Motivation has been a word I have been pondering for quite some time.
It all started when I was about 3, and asked "Why?" Yes, I know all children start driving their parents crazy with this question at some point...but I never quit. It must be human nature to ask this question, because everyone does. But "why" do some people become obsessed with it? (See, there I go again!) I know I have annoyed many people over the years, and I have had many great discussions with other "why people". In most of the discussions I have had, we usually end up with more questions. Especially when it comes to motivation.
I became intrigued with psychology early on, because I wanted to know "why" people are the way they are. I found some answers, but when it comes to motivation...good luck! It has taken me a long time to surrender to the fact that I will never know another's true motivation. Only God knows. There is a lot in the Bible about motivation (or the heart of man). God is very serious about this.
To me, motivation is the reason we do or think what we do. I am making an assumption here, that there is a motive to all action and thought. Possibly not. We do a lot of things that are reflexive or reactive, or without thought. Like breathing, I don't have much choice about that. Already, this becomes complicated... motives may be unconscious (a habit), subconscious (a reason that we are unaware of), or conscious (aware).
Motivation could be a thought or emotional state. Think for a moment... why do you get out of bed every morning? If you are not being lifted out of the crib anymore, something motivates you. So what is the thought or emotion that leads you to action? If you look hard, there is a least one motive for every action. When I examine why people do what they do, it is usually "multi-motivational". (I just made up a new word!)
Let's take an example of over-eating. There could be many reasons for this behavior... a mother who consoled the child with food, or an unloving father and the child turned to food for comfort. Or... it could be because of habit, comfort, boredom, distraction, rebellion, pleasure. OR ALL of these reasons, mixed together. And I must beg the question: DOES KNOWING "WHY" REALLY HELP CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR? My verdict...no.
Let's take another example. When somebody does something nice for you, what is their motivation? Does it matter? Most of us will answer that it does matter. We don't want to feel manipulated, or that we owe something, or that they did it out of guilt. We want to think their motive was their honest love and concern for us. If I said to my patients that I am just helping them for the paycheck, it probably wouldn't go over too well.
What about your own motivation? Does it matter? Mine started to matter when I started not to care. I realized that I was not changing or growing, for many reasons. But one of the main reasons was motivation.
Last week, I talked about seeking perfection. This used to be a motive for me...to be perfect. That turned out to be disastrous. I started watching and listening to people. Most people are motivated by "What's in it for me". Just look at the greed all around us...and I include myself. I am not so sure this motive is great either. But like seeking perfection, it drives our economy.
I am in the health care field, and one of the biggest challenges is motivating people to make long term commitments to healthy lifestyles. The reality is that this will save millions of health care dollars. The statistics are staggering at the low percentage of people who make these changes permanent. And there is neuropsychological research to explain why this is so. It is discouraging.
I don't know the solution. But I do know that motivation lies at the core. I do know that a culture that is motivated by "What's in it for me", will not last as long as one motivated by "What's in it for WE." That kind of belief involves motivation that includes sacrifice of self for the greater good. I know where you can find the PERFECT role model if you're interested.
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