Motivate Your Motivation
Motivation Power: Motivation is the energy that drives us to work hard, develop habits and to keep going even when things get tough.
When motivation is attached to learning & developing new skills, talents & routines, we are rewarded by our progress.
When progress is stalled, the power of motivation will offset any setbacks in achieving our desired goals.
There are two types of motivation - intrinsic & extrinsic:
Intrinsic motivation comes from inside of yourself. These are the personal rewards we experience as we improve an aspect of our lives.
Extrinsic motivation comes from outside of yourself. These are external rewards or penalties that we experience after completing a task, a goal or requirement.
Depending on our mindset, we can use these rewards to positively impact our health & happiness.
If you want to pursue ways to improve an aspect of your life, you will need to tap into the power of motivation.
However, motivation is not magic. So, don’t wait for it.
Motivation to improve your wellbeing only happens when you take action.
The Motivated Ones: Different things motivate different people. Some people are motivated by:
rewards like money, prizes or praise.
personal goals like wanting to healthier or learning something new.
challenges or competitions.
helping others & making a difference in the lives of their family, friends & community.
Finding what excites and inspires you is the key to staying motivated.
If you really want to get motivated, you will have to actively try various approaches. Read how others have accomplished the goals that you desire. Then, apply what you learned to your own life to see what works for you..
Unmotivated Motivation: Sometimes, people struggle with motivation. These struggles can often be vocalized as excuses.
Fear of failure can stop someone from even trying.
Feeling tired, stressed, or overwhelmed can make it hard to start a task.
A lack of confidence can also make people think they won’t succeed, so they don’t try.
Distractions like TV, video games, or social media can take attention away from important tasks.
Pre-determined self-identities (I can’t play piano. I can’t lose weight. I can’t ….) can stop someone from thinking that they can’t reach a goal.
Understanding these excuses can help people find ways to overcome them.
Honestly acknowledge these struggles & roadblocks are the first steps in developing our own motivation.
Motivation Know Hows: Getting motivated takes effort, but there are ways to make it easier.
Setting small, clear goals helps people feel accomplished and stay on track.
Creating a consistent routine can build good habits and make tasks feel automatic.
Rewarding yourself after completing a goal can give extra encouragement.
Surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people who want you to succeed will also help.
Be intentional with all actions. Since every action yields an outcome, ask yourself if your action or inaction will yield the results you want.
It is easier to get started when you remind yourself of why your effort is important.
Key Concepts: Motivation has some key ideas that help explain how it works.
Desire is wanting to achieve a skill or an enjoyment.
Persistence means not giving up, even when things are hard.
Self-discipline helps people stay focused and work toward their goals.
Incentives are rewards or benefits that make people want to do something.
Growth mindset is believing that every effort, good or bad, can help you learn and improve.
Need is an internal state that drive individuals to act in certain ways (e.g., food, water, belonging).
Goals with specific targets or objectives that individuals strive to achieve.
Incentives are external factors, like rewards or punishments, that can influence motivation.
Activation is the initiation of any activity or behavior to put your task in motion.
Intensity is the strength or level of effort invested in a behavior.
Persistence is the sustained effort towards a goal despite obstacles.
These key ideas shape the way motivation works in our lives. Pick a few that resonate with you and get started.
Motivation Theories: There are different theories about motivation. So, if you want to learn more about the process of being motivated start reading and learning about some motivation theories.
Each theory helps explain why people do what they do. Understanding motivation can help everyone reach their goals and succeed.
Again, motivation is not magic. It’s a skill and action that we can develop & apply to all our desired goals.
Below are some Motivation Theories to explore:
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: suggests that people are motivated to fulfill a hierarchy of needs, starting with basic needs like food and shelter, and moving towards higher-level needs like self-actualization.
Self-Determination Theory: explains that people feel motivated when they have control over their choices.
Expectancy Theory: states motivation depends on whether people believe their effort will lead to success.
Drive Theory (Drive Reduction Theory): proposes that motivation stems from a need or deficiency that creates a state of tension, driving individuals to reduce that tension and restore balance.
Arousal Theory: suggests that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, seeking activities that match their arousal needs.
Expectancy Theory: states that motivation is based on the belief that effort will lead to performance, and that performance will lead to desired outcomes.
Self-Determination Theory: focuses on the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation.
Instinct Theory: suggests that certain behaviors are innate and driven by biological factors, such as survival instincts.
Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: identifies hygiene factors (like working conditions) that can lead to dissatisfaction, and motivational factors (like achievement) that can lead to satisfaction.