On a rainy Saturday afternoon, I entered my friend Lynda’s virtual forum on Spirituality. I had met Lynda during a time when I was seized by doubt and fear about the pursuit of my goals to walk without assistive devices.

Lynda planted a seed of motivation that supported me to continue my journey. Since then, I have been thinking a lot about leadership and read an article that said “Leadership, by definition, is motivating people and having the competence to inspire them to perform at their highest levels by solving problems and seizing opportunities.”[1] Lynda has certainly motivated and inspired me.

I came into the forum half way through a story about a person that Lynda knew.  They had spent countless hours moving sod, moving stones, planting, and gardening to improve the aesthetics of their property. As I listened to the rain pelting the window glass outside my home office, my heart panged in empathy when I heard the results of this labor had been washed away by rain and flooding.

Another member in the forum asked “Is everything gone?”  Lynda replied, “Yes.  They will have to start again.” I watched as Lynda extracted withered roses from a vase. Lynda saw that I had entered the virtual forum.  She said “Hello”, and asked “Kerry, what are we writing today?”

I felt a smile creep across my face as I watched her eyebrow rise in an arch, waiting expectantly.  At that moment, I was sitting in front of a blank computer screen with the blinking cursor challenging me to bring text to the empty page.  I had been sitting in front of the computer for over 20 minutes without the seed of an idea.

I knew I had taken too long to answer Lynda’s question about my prospective writing topic, when I heard, “Kerry, let’s pick the writing topic of the day. We are going to write about Chariots.”  She said.  I heard a gentle push and a resonance in her voice. I heard the instructions without the words having to be said.  “It is time start, get going, and move ahead.”

Research in mental simulation identifies a concept called process simulation that intrigues me. Process simulation requires that a person imagine the process where a goal will be achieved.[2] I felt another smile form as I recognized I was being led through a process simulation exercise. Lynda was planting the seed of an idea – moving me from thought to action.

My mind envisioned a Chariot; a two-wheeled, horse drawn vehicle.   Since my friend is a Minister, the Chariot has a lot of symbolism and meaning in her work.  On a second screen on my computer, I scanned a few informational sources for descriptions and uses of Chariots.  They were used as instruments of war.[3] They were also used to transport people into battles and races. [4]

I admired my friend’s clever choice of the theme and the next question she framed.

“Kerry, describe your Chariot. What has driven you into the race to walk without your assistive devices?” 

I listened to the rain hitting my window in a steady stream while I considered this question.

Like the story Lynda shared about her friend’s efforts to transform the garden and landscape, the goal and motivation to walk device-free had to shaped, settled, and cultivated. The seed had to take root and weather fierce storms.

Pain and discomfort planted the idea, vision, and aim for me to walk without devices.  Physical pain was my motivation. It was the seed that took root to change my course and set my ‘race’ – literally to transform the process of how I perform physical movement.

I thought about Lynda’s use of the word ‘race’.  A race is a competition between runners, horses, or vehicles for example, to see which is the fastest in covering a set course. We are all running a ‘race’ toward a specific goal or goals.  Each of us has a different ‘Chariot’; a metaphorical vehicle and way to finish our race.  Literally, my Chariot includes a set ski poles and the Segway; a two-wheeled device that I drive while I stand.

Figuratively, pain carried me to my race.  I needed to change my existing circumstances and set a new course.  Now NCHPAD readers, describe your Chariot. Tell me, what are your seeds of motivation?  What drives you into the race toward your goals?

[1] Bateman, Thomas S. “Beyond charisma: what followers really need from their leaders.” T+D June 2011: 70+. Academic OneFile. Web.

[2] Chan, C. K. Y., & Cameron, L. D. (2012). Promoting physical activity with goal-oriented mental imagery: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 35(3), 347+.

[3] “Cart and Chariot.” Encyclopaedia Judaica. Gale. 2007.  Retrieved July 13, 2014.

[4] “Cart and Chariot.” Encyclopaedia Judaica. Gale. 2007.  Retrieved July 13, 2014.