Ideas that Inspire Motivation And How To Keep It Going

Motivation can seem to be a mysterious entity—sometimes it’s there, and sometimes it isn’t. That said, most people do have the motivation to get up out of bed every morning and live life. 

But what exactly causes them to act?

The drive behind motivation varies from person to person and can stem from a combination of internal and external sources. Here are a few theories behind the force that carries us toward our goals.

Instinct: 

Although this theory has somewhat fallen out of vogue, the idea here is that people are programmed to behave a certain way to due to evolution. One of the prime examples of this theory at work is animal migration. But when it comes to people, this theory may not be able to explain more complex motivations around non-biological goals.

Incentive: 

This idea expresses that people do things to receive a reward. For example, you may be motivated to dress nicely at work because you think you’ll be more likely to receive the reward of a promotion. The greater the reward, the more motivated you will be to pursue the path to it.

Drive: 

The theory of drive-based motivation suggests that people to things to meet internal forces that compels them towards a particular course of action. For example, if you’re body needs more salts, you might develop a craving for salty food. 

Arousal: 

This doesn’t refer just to sex, but to all types of excitement and energy. When you’re feeling low on the spectrum, you might be motivated to add some excitement to your life with something like an action movie, a jog, or even an argument. When you need to balance out your day with relaxation, you could be more motivated to read a book or drink soothing tea.

Humanism:

Being that we are not robots, but rather complex creatures with layers of thought, desire, and feeling. Humanistic drives relate to a hierarchy of needs proposed by psychologist John Maslow. While things like food, water, and shelter are basic needs that must be met, people also have more intangible needs to fulfill like self actualization, creative expression, and loving relationships.

Expectancy:

This theory circulates around the idea that people—in a way—can build their own future just by what they think about themselves and the world around them, and be motivated to act accordingly. For example, a person who feels good about themselves and confident about what they can achieve will be more motivated to pursue their goals, while someone who feels down and out will be less motivated. 

"Reflect on your reasons for pursuing your goals regularly to reignite your passion and remind yourself of the purpose behind your actions."

So, now that you know some ways to inspire motivation, here are some ways to keep it going strong. 

Remember the pain points. 

In sales lingo, pain points are problems that come about when the solution being offered is not taken. Try to keep in mind all the things that could or will happen if you don’t stay the course. For example, if you were once motivated to go running three times a week, think about what will happen if you don’t give your heart the exercise it needs. 

Don’t play leapfrog. 

Feelings of motivation can sometimes slip into the category of finding the next high. Instead of bouncing from goal to goal, make sure you finish what you start before getting motivated about something else. For example, if you really like language and made a goal for yourself to learn French, learn it before you switch to learning German, and then Italian, or whatever else.

Know Thyself. 

When you try to accomplish goals that other people set for you, your motivation can wane. Take a look at your goals and make sure they’re goals you have for yourself…not goals that other people want you to achieve. If they’re not, you may want to set them aside and reassess where you’re going.

Visualize. 

Picturing the end result of your goal can go a long way towards continuing your motivation to succeed, and it has some seriously awesome side effects. The positive energy you build around that imagery will affect you at a subconscious level, while the mental affirmation that you can achieve it will do loads for your self confidence, which will also help you stay the course.

Let go of stuff beyond your control. 

When it comes to motivation, it can be easy to give up because things don’t’ go according to plan. Learn to let go of things beyond your control, otherwise they’ll reduce your motivation to succeed. Use setbacks as fuel to adapt and improve your approach.

Get organized. 

If you want to stay motivated, you need to work a little bit to keep the motivation alive, otherwise it will just slip into the traffic stream of life’s feelings that inevitably comes over everyone—just like happiness, sadness, or anger, motivation will just be another feeling unless you concretize it. Put your goals on the calendar and make an action plan.

Staying committed to your dreams requires understanding that consistency and perseverance are the keys to lasting success. Always believe in yourself and your ability to overcome any obstacle, for confidence is the cornerstone of achievement. Remember that the journey to success is not a sprint but a marathon, and with unwavering dedication, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Peace, love, and light soul family ✨