Why we do...

I've recently been working on a presentation for work to motivate our associates to excellent customer service and devotion. Our customers are the only reason that we get to do what we get to do at ProviNET, and it's important that we keep that at the forefront of our minds.

I ran across an excellent video by Simon Sinek about focusing on mission and the "why we do what we do" and not on the what we do, or the how we do. Companies that focus what they do or how they do it don't end up being successful. Companies who have a laser focus on why they do what they do have great success.

This idea is really driven by the way that our brain works. There is a neo-cortex of our brain that is really like the outer matter of our brain. This section controls "higher functions" like sensory perception, motor commands, spatial reasoning and conscious thought. It is also the layer of the brain that controls all language and spoken word.
The Limbic layer is the next layer, and this system really controls emotion, behavior, motivation and long-term memory. This Limbic layer is where we develop things like manners and trust.
The central layer of the brain is the Reptillian core. This core of the brain is really only responsible for one thing, and that is Desire. Desire is born in the core of our brain, and it controls our actions through the lens of manners and trust.

God designed our brains in such a complex manner that it's impossible to understand everything our brain does, but it incredible to look at the brain like a target and say that at the core of everything we do lies our true desire. Whatever our heart and our conscience are telling us, that lies at the core of our brain.

This helps us to understand our actions and our motivations a little bit more. If we are motivated by something sinful or of this world, we tend to view that through dark lenses and act out those desires in a sinful way. If we have our hearts desiring God, then those lenses that we look, hear, think, speak and act through are corrected and we outwardly express our true desires. Why (motivation) drives how (lenses) we do what (outward expressions) we do.

This all came together for me at Church this morning as I was listening to Pastor Steve talk about authentic Christians. One way we are transformed into an authentic Christian is by no longer desiring things of the world, but desiring God. It's what our hearts and our brains were made to do, but have been corrupted by deceitful messages that our world presents to us.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV).

God - align the motivations of my heart and my mind to point to one thing and one thing only. It's all about Jesus, and that is all that I want my motivation to be Lord. With the help of your Holy Spirit, I ask that you fulfill this desire within me. Amen.