What’s your reason for getting out of bed every morning?

If the only reason for you to get out of bed is that you have to, then sooner or later you’re not going to want to. However, if there’s a reason, a mission, something exciting you’re working towards, then there’s a high probability that you’ll look forward to waking up and getting out of bed because you’ll be pulled by the allure of working towards it.

Now you might argue that you don’t have a job or project that involves some kind of grand world-changing opportunity that can pull you out of bed, but that’s okay, not everyone does. But many times it boils down to perspective.

Here’s a wonderful illustration of perspective.

One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.”

Not to knock bricklayers, but if a bricklayer can have that kind of perspective then I’m sure there’s a way for you find greater meaning in whatever you do.

Yes, at times you’ll have to get creative to see the bigger effects of the work you do, but it is possible.

So the next time you’re lying in bed not quite feeling like facing the day, see if you can shift your mind from being task-oriented to mission-oriented. Re-envision your day so that you’re pulled towards the bigger picture and then go build your cathedral.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it please share it with one person you love.