Locomotivation

What does an old-fashioned, steam engine locomotive have to do with me? We’ll get to that in a few more sentences. Here’s the main thought:

We cannot rely on our feelings to control our actions or our voice.

Oh, there are days when we feel sad, angry, anxious, and generally all-over-the-place. Absolutely there are. It is equally as important to care for those hard emotions as it is to refuse to allow them to control our words and actions.

There is a time and place to talk about tough emotions, to process them or let a loved one or counselor speak words of comfort and confidence into the situation…

but…

But…

BUT…

Until we learn how to speak words of confidence and comfort to our own hurting hearts and souls, we will remain like a train off-track. It might roll in the right direction for a while, but ultimately it’s going to slow down, stop, or crash.

Believe it or not, a steam engine is actually a good metaphor for how we operate. Bear with me, this is going somewhere. This post is on track to its destination. The main point is full steam ahead.

Just a little train humor.

Here’s why our motivation muscle works like an old train.

1. On an old train, the engine needs coal but also water to generate the steam that pumps the pistons and moves the machine.

2. The old locomotive needs a driver to steer, and to pull on the brakes as needed.

3. Without the fire-person to stoke the flame and add or remove coal, the fire either rages out of control and burns the train or it goes out and the engine stalls.

4. Without water to generate steam from the boiler, heated by the fire, the engine builds up pressure and explodes.

5. Without the steering and the brakes, the train derails, sometimes exploding in the process.

There are no good outcomes in life without balance: fire, water, motion, brake.

For us, in practical terms, that means: passion for what we do, spiritual health, taking steps toward our goals – even small ones, and resting when we need it (not two years after we need it, ahem).

1. Stoke the fires of your passion and purpose.

2. Tend to the waters of your spirit so you don’t blow up when pressure rises.

3. Steer yourself in the right direction.

4. Finally, know how to pause on purpose — use your brakes – and breaks — don’t wait for your engine to stall mid-journey.

What all of that looks like varies widely from person to person. Finding out what it looks like for you is a journey, so pack your carpet bag and let’s go!

Discovering your purpose and passion, and then stoking the flame has been described this way:

Purpose is where your great passion meets your world’s great need.

What matters most to you? What lights you up inside? Seek that, find more of that, do that thing!

For me personally, filling my water tank is done by eating right, exercise, meditation, and journaling.

Putting on the brakes might look like taking time to read, to cuddle up with my kids and enjoy a movie, or chat with a friend.

Steering takes practice, and familiarity with your personal needs. Accept that new position? Move to live closer to family? Sometimes, it feels out of our control. Sometimes, steering means placing faith in a new direction when we don’t fully know the way, just steadying the wheel.

Or gripping the wheel for dear life to keep from derailing.

If we aren’t seeking balance regularly in each of these important areas, we either crash, give up, burn out, or blow up.

Just like the fire-stoker on the old locomotives, the task of keeping our body in balance requires sweat, dedication, and good choices. When do I remove coal, when do I add more, and when is the problem in a different part of the engine?

It’s okay if you’re just learning to read the map, or gently coaxing the embers of purpose into a small but steady glow.

Keep working on balance, keep learning what moves you, keep your tank filled with healthy things, and most of all –

keep moving forward!

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