The term "motivation" has a magical connotation. A magic wand impacts our life when it is required to do a task, go somewhere, or start a process, whatever the subject is, when there is a fire of inspiration, that is, when it truly comes from inside. No matter how difficult the task is, it will be completed, no matter how long the journey.
So, what is the foundation of this concept we term motivation, which we can't grasp or see? Each of us will have a different response to this question. Let me begin with a personal example... My greatest motivation is to help people. My biggest source of motivation is being able to make an impact on at least one person's life, contribute to their happiness, or encourage them to follow a career that they desire.
Money is, of course, a significant source of incentive for all of us, as we can see from other examples. We can talk about looking beautiful, meeting new acquaintances and mingling, or becoming more well-known. Whatever the reason, life loses its flavour and spice when we don't have that smouldering fire of achievement that burns in our hearts. We do but for the sake of doing, we converse but for the sake of conversing... Yes, let's face it, we work casually in order to have worked as hard as possible...
I'd want to share with you some key results from a source on motivation that I had the opportunity to explore in depth this week. In his book Drive, beloved Daniel Pink emphasises the importance of varied motivation and a process that is not focused on the tactics we "know":
'Many universities offer large rewards for the tasks we utilise here,' Ariely and her colleagues add. This idea is refuted by our findings. Our research has demonstrated that granting or increasing the number of prizes does not necessarily result in better performance.' In fact, contingent rewards, or the instruments that firms use to inspire their staff, may be doomed to failure in many circumstances.
(...) Contrast their conduct with that elicited by intrinsic motivation. There are no shortcuts when it comes to the prize itself—increasing their knowledge, delighting consumers, and giving their all. The only way to the goal is to take the correct path. In some ways, acting immorally is impossible because the person we leave behind is you, not a competitor.
Motivation is a very significant idea in our life. Our motivation level has a direct impact on our personal achievement or the inner belief that we reflect on life, which we might express as 'the power to do' or 'the act of doing.' Although external variables can help, I feel that a person can only give as much as his or her own motivation allows. External influences, as shown in the case above, can only take us so far. Following that, perseverance, belief, and tenacity are only as strong as our internal motivation.
If you're reading this post with me today, I'd like you to consider your level of motivation in everything from your smallest work to your biggest life ambition. What motivates you to act? When and under what circumstances does the inner power emerge, allowing you to overcome barriers one by one and perceive even difficulties as opportunities, without becoming stuck in life, and keeping you up at night?
