Motivation 101: What Do We Need To Know About Motivation?
Posted: June 26th, 2009 | Author: Frank Liz | Filed under: Motivation Models | Tags: extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, mindset, Motivation, motivation 101, Technorati, unmotivation | 17 Comments »
There comes a time in everyone’s life that there is a need to perform unpleasant and daunting tasks for a reason or two–that kind of stuff hits me every once in a while. You know, having to tango with a colleague I don’t like, going to school on Mondays, washing the dishes, studying for exams. Stuff like this sucks every inch of motivation I have in me and, in the end, I feel frustrated, weary and even irritated. But you know what? I manage to go along—all thanks to a little bit of motivation 101.
If you’re a normal human being then sudden bouts of non-motivation will bother you. But fear not! Here’s a little crash course on motivation 101:
• Motivation is a drive that sets in motion behavior and gives this behavior direction. It is an internal condition that fuels the human being to act. Motivation is anchored in the most basic need to decrease physical pain and increase pleasure. Whereas a goal is something you strive to achieve, motivation is the fuel that powers the vehicle to get you there.
• Intrinsic motivation is motivation derived from rewards built-in to a task or activity itself. To be intrinsically motivated means doing an activity with no evident reward other than the activity itself.
• Extrinsic motivation is rooted outside the person—either to get a reward or to avoid punishment. This type of motivation can extinguish and replace inherent motivation. There must be a balance between intrinsic motivators and extrinsic motivators.
• The mind set can be a deciding factor in being motivated. A mindset filled with growth-inhibiting beliefs, prejudices and biases will hinder the person in pursuing his goals. Furthermore, the fear to move out of one’s comfort zone will make a person hard to motivate as he will blatantly refuse a new idea if it doesn’t fit his comfort zone.
• The level of motivation is dependent on grasping knowledge about possible obstacles ahead of time. By doing so, you can avoid them or, if not, focus your motivation when they are near.
There you have it—what you need to know about motivation from a crash course on Motivation 101. To stay motivated is a Herculean task. But, you see, it is not impossible. You can do something about that alleged elusive bachelor called motivation. Just do your homework in Motivation 101.
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Great post about the fundamentals of motivation!! Motivation 101 indeed!! I also commend you for discussing about workplace motivation since it is one of the most elusive form of motivation yet one of the most indispensable ones in so far as success is concerned.
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Thanks for a crash course on workout motivation 101! Although the first step is really the hardest (that is deciding to workout), sustaining the motivation to religiously follow a fitness program is also a Herculean task!! =]
Harder than being motivated is staying motivated!! Thanks for the post on motivation 101! It really helped me breeze through the basics of motivation.
Great article!!! If there was such a thing as Motivation 101, then this post would definitely fit into the course outline!!
Thanks a lot for the info on motivation 101!! it really helped especially since I also have trouble keeping my motivation aflame.
I definitely agree with you!!! Thanks by the way for a crash course on motivation 101!!
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