Use Your Motivation To Your Advantage

The basic definition of motivation is "inspiration, stimulus or incentive."  Motivation has also been called an internal need or desire that induces a person to take action.  Interestingly, motivation can be either positive or negative, as well as a very subtle or of a more tangible quality.  Understanding motivation, your own and that of others, is important.  Once you learn what drives you, how and why, you will have more power over yourself.   

Where Motivation Begins

Plunging deeper into the theory of motivation, we find there are several schools of thought as to how motivation begins.  Some believe that aside from fulfilling base urges, motivation is based on a system of reward and reinforcement.  When a parent rewards a child with something tangible or intangible (a gift or a happy tone of voice) then the child has learned that this specific action reaps benefits, they become trained.  They associate positive meaning with the behavior.   

Some believe this reward-based system eventually evolves into a system of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.  Some extrinsic rewards are still largely the same, such as praise from others or wealth; however, now more emphasis is given to intrinsic rewards or internal benefits.  For example, the feeling of satisfaction that comes from helping others or the sense of accomplishment you get from completing a task or achieving a goal. 

Another system of motivation to consider is that of coercion, or the act of compelling one to act by force of authority.  Most families do use some sort of system based on coercion, and society also sees coercion at the hands of larger authority figures, such as the government, school systems, and jail systems.  Coercion is so impacting that it can often times override other systems of motivation.  Interestingly, some individuals have found that using a type of coercion-based learning system on themselves has produced some favorable results.  It's the basic principle of getting "tough on yourself", limiting your "reward" time based upon performance, and setting a rigid schedule that cannot be broken.

What Motivation Means To You

Ultimately, a person's motivation, wherever it comes from, will drive him or her to great success or greater failure.  If you sense that your inner motivation causes negative effects, or inhibits you from trying to reach out for more, then perhaps it's time to reevaluate your system of learning.  The most successful people in life are motivated.  Motivation directly leads to a person taking action.

Usually, a person reacts to overwhelming motivation by setting goals.  At first the goals are small but always heading in the same path.  Next, the motivated person learns more about the subject of interest, while setting greater goals.  Finally, the successful person finishes all projects as planned.  This may be what separates the dreamers from the professionals.  It's the motivation to see a plan through.  Learn how to modify your motivating factors and how to capitalize on all opportunities.  Enjoy the feeling you have when you apply your motivation and be even more successful in life.