Motivation - a few definitions:
(1) A psychological concept with no single universally accepted definition, but which organisational sociologists believe concerns the determinants of intent, effort, and tenacity, factors that push or pull us as individuals to behave in a particular manner.
(2) Feelings that drive someone toward a particular objective.
(3) The push of the mental forces to accomplish an action. Unsatisfied needs motivate. On the biological level, basic human needs of food, shelter, and survival are powerful motivators. On the psychological level, people need to be understood, affirmed, validated, and appreciated. On the business level, motivation occurs when people perceive a clear business reason for pursuing a transfer of knowledge or practices.
If you look up the word “motivation,” you'll find many contrasting, and almost contradictory definitions of what it is. I found over fifty definitions in five minutes. It seems that even those who define it aren't exactly sure what it is. It is definitely the most overused and misunderstood word on the personal development landscape. We all kind of know what it is, but at the same time, we don't. It seems different things represent motivation for different people.
I just asked someone (a random person in the gym) what their definition of motivation was and they said, "Something which makes us do stuff."
I said "Fear can make us do stuff, so is fear motivation?"
"Er yeh, guess so."
"Well vanity makes us do stuff, so what about vanity as a motivator?"
"Yeh.. guess so."
"Food, sex?"
"S'pose."
The reality is that many things motivate us - different things, and the same things. What we're talking about here is the motivation that helps us create that forever change, that amazing life, that incredible body, that spectacular relationship, and that new and improved reality - not the motivation that sees us standing in front of the fridge an hour after our dinner. For many people, motivation is an emotional state that helps them get certain things done (for a while).
"I felt motivated to go for a run this morning."
"That experience gave me the motivation (changed my thinking and emotional state) to create new habits."
"Whenever I read Craig's amazing, incredible, insightful, clever, witty, life-changing posts (okay, I overdid it), I feel inspired and motivated to turn my life around.”
The problem with motivation being essentially an emotional state, or a place we get to in our head, is that it's temporary. When the motivation disappears (and it will because our emotions and mental state fluctuate from day to day and moment to moment), then so do the new found, desirable behaviours. In other words, we lose momentum. We stop doing what we need to do to create the outcomes (realities) we so desperately desire. For others, motivation is simply a reason to have to do something.
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