happy birthday to you greeting card by National Cancer Institute courtesy of Unsplash.

Monthly Reflection: Motivation

Jalene Hahn |
Categories
WW

Motivation

Quote: “You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” - Babe Ruth

  • Motivation can be fickle. It’s a mental force that waxes and wanes. Sooner than later, we will encounter setbacks. The choices we make when we’re tired or discouraged will determine our success.
  •  A crucial component of long-term motivation is persistence. Stay committed, even (especially!) when things get tough. To set yourself apart, persevere when most people quit.

Question: What motivates you?

  • We’re all motivated by different things, at different times. Knowing what drives you can help you to position yourself for success.
  • In some circumstances, we’re motivated by external factors, such as a reward or desire for recognition. Sometimes, we’re motivated to avoid punishment or pain. 
  • More powerful, though, is intrinsic motivation. We are more likely to stick to something if we’re internally driven. If we find a particular pursuit personally rewarding, meaningful, or fulfilling, we’re less likely to abandon it when we get discouraged.

 

Quill: Why individuals want money is what matters: Using self-determination theory to explain the differential relationship between motives for making money and employee psychological health by Anaïs Thibault Landry, et. al

  • People have long debated whether money makes us happy. Different studies have given conflicting answers about how our desire for money affects our emotional wellbeing. It turns out that why we want more money makes a difference in how it makes us feel. 
  • When our desire to have more money is related to the pursuit of leisure, freedom, and charity, we are likely to experience greater satisfaction. Money can promote happiness when it leads to a sense of competence, autonomy, and connection.
  • On the other hand, pursuing money to compensate for feelings of inadequacy or to mask self-doubt will likely have a negative impact on your wellbeing. Financial goals motivated by social comparison detract from feelings of autonomy, competence, and connection and can frustrate these basic human needs.