Monday Motivation: 15 August

Got the Monday blues? Reclaim the day and set the tone for the entire week with these helpful, motivational tidbits:

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less” – Marie Curie

Science is the theme of this week’s “Monday Motivation”, and we’re starting off with this quote from the Polish–French physicist, Marie Curie, who became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for her pioneering work in the field of radioactivity and chemistry.

From Curie’s words, we learn that you should not let your fears of the unknown hold you back from exploring your real potential. Let go of those fears, so that you can be free to test your limits and become the best version of yourself.

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself” – Galileo Galilei

Galileo was a famous Italian astronomer who made many remarkable discoveries, including the four biggest moons of Jupiter. He also invented a prototype of the thermometer, as well as made significant improvements to telescopes.

From him, we are taught that self-learning cannot be emphasised enough. To broaden your horizons and improve your knowledge, you must take it upon yourself to keep learning, whether it be upskilling yourself for another career or taking up a new hobby.

“Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done” – Robert A. Heinlein

An American sci-fi author and engineer, Robert A. Heinlein always made sure to maintain scientific accuracy in his works such as “Starship Troopers”. As such, he was able to predict the effect of technology on modern society and how it would shape our lives.

In essence, Heinlein teaches us to not dwell on how difficult or impossible certain tasks or situations may be. So long as you follow the necessary steps and carry out the necessary actions, those tasks and situations will become achievable, and the results may be everything you dreamt of.

“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value” – Albert Einstein

German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein was one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century. Famous for his genius, he was also known for his huge sense of humour and quirkiness.

At its core, Einstein’s message is simple: the pursuit of success often means losing your sense of self along the way or forgetting to build your character. While you should never lose sight of your goals, you should also never neglect the most important values of humanity: integrity, compassion, diligence, and kindness among others. These values give you substance – without them, you are shapeless and hollow.