Where motivation springs from
Nowadays, there are plenty of people who pay money to attend motivational talks in which some self-proclaimed guru offers advice and steps on how to be your best self, or make a million dollars, or tackle a challenge. Something about this doesn't feel right to me. Motivation is not something that you make a date with, nor is it one size fits all. Sure, you may get stirred up and roused to action, until you return home, to your daily life, without that super successful motivated person there to spur you on. Then what? More of your sorry, boring, oh I'll get to it one day story?
I believe that motivation is a well that resides within each of us. It's personal and unique, and its appearance is often spontaneous. Once tapped, it overflows into all aspects of our lives -- work, play, and anything in between. To me, real motivation occurs when something stirs you -- an everyday accomplishment by a colleague or friend. A news story that chronicles some amazing or ordinary feat; a great article or book; or a feeling or voice within you that instigates -- this is what you are supposed to be doing! For me, and I think for most, there is an emotional element to motivation, a personal connection. When I stand on the sidelines of a sports event, my emotions rage: I want so badly for the person/team in action to meet their goals! Why? Because watching people do things with heart and passion taps into my own heart and inspires me. Whether it is sports, writing, or whatever you use to fill in the blank, when you are emotionally invested in something, motivation for greatness and success is a byproduct.
What is motivation?
Motivation is the scientific word used to represent the reasons for our actions, our desires, our needs. Motivation is behavioral, involving biological, emotional, social, and cognitive forces within us. The three major components to motivation include activation (getting started), persistence (keeping going), and intensity (vigor), which probably explains why you get more motivated when you see results.
We all possess the capacity to be motivated -- and our motivation is often a catalyst to start us on a path that leads us towards a goal. There are those who are disciplined and create step by step action plans to reach a specific goal, and those who are more flexible and adapt their plan of action as they progress. Whatever category you fit into, commitment is key: you have to really want something and work towards it for it to become a reality.
Goals and to Do Lists
So you have uncovered your passion, feel motivated, and even created an action plan that details the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. Why is it that once you create your plan it is not so easy to act on it? A lot of times we discover that our goals are motivated by other people -- or societies -- expectations: a great job, a big title, a large pay check, a perfect body. When it comes to keeping your motivation going, it's critical to determine what you need. What brings you joy, happiness, and what makes you excited? It may not be that big title. Or a big paycheck. Maybe it's helping a child to feel less lonely, or to bring cheer to someone stuck in a hospital over the holiday. When you tap into what fulfills you emotionally, it's likely that you will get excited and motivated to act. People often say they are lazy or stuck, but I think it's really that they have not tapped into their passion yet or that they allow their fears to hijack their dreams. And sometimes, what motivated us one day or year of our lives no longer motivates us at a later date -- it is important to reevaluate every now and then to know what you really seek.
One thing I try to remember: All motivated and passionate people get scared -- it is part of human nature. To follow a dream and pursue a passion means that you are exposing your vulnerabilities. It means that when you hit road bumps, they may hurt a bit more, because you are invested. But once a true and deep rooted passion is unearthed, motivation is the voice within us that more often than not says you can, you will. You just have to be listening for it, and let that mantra tune out the fear that tells you to quit.
Progress is also a great motivator -- when you want to accomplish something, the goals you meet along the way often keep you going. This is easily illustrated in people who are on a weight loss mission -- the more they lose and feel better, the more motivated they are to keep going. It's also true for sports goals. If you wish to run a 5k, and meet that goal, then it's possible you will progress to a 10k, a half marathon, and so on.
Optimism and Its Role in Motivation
Optimism is a mindset that tends to sway individuals to believe in the most favorable of outcomes. It is a hopefulness and confidence about the future. When you are optimistic about something, you are generally going to be motivated. When you have a pessimistic mindset, it is hard to see anything through. What's the point? Who cares? Why bother? But when you switch that channel of your mind, and find that optimism buried within you, it is easier for motivation to join the party.
How do you get optimistic when it seems like everything is falling apart? I'm a fan of time-outs that enable you to get outside of yourself, away from your doubts and blahness. Go volunteer -- help an elderly person, a child, the homeless. Go out for a walk, meditate, or exercise. I had a spin teacher in NYC who used to say each morning at 5 a.m., "life doesn't make sense until you work up a sweat." Watch how your pet lives -- the simple joys he or she experiences daily. Look outside your window at all the miracles around you: the trees, the sky, the flowers, the birds. And if none of that works, then choose to be optimistic -- believe in the best of outcomes and make an effort to surround yourself with people who inspire you. There are tons of smiling, loving doers out there who take risks and grow and are overflowing with life. Seek those people -- engage with them, watch them live. For me, the truly motivational folks are not out there giving lectures and charging fees; they are living their lives! The truth is that no one else can motivate you to action, but the right people can motivate you to self-reflection and instigate your making a plan. Motivation requires that you are engaged, committed, that you tap into your emotional truth, and assess and strategize a plan of action. It takes focus, persistence, and requires you to have a vision that you strive towards.
And when all else fails, tap into that one person who believes in you and let them remind you that you are going to succeed. Remember -- it is easy to quit. We all have moments when our motivation flickers. But it is the keeping going, the persistence and commitment, which enables you to tap into that granite within you, and to discover the greatness that you are capable of.