Motivation is the reason we do anything. It is the internal driving mechanism that keeps us working toward goals, keeps us moving and overcoming barriers, and inspires us to make the good better. Motivation is the fuel that keeps people focused on reaching intended outcomes. This could be a student working toward graduating and moving on to their next adventure, an athlete training for a championship, or someone making strides to better their health or career. In every of these examples, motivation helps turn intentions into results.
1. What is Motivation?
Motivation is the desire or willingness to do something. It is what prompts people to set an alarm to rise early, it keeps people in a routine and keeps people pressing on in the face of adversity. There are two primary types of motivation:
- Intrinsic Motivation: Having intrinsic motivation means being proactive from that internal drive and relying on internal rewards — doing something because you feel fulfilled or because it means somewhat to you. E.g., reading a book simply for the pleasure in doing so, or learning a skill simply because you are curious.
- Extrinsic Motivation: In this case, extrinsic motivation means there is something external that drives action, like money, praise, grades, or recognition. E.g., working hard to get a promotion or studying hard in order to get good marks.
2. The importance of motivation
Without motivation, the best-laid plans fail. Motivation:
- Increases productivity
- Enhances focus and energy
- Helps overcome obstacles
- Encourages consistency and discipline
- Fosters self-belief
- Motivation is the thing that turns dreams into goals and from goals to achievements.
3. How to stay motivated
Staying motivated can be difficult at times, particularly when you face stress, failure or other setbacks. Here are a few practical tips to keep your motivation on the rise:
- Define the Goal: Understand exactly what you want to achieve, and exactly why that is important to you.
- Break It Down: Make big goals smaller by breaking them down into steps that are easy to manage.
- Acknowledge Progress: Take note of your small wins; they are what will provide you with momentum.
- Stay Positive: Surround yourself with positive people and reduce/avoid the influence of any negative people when you can.
- Make it a Habit: Motivation gets you going in the right direction, but habit keeps you going.
- Visualize success: Close your eyes and see clearly yourself achieving what you have set out to do.
4. Drive and Mindset
Mindset is a big factor in how motivated you can be. A growth mindset can help promote perseverance because if you have a growth mindset, you would believe that your abilities and intelligence can be developed. Knowing that effort can lead to improvement can help you remain motivated when obstacles arise.
5. Examples from the Real World
Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before he invented the lightbulb, and famously stated, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Oprah Winfrey stayed motivated through a difficult childhood and ultimately became one of the most influential media personalities in the world.
Attaining motivation is inevitable for students, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between through personal stories and goals, and wanting a better future for themselves and others.
Conclusion
Motivation isn’t something that you’re born with; it’s something that you have to work at. Motivation can come and go, but it can become something greater. The key here is motivation can be made stronger with the right mindset, habits, and support system. It doesn’t matter whether you are seeking smaller goals or working toward bigger aspirations. Every step matters! Motivation is the key to moving you forward in whatever you’re hoping and dreaming about.
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