December Motivation #8
What Is Motivation?
Merriam-Webster defines motivation as:
1a: the act or process of motivating
// Some students need motivation to help them through school.
1b: the condition of being motivated
// employees who lack motivation
2: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence: incentive, drive
// the Old Testament heroes added religious motivation to the waging of war — Richard Humble
// The fear of failure was the motivation for his achievements.
However, if we look at motivation at a deeper level, as a psychological element, it is the force which starts, directs, and keeps the behavior of pursuing a goal. This force involves biological, emotional, cognitive, and social elements. It is what causes us to take action or why we do something.
Knowing why we do something is crucial to maintaining the goals that have caused us to start taking action. If our why isn’t strong enough, the passion to continue taking step after step will disappear.
Know your why.
Simon Sinek, a leadership expert, started a movement to help inspire people. He also wrote a powerful three-book series titled Start with Why, which is available at most libraries, including digital ones. I especially recommend listening to his TED Talks.
