Are you on the path to a successful career? If not, what’s stopping you? Are you waiting for your company to give you the right incentives, for the training department to offer a leadership class, or for your manager to inspire you? Maybe you’re just waiting for the next job opening or for the “right moment.” The bigger question is, are you getting in your own way?
If you’re waiting for someone or something else to motivate you, you might be holding yourself back. External motivation, like rewards and punishments, dates back to the 1940s, when psychologist B.F. Skinner used these methods on animals. Sadly, many organizations still rely on these outdated methods. But you don’t have to wait for your company to motivate you or for something big to happen. Did you know you can create motivation from within? The best way to get unstuck and reach your goals is to boost your self-motivation.
Most people start with lots of passion and enthusiasm when they set important goals. But over time, they lose momentum, energy, and drive. Why does this happen? Setting a goal is easy, but staying motivated to achieve it is the hard part. The key is developing the skills to keep your motivation strong.
What makes you want to get things done? We might wonder how motivation works, but it’s clear that it’s super important for success, no matter what success means to you. Whether you’re running a business, making art, raising kids, leading others, or just trying your hardest and aiming for a bigger goal, motivation is incredibly powerful.
All motivation comes from inside us. It can be sparked by different things like what we want, need, or the rewards we get. Motivation can be from outside, like when we do things to get a reward, or from inside, when we do things because we like them and they make us happy.
Everyone is unique, so what drives one person might not drive another. What motivates someone can be from inside or outside them. For instance, you might go to college because you love learning or because you’re curious about what you’re studying — that’s being internally motivated. On the other hand, some people go to college to get a degree for a high-paying job or to climb the social ladder. Whether your motivation comes from within or without, it comes from you. Understanding why you do what you do helps you find what makes you tick and how to bring out that motivation. That’s your superpower.
To unlock your self-motivation superpower, start by getting to know yourself better. When you truly understand who you are, you can connect with yourself on a deeper level. Remember, everyone is different, so your path and strategy for motivation will be tailored to your personality and what drives you, as well as what holds you back. The more insight you have into yourself, the easier it becomes to set goals and tackle obstacles based on your unique experiences and aspirations. Self-awareness is your key to feeling empowered!
To find out what gets you going, start by thinking about these things that push you forward:
1. Achievement means reaching a goal, whether it’s moving up at work, finishing a job, or hitting a deadline.
2. Personal success means being your best self. It could mean having a balanced life, feeling secure, having freedom, or just living life the way you want.
3. Mastery means being really good at what you do. It could mean competing, being an expert, setting records, or reaching the highest level in your job.
4. Self-indulgence is all about giving in to your ego. It might mean wanting money, fame, attention, power, winning, or control.
5. Purpose is finding meaning in what you do. You might want to leave a mark, assist others, make a positive difference, or lead change. It’s about feeling fulfilled, reaching your full potential, or finding wisdom.
6. Relatedness is all about feeling connected to others in a good way. It’s about having friends, feeling accepted, and belonging to a group or cause.
7. Avoidance is something we all do sometimes. It’s when we act to steer clear of something bad, like feeling embarrassed, worried, failing, or losing something important to us.
8. What’s special to you? What gets you going in your own way?
Everyone has their own way to succeed. Athletes, famous people, monks, business owners, and big bosses all have their stories of success, and they each found what drives them inside. That’s their special power. Discovering your own power starts with knowing yourself.
[…] Staying motivated is a complex and ongoing journey that showcases human resilience and your commitment to your goals. Motivation isn’t a fixed state; it’s a dynamic force that changes over time. By understanding its basics, setting clear goals, fostering intrinsic motivation, overcoming challenges, and being consistent, you can tap into this energy to achieve success. […]