We call it “motivation.” But what does this concept really mean and how does it actually help us maintain our drive to achieve our goals every day?
In today’s eNewsletter, Part 1 in my 3-part series on motivation, I address the “best” and “worst” types of motivation, as well as how this knowledge can be leveraged to help YOU achieve sustainable health-related and self-caring behaviors (more movement, sleep, better eating, etc.). This discussion applies to individuals, practitioners and organizations, as you will learn below.
While I use it in my work, I’ve come to believe that the term “motivation” is unhelpful for most individuals.
- Motivation refers to the drive and desire we feel to pursue our goals and values. While “motivation” is tossed around by everyone under the sun, this term doesn’t really get at its core meaning and the crucial role it plays in our long-term success, health, and well-being.
- I believe that a more helpful way to think and talk about “motivation” is that it is the fuel we all need to persist toward our goals. No fuel = no energy to pursue what is most important to us.
We All Need Fuel
Think about automobiles. Without gas or another type of energy, our car won’t go – whether it’s a Ford or Porsche, right? If we are not energized to persevere toward our goals, then we won’t be able to realize what is most important to our lives. It’s that simple.
For most people, the common thinking is that it makes no difference if our energy source is external or internal. However, research clearly shows that whether our fuel for our goals is sourced externally or internally has tremendous implications for our success in achieving them.
Does it take a clinician’s admonition or Nutrisystem’s® new “Fresh Start” advertising to spark your energy for making a change or initiating a new goal? If so, you can consider yourself as having an external source of fuel.
If you’d like to learn the surprising ways in which an external source of fuel undermines the success of individuals, practitioners, and even organizations, read the full post here.
Feel free to share this post with others who share your interest in the science-based how-to’s of creating lasting changes that can survive in the real world.
Copyright © Segar, Michelle.