What is our driving force?
On some days if not all, we might experience certain ‘blues’ which make us want to curl up like a burrito and not leave bed.
Self-motivation is what gets us through those days although it’s fair to say that it’s not always easy.
As human beings, just as we all have our unique share of strengths and weaknesses, the factors that motivate each of us are also distinct. Through this blog, we aim to recognize the various factors that contribute to our level of motivation.
To begin with, at the base level there are two types of motivation:
- Intrinsic or internal is a type of motivation that comes from within. It is when your interest, passion or values drive you to do something. For example, taking a course on Mandala art because of your passion to learn.
- Extrinsic or External is a type of motivation that stems from outside factors. It includes things you get for completing a task. For example, praise, criticism, monetary rewards, etc. The immediate reward that follows our action, is one of the highest motivators for short term goals.
In terms of internal motivation there are many things that reward a person from within.
Meeting basic needs of food and shelter, the excitement of learning new things and improving their skills may cause motivation for people to perform tasks.
Achievement motivation is another type of internal motivator. The satisfaction of achievement comes from crossing the finish line, not necessarily the reward.
A sense of purpose, responsibility, having a positive attitude and even creativity may internally drive a person to get something done.
When we speak of external motivation, the most common one that comes to mind is that of incentive. People are largely driven when there is an external reward or incentive such as money or praise after completing a task. Here it’s the reward that motivates us more than the task. For example: Working a job that does not add much in terms of interest but is very high paying.
A few other extrinsic factors maybe, power, where you get control not just over your actions but also over that of others; social motivation, which is a need to be accepted socially and even praise or recognition.
How do we use the motivators IRL?
Identifying what motivates us is only part of the process completed by using it to produce action. Below are a few ways we can take direct action :
- Reward yourself : For those of us motivated by incentives, reward goes a long way in keeping the fuel alive. For example: You may have noticed, those who follow strict diets often reward themselves with a ‘cheat meal’ after reaching their target goals.
- Set SMART goals : Set goals that are realistic and attainable. Checking off these lists provides a great sense of accomplishment.
SMART goals are those that are Specific, Manageable, Attainable, Realistic & Timebound. As an example, consider a teacher who decides a specific topic to cover with her class, gives herself a timeline of one-two sessions as that is manageable, attainable and realistic as compared to trying to finish the topic in just one session. The deadline she places shows the goal to be time bound as well.
- Track your progress : It’s important to keep a tab on how far along you are on your journey. This provides a boost to strive forward. Keeping a checklist of the tasks that need to be done within a week is a great way to track your progress.
- Read stories and cases of those that inspire you. (Success stories from those within your domain of expertise)
While this blog considers the driving force behind our actions – motivation- through a brief lenses, it does give us the insight needed to start moving!
References :
https://www.betterup.com/blog/types-of-motivation
Self-Determination Theory (Deci&Ryan,1985)
