How Do We "Get Motivation"?

Is it possible to "get motivation"? How do we define motivation? Why do the emotional type of motivational seminars only seem to provide short term highs?


These rah rah seminars will have people dancing on their chairs and some are even crying. But a few days later the effect seems to have worn off. I have spent time as a teacher and at times motivational speakers are brought in to talk to the students. They go over goal setting and how to achieve your best. They are usually of the "hyped up" variety. Most people think it is so wonderful. But nothing changes. The students and staff all go back to being their unmotivated, stick your head in the sand, do what we've always done, people.

There is no real impetus for change. What people are failing to realize is that we simply need a reason to "get motivation" that makes sense. It does not have to be tied to an emotional response.

Define Motivation

A definition of motivation would be the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose.

What is the intrinsic or extrinsic incentive or reason for doing something. It needs to only meet the criteria of making sense. That is all you need to get motivation to perform a particular task.

Maybe you need help in finding motivation to exercise. We know the benefits of exercise. Working out is a smart thing to do. So we do it. That's it. Do you really need to put on a motivational DVD to get you pumped up emotionally to go to the gym or for a run. No. It is in you. You are a smart person. If it makes sense then that is how you get motivation to complete the task.

Do you really hate your job? Maybe you are considering a career change. This can be daunting. You are going to have to deal with some of the psychological fears that have been holding you back. You have been letting fears, excuses, and limiting beliefs hold you back. Your subconscious mind knows you’re settling, so it won’t provide any motivational fuel until you step up, and face your fears and really set goals that almost seem too big. But these are the goals that you know make sense. They are the ones that will allow you to get motivation.


I literally walked away from teaching.

I was no longer motivated to spend time within a system I no longer believed in. Was that unreasonable? Probably. But so what. I am happier now than ever before. I came up with my personal core values and realized that I wanted to do something different. This motivated me. Working on this website motivates me. It makes sense to me. These are the self motivation techniques that have worked for people that achieve real success. They seem to set crazy goals to achieve. These goals pass the "does it make sense" test and this is how they get motivation.


There may be setbacks along the way. Goals are rewritten. But successful, motivated people simply do what needs to be done.




Career Change
Thinking of a career change? Read this.


Cultivating A Positive Attitude
You do get to choose your attitude.


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