stronger, i had the luck of being in kuwait during the first gulf war and had to battle these demons for a while now, one advantage is that my stutter seems trivial in comparison - of course there are days where my stutter seems to dominant my life but i just say "f**k it, i have been through worse, i can handle this"

[Power of three]

I think that mental strength is a lot like muscular strength, it has to be pushed to its limit then with rest and time it will heal up and be stronger, i had the luck of being in kuwait during the first gulf war and had to battle these demons for a while now, one advantage is that my stutter seems trivial in comparison - of course there are days where my stutter seems to dominant my life but i just say "f**k it, i have been through worse, i can handle this"
Very well said that man.

I have friends who have served in the current conflict, and undertaken tours in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, etc. The little that I have heard of what they have lived through makes me grateful for my life.
And I agree totally with what you say about one does not know one's limits unless one pushes then - be it physical or mental.

Making babies is very movational.
Indeed :D
I guess you have one life and what you do with it is up to you. The past is done with and you can't do much about it, but someone can learn from it and the choices are there what you want to do in the future.
More wise words from our budding adult actor.......

[Standingtall]

I think that mental strength is a lot like muscular strength, it has to be pushed to its limit then with rest and time it will heal up and be stronger,
I agree with you on that. Life has a way of keeping that one muscle in shape and don't forget about deep brown thick skin.

I have a friend who was in that war, and he is scared, has white patches on his hands and face. Life has you so busy somedays you don't notice your stutter.