What Is Your Motivation?
We all need motivation. We need a drive to get through life, achieve goals, and stay on track. The beautiful thing about motivation is that it is internal, and everyone has a reservoir of motivation within them; the most anyone can do to motivate others is to influence and appeal to them. Motivation is the reason people behave in a particular way; it explains why a certain act at a specific time is initiated, continued or terminated. The term is derived from the word “motivate,” which means “to move.” It is the strong desire that compels you to act. And is so intimately entwined with what you believe to be true and right in life that it pushes you from a simple desire to a moment of decision.
Daily, we are confronted with decisions and choices that we make based on our motive. This could be a desire to have a happy life, a want to be at peace, a want to have a family or be wealthy, or something as simple as a will to pass an exam, stay active, or improve in team communication; people are motivated by a wide range of factors.
However, human effort is directed toward a certain goal. And, whether consciously or unconsciously, these goals stem from a need. This can be understood by recognizing the hierarchy of needs; as this serve as a motivating factor in human conduct. According to Maslow’s “Need Hierarchy Model,” as needs are met, motivation increases and decreases. He asserted that humans are motivated to meet specific wants, and that some needs take precedence over others. Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this is what will drive our conduct. When that level is reached, the next level above motivates us, and so on. As a result, the motivation of someone at the level of self-actualization differs greatly from the motivation of one at the level of physiological needs, even though they appear to be pursuing the same goal on the surface.
Motivation influences our reaction to circumstances, as well as our ability to persevere or give up when the going gets tough. It is critical to be aware of what motivates us and the level of intensity that it provides, because it is possible to feel motivated to do something but fail to do it. Motivational states can be of various intensity; the greater the degree, the greater the likelihood that the state has an effect on behavior.
So, what motivates you?
So, what motivates you? and how deep is the intensity of your motivation? Successful people always find motivation to keep going no matter what is going on around or within them. That’s one of the things that sets them apart from the rest of the crowd. They have a strong desire to progress; they devote their time, effort, and energy to achieving their life objectives. Recognizing what motivates you not only gives you the ability to act and work towards a goal, but it also gives you the strength to persevere when things do not go as planned. To discover what motivates you, you must conduct some self-examination and be honest about how you got to where you are in life and how you intend to proceed to the next stage of your life. Give it a deep thought, identify what excites you, and build yourself up to strive towards that goal because you need to get yourself into action.
As much as we prefer to attribute our motivation to a variety of sources, the key source of motivation is you. Self-motivation is the most effective type of motivation because if you do not make that move, no one will. Nobody can make you desire to accomplish something; they can’t tell you that what they value is what you should value. They cannot instill in you a strong drive to achieve specific objectives. You are the source of your motivation. If you rely on people to energize you, or if you wait till the proper mood strikes, or if you wait till the appropriate circumstances present themselves, you will spend the vast majority of your life waiting. As a result, you must inwardly encourage yourself to complete your goals, which can range from minor activities like finishing an exercise regimen to large undertakings like earning a degree.
Find a source within yourself that motivates you to pursue and achieve your goals. John Maxwell states that self-motivation can come from;
- Clarifying your vision
- Taking 100% responsibility for your life
- Charting a course for the future
Having these thoughts in mind can help you position yourself to move, take action, and achieve goals even when the circumstances are not favorable.
1 Comment
Baqi Ajibola
This is brilliant piece Prof. I love eeeeeet. Thank you so much sir.