Most people have aacomplicated relationship with motivation – it seems to ebb and flow at inconvenient times. We get highly motivated, and then when we have to do the activity we’ve meant to do, the motivation is gone. Where does it go? And why does it feel like we’re sabotaging ourselves by wiping ourselves of inspiration when it is essential that we remain motivated? Types of motivation and how to utilise them Emotional Motivation One suggested method of maintaining motivation is to emotionally condition ourselves with an ‘anchor’ to a physical trigger. This allows us to gain a specific bodily reaction that provides an emotional response that reminds us of motivation. However, the downside to this form of reason is that it requires lengthy conditioning and requires constant upkeep. Another method of emotional motivation suggested by Tony Robbins is to write down a pleasure you associate with an action and the negative that will occur if the action does not happen. This short-term self-manipulation may be effective in creating motivation and requires a lot of emotional investment. Mental Motivation Using the mind for motivation is an effective method. If we tell ourselves that something is beneficial mentally for us, it may motivate us to do it. We can be very inspired by simply seeing an act as reasonable. The problem with using mental motivation techniques is that we are blocked often by our logic as it limits us to only act upon impulses that seem reasonable. If our expectations are too high, or we see obstacles in the way of our success, we may be discouraged and avoid the activity all the more. Further, if you try to break it down into small goals, that can seem futile and like you’ll never reach what you want. What is needed to make mental motivation techniques work is to face your fears and concerns about your limitations and learn to deal with them effectively. The key is to allow your subconscious mind to see that what you want is possible and reasonable. It might feel like tough love – but often, what you need to succeed is to take a hard stance against yourself and tackle the issues that are preventing you from getting on. Going above and beyond your comfort zone can be the biggest motivator you need. If we feel nervous with anticipation for an event, we will feel trepidation, but in the same breath, we are likely to try it out and see. We will grow as people from it and gain motivation through an improvement in our self-esteem. Motivation in the modern world Previously, it worked to motivate people with money alone. This worked because tasks were routine and straightforward. Nowadays, there is a greater emphasis on mental tasks because everyday tasks can be fulfilled without humans. This detracts from the efficacy of financial incentives in the modern world and means we rely upon different motivators. We may see motivation now as split three ways: We require a sense of higher purpose to understand why we do what we do.
