Motivation is indeed the inner voice that urges us to accomplish a task. Motivation influences behaviors, decisions, and inevitably life quality. It is necessary for engagement and productivity within personal or work environments or even while performing the mundane tasks of everyday life. What then is motivation, and what factors will stimulate it?
Motivation: What Is It?
At its most basic, motivation is what influences a person to act. It can be defined as the inner force which pushes an individual towards setting certain goals, attaining a particular outcome, and sometimes finishing a specific chore. The motivating factor could stem from outside, from rewards and recognition, or locate itself perpetrated inside with a more solid foundation on personal acceptance, values, or sense of purpose.
Psychologists have traditionally divided motivation into two main types:
- Intrinsic Motivation: This is motivation from within. Intrinsic motivation occurs when an individual begins an activity simply for enjoyment, enjoyment, or some concern about the challenge itself. For example, an individual may play a musical instrument not because he/she aims to become famous or wealthy but because he/she enjoys playing.
- Extrinsic Motivation: This is motivation that comes from outside. External motivation could involve a reward or recognition from another person or the avoidance of punishment. A person, for example, may strive to work hard at a job to get promoted or to make an amount to pay their bills, instead of the work being enjoyable in itself.
The Science of Motivation
Motivation is not just some pie-in-the-sky notion that makes individuals suddenly want to go out and accomplish something. It is very much rooted in brain chemistry and the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are essential in instilling pleasure, satisfaction, and reward. Dopamine, in particular, is most commonly associated with the “feel good” neurotransmitter which gets released when we do something rewarding or task oriented. This aids in the motivation of continuing that behavior to strive for the same or similar results in the future.
Motivation is not comprised only of feel-good moments, though. It is comprised of a variety of psychological needs – as proposed by Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs. Motivation is ruled by psychological needs as we all strive to move up the levels of the hierarchy. Those psychological needs start with basic physiological needs (like shelter or food) and go up into psychological desires (like self-actualization or personal growth).
Certainly, individuals are motivated at a granular level by their own desires and wishes, but there are some overarching concepts that drive most behavior.
- Goals and Ambitions: There is no doubt that setting clear and meaningful goals is one of the biggest outer motivators one can only wish for. People are usually driven toward something they believe in; passively, these beliefs should reflect the long-term vision of success. These goals make the attainment of a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
- Personal Values and Beliefs: A person’s core values have a huge say in that person’s source of motivation. For instance, one who holds independence dear may be motivated to venture down the road of self-employment or work in an autonomous job. Likewise, those who value helping others will seek careers in areas like healthcare, education, or social justice.
- External Rewards: More subtly stated, one can think of such rewards as money, fame, and praise that serve as very strong motivators. A large number of people are stimulated by the prospect of obtaining something concrete or of getting social approval from people.
- Fear and Avoidance: Standing in-between is the assurance of “one”s motivation borne out of the impulse to avert what is perceived as a disadvantage. A few such disadvantages are outright fear of failure, dread of punishment, or the possibility of disappointment. Fear of consequences plays an important role as a motivator when the people feel that there is something to lose.
- Social Influence: People usually motivate themselves from the actions, expectations, or approvals of others. Whether it is by social pressure or peer influence, or the sheer desire to conform or fit in, the person conforms to accepted societal norms or sites to gain approval from a mentor, employer, or loved one.
SDT-Theory and Motivation
Intrinsic motivation may be closely related to three types of human experiences: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. According to the Basic Needs Theory, intrinsic motivation is maximally encouraged when a person feels detachment in choice-initiating his actions (autonomy), is confident in his ability to perform in some sphere (competence), and feels connected with others in this process (relatedness). These three psychological needs are seen as quite basics, enabling intrinsic motivation.
Overcoming Barriers to Motivation:
Every person experiences low motivation at one point or another, even the most driven. It is much harder to make a move and keep going when motivation ebbs. Here are a couple of tips to augment with:
- Divide Goals into Smaller Tasks: Large goals can overwhelm. By breaking them down into smaller, more digestible pieces, you’re going to move forward without freaking out. Small wins will keep the motivation to work towards the farther goal going.
- Wider Subtext: Unfurling the deeper purpose behind your inspiration to attain anything could be sufficient to prop up your motivation. If you could connect your actions to a larger purpose or personal importance, you can sometimes stay charged for longer.
- Establishing a Routine: Consistency is the lifeblood of sustained motivation, especially in those tasks that call for it. A daily routine can obliterate decision fatigue and drive progress, regardless of the fluctuations of motivation.
- Celebrate Milestones: When you reach a milestone, reward yourself. This reinforces positive behavior and keeps motivation high. Celebrations don’t require grand gestures; they can be as simple as taking a break, enjoying a treat or acknowledging how you’ve progressed.
- Encircle Yourself with Positivity: Motivation could be spurred on by the people who surround you, your work environments, and the particular type of material you’re consuming. Sensationalize it; be among those who motivate you, inspire creativity in an inspiring environment, and feed yourself with positive stuff.
Motivation should be thought of as a lifelong process of becoming engaged with what we perceive as meaningful. Motivation is not a state; it fluctuates in the course of a lifetime, shaped by external circumstances, internal desires, and the transformations of the goals we set for ourselves. Grasping the multiple forms of motivation, the psychological mechanisms leading to them, and the influencing motivating factors can only further our greater drive and self-advancement.
Motivation is a culmination of journey, pitted against a myriad of cross-currents. Motivation assumes a dynamic form, which takes continuous energy, energy sensing itself and assiduous adjustment. Subsequently, motivation undergoes a transformation in substance through intrinsic motivation, doubling with extrinsic motivation adjusted to goals aligned with values. With such a framework, there is a motivation toward challenges towards personal growth and fulfillment.
