Imagine waking up full of energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead. Imagine feeling truly driven to take massive action and get stuff done. Well guess what, many people do feel that way! But my guess is that you don't. Why? Because you're reading this article! The answer for you may well lie in understanding "if then" motivation, why everyone uses it, and why it doesn't really work.
"If then" is a motivational tool. The tool tells us that "if" you do something, "then" something will happen as a result. Such as, if you clean the dishes, then you can watch TV before bed. It's a very simple concept and it can certainly be used to motivate in some situations. However, the problem is that "if then" has somehow become the major motivating strategy in society.
Unfortunately, motivation 101 ("if then" motivation) doesn't always work. It also creates harmful long term problems. Why? Well how on earth do you become self-motivated and inspired by life when all you are doing is responding to threats of punishment or the delights of rewards? Your motivation levels are just being manipulated. In fact, it's not really addressing motivation at all it's just seeking to change behavior.
When you focus on a reward or a punishment you can tend to become conditioned to believing you should be rewarded for being good and punished for being bad. But what happens when you do something good and no-one rewards you? What happens when all you want to do is achieve a target so that you can get a reward? What happens when all you do it act out of fear of retribution for not acting? Is this the way you want to live?
Motivation is not about manipulating behavior. Motivation is something that comes from within and dictates your entire way of being. If you feel compelled to act and then you do act - you are motivated. If you think you "should" act, you are not motivated. Something is missing.
Behavioral scientists Harry Harlow and Edward Deci have found what's missing for those that don't feel motivated. They found that real motivation is as simple as AMP - autonomy, mastery and purpose.
If you want to feel motivated and achieve great things each day you need to create an environment for yourself where motivation can exist. You need to create a life of autonomy, mastery and purpose. You do this by taking charge of your life, by making life happen, by not allowing others to tell you how to spend your life. This is autonomy. Do you do it? You need to pursue knowledge, to expand your abilities, to become better and better at something you love. This is mastery. Do you do that? You need to spend your time in pursuit of something greater than your basic needs, you need to follow your heart. This is purpose. Do you do this?
Understanding these elements is vital if you want to feel the power of true motivation. To develop into a truly motivated person you must create an environment where you are in charge and in control, where you are always improving and developing and working towards something you really and truly want, and where what you are working towards is something that inspires you and calls you to action. Take what you are doing now and twist it within this framework (or finding something else to do if you can't) and you will become a highly energized and motivated person. Good luck!
"If then" is a motivational tool. The tool tells us that "if" you do something, "then" something will happen as a result. Such as, if you clean the dishes, then you can watch TV before bed. It's a very simple concept and it can certainly be used to motivate in some situations. However, the problem is that "if then" has somehow become the major motivating strategy in society.
Unfortunately, motivation 101 ("if then" motivation) doesn't always work. It also creates harmful long term problems. Why? Well how on earth do you become self-motivated and inspired by life when all you are doing is responding to threats of punishment or the delights of rewards? Your motivation levels are just being manipulated. In fact, it's not really addressing motivation at all it's just seeking to change behavior.
When you focus on a reward or a punishment you can tend to become conditioned to believing you should be rewarded for being good and punished for being bad. But what happens when you do something good and no-one rewards you? What happens when all you want to do is achieve a target so that you can get a reward? What happens when all you do it act out of fear of retribution for not acting? Is this the way you want to live?
Motivation is not about manipulating behavior. Motivation is something that comes from within and dictates your entire way of being. If you feel compelled to act and then you do act - you are motivated. If you think you "should" act, you are not motivated. Something is missing.
Behavioral scientists Harry Harlow and Edward Deci have found what's missing for those that don't feel motivated. They found that real motivation is as simple as AMP - autonomy, mastery and purpose.
If you want to feel motivated and achieve great things each day you need to create an environment for yourself where motivation can exist. You need to create a life of autonomy, mastery and purpose. You do this by taking charge of your life, by making life happen, by not allowing others to tell you how to spend your life. This is autonomy. Do you do it? You need to pursue knowledge, to expand your abilities, to become better and better at something you love. This is mastery. Do you do that? You need to spend your time in pursuit of something greater than your basic needs, you need to follow your heart. This is purpose. Do you do this?
Understanding these elements is vital if you want to feel the power of true motivation. To develop into a truly motivated person you must create an environment where you are in charge and in control, where you are always improving and developing and working towards something you really and truly want, and where what you are working towards is something that inspires you and calls you to action. Take what you are doing now and twist it within this framework (or finding something else to do if you can't) and you will become a highly energized and motivated person. Good luck!
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