Five Ways to Regain Your Motivation
If you love your work, have supportive leadership, countless volunteers, families who believe in you, and unlimited energy, congratulations!
Unfortunately, there will be times in children’s ministry when work feels overwhelming, motivation is lacking, and you have too many fires to put out, all while battling exhaustion and feeling like you’ve accomplished very little.
These frustrations are often shared across social media. Some children’s ministry leaders are commenting that they’ve been struggling, lacking energy, and find it hard to show up on Sunday, only to feel resentful and disheartened by Sunday night after pushing themselves so hard. They don’t feel like leadership considers their ministry an important part of the church, regardless of how good the feedback is. They wonder, does my work matter? Would anyone notice if I didn’t show up? How can I motivate myself rather than relying on others to inspire me?
If you have experienced any of these things, you are not alone. It takes courage to own the situation and work to become self-motivated.
Here are five ways to regain your motivation.
- Be a Force for Change – Be the change you wish to see. Ensure your words are positive, whether you’re speaking to yourself or others. Replace negative thoughts with prayerful, confident, and optimistic ones, and focus on what brings you joy.
- Spend Time with People Who Lift You Up – If your peers share your feelings but are unwilling to change, be aware that their negativity might influence you. It’s difficult to avoid being pulled down if you engage in a continual, harmful, and negative conversation. Surround yourself with individuals who seek change and learn how they stay motivated.
- Understand Your Weaknesses – Understanding your weaknesses allows you to allocate time, energy, and resources into improving the skills that, if left unattended, can keep you stuck. To naturally increase motivation, take an internal survey of your areas of improvement or ask others what they see as opportunities for personal growth. Addressing your weaknesses while leaning into your strengths is a winning combination.
- Change Your Thinking –It is easy to get stuck in believing your situation will never change. However, changing the way you look at your situation can help change the situation itself. A shift in perspective can transform a negative mindset into one of infinite opportunity, leading to increased motivation, personal growth, and better resilience.
- Focus on the Why – It might sound clichéd. Still, we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, and remembering the details of how you came to your position, the way you were led, and the families you’ve served can help put the times when you question your contribution into perspective.
Now It’s Up to You
If you’re feeling unmotivated, take a step back and consider these options. Is there one that’s speaking to you? Identify the one that moves you forward and starts your journey toward regaining motivation. You got this! God’s got you!
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