Weekly Thought – September 15, 2026
Fred always said, “If you understand the premise from which a person operates everything they do is logical.” When others questioned behavior of people, he would simply work to find their base motivation. For Fred, discernment was art and science.
Movers
Our priorities are directly related to our feelings. What makes us feel good drives our actions. Responsibility and conscientious action are often considered drivers, but they are the effective because they create a sense of well-being. Dr. Phil repeatedly asks his guests, “How’s that working for you?” He understands our behaviors are correlated with our emotional needs.
Feelings are not completely bound up with facts, but are bound up with our energies and with our actions. They are the bridge between the heart and the mind – the heart’s being the value structure and the mind’s being the judicial knowledge structure. Actions which do not give us emotional satisfaction are soon eliminated.
People who make bad choices look unreasonable and foolish. We question why they do what they do. We assume they are illogical. But, delving into their motivations, we find hurt and pain to be their drivers. They feel comfortable being uncomfortable.
Mother Teresa was well known for her selfless living. Many see service as her motivator. I think she received emotional satisfaction from worship and worship was derived from service. So, worship led her to unselfish service.
When I was young I could never imagine why people trained fleas until I saw the thrill on the face of a man who amazed patrons with his circus. He wasn’t motivated to make itchy bugs jump; he was motivated by applause.
Pride is a strong motivator. Political prisoners suffer dire consequences by starving for their cause… belief is seen to be the driver, but actually it is pride. What looks like maturity is often just a shift in the object of our pride. If we are proud of our physical attributes, the time comes when the muscles flab up and hairlines fall. Most people shift to career accomplishment, intellectual pursuits, or community involvement. But it is still pride.
Successful living starts with a clear understanding of our personal motivators.
This week think about: 1) What gives me emotional satisfaction? 2) How well do I know the motivators of those around me? 3) Who am I discounting as illogical because I don’t know what motivates them?
Words of Wisdom: “Our priorities are directly related to our feelings.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Let each one examine his own actions.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)