Today wherever you go people talk about motivation, but no one shares “The Secrets of Motivation”. Why do I say this? Firstly, very few people talk about How to be motivated. But is getting motivated good enough? What are the drivers/factors of your motivation? You might be one of the persons who love the speed in a car. But if you disregard safety and over speed then it can kill you. The same enjoyment might become the cause of your sorrow. The same is true for motivation, wrong motivational factors can land you in danger, ill health, loss of fame, loss of prosperity or you may even lose your life.
What is motivation and motivation factors?
Motivation is a reason for acting or behaving in a particular way. So how will you know what the reason or factor behind your motivation is? Generally, people are not aware of their motivational factors.
People’s motivation unknowingly comes from negative drivers:
1. Fear: Fear is the most common factor or reason for motivation. Some people wait till the last minute of a deadline to start their work, as fear is their driving factor. Or some people complete the work for those people whom they fear or r people take action because they fear others’ criticism and opinion or when people work hard at the office because they feel financially insecure. So, please check and if there is any ounce of fear in your thoughts before starting your work, then you are motivated by your fear too.
2. Hate: There are people who promptly work against those they hate. Or people work against a thought very actively, then they are motivated by hate. We are motivated by hate when we want to prove others wrong. We are motivated by hate when we want others to apologize to us. Just check in your heart if you are motivated because you are hating someone.
3. Jealousy: There are people who only take action when they feel a sharp pang of jealousy against their rivals. When we want to become better than others. When our success lies only in shining or getting a name or money more than someone, we are in jealousy. If we are constantly comparing ourselves with someone, then we are in jealousy. Search your heart are you unknowingly competing with someone and if someone’s success is hurting you?
4. Anger: Some people only get into action when in anger. People do unbelievable acts when they are in anger. Some call this bravado but actually, we get blinded by our anger and we take risky decisions. These risky decisions sometimes pay us off, but most of the times put us in the worst situations. Anger, as a motivation takes away more than what it gives. When we are so focused on someone that we forget our real welfare, our loved ones, and values, constantly feeling anger as an emotion, then we are motivated by anger. A person motivated by anger is so negatively motivated that he/she would like to destroy others even it means their own destruction. Just check in your subconscious mind if you are really working for your real welfare or you are constantly focused on someone else?
5. Greed: Some people are motivated by their greed. Greed is when you have what you desired for, but you still want more. In greed, things which you desire are never enough. Like you can have money, but you want more, and money is never enough. This is greed for money. So, check if you are working because you act only if you want more of something with greed in mind - then you are motivated by greed.
6. Strong Attachment: There are people who get the drive to take action when they are feeling a strong attachment towards something or someone. If the thought of losing a cause which you are attached to, motivates you or if you feel motivated when someone you are attached to, then you are motivated with a strong attachment. Strong attachment is a negative emotion because it takes away your capacity to think logically and you take your eyes away from your welfare.
The above are negative emotions but unknowingly we think these are positive factors and are the real motivators in life. Also, it is easy to operate from these motivational factors because our mind has a negativity bias. Our animal and emotional brain are very active and take these motivational factors essential for survival. Once something is attached to survival, then it has zero resistance from the brain and mind. But in the long run, these negative emotions take more than what they give. They take away your health and peace of body and mind.
We should work with positive motivational drivers, like:
1. Love: People can achieve impossible tasks when they are in love. They can go far and beyond for their lover and what they love. Love is a positive emotion and different from attachment. In general, people confuse attachment with love, but love is an emotion that gives you courage and feeds you with positive energy. This positive energy gives you the power of creativity and innovation. Unlike attachment, love does not blind you from your own welfare and creates a win-win situation. You should know you are motivated by love if you wish well for everyone involved in the act - even for your opponents.
2. Compassion: People are motivated when they see other people in need, as this fills their heart with compassion. There is a difference between feeling pity for someone and being compassionate. When we feel pity, we feel the other is suffering and we can give, this comes from the mindset of feeling powerful. Pity is the outcome of our ego. On the other hand, a compassionate person only wants to help others without thinking if he has the power to truly resolve the issue or not. A compassionate person will stand next to the needy because he cannot leave the person in need. This is a very positive feeling as this gives you the power to innovate or create in adverse situations. In the complete process, compassion does not make you feel weak. Compassion gives you more energy and power and does not require external support, it is self-sustaining and good for everyone. If you are standing and supporting a person in need without expecting praise or any other benefit, then you are motivated by compassion.
3. Joy: When people work out of joy then they get into a higher creative zone. People working with joy can create wonderful new things that can fulfil the requirements of many, and the best thing is that this is done without feeling the pressure of performance. Getting and spreading joy by creating a win-win situation in life motivates many people to do something. On the other hand, people who perform because they feel responsible for what they have to do, feel pressure and lose their health. Many painters, musicians, and creative artists just perform for their joy and by doing so they excel in their creativity.
4. Higher Cause: Some people give their lives for a higher cause. But an understanding of this higher cause is very tricky. As many contradicting activities can look the same. Like soldiers protect their country and for that, if they have to kill the enemy at the border is considered a higher cause. But terrorist attacking innocent public, women, children, and elderly people cannot be for a higher cause. So, people who have proper wisdom can only understand what a higher cause is. This motivation has been misused in these times by many miscreants. As a thumb rule, higher cause is which spreads happiness and joy in all levels of society without any discrimination and in return makes you feel joyful and peaceful.
These positive drivers have motivated many greats like Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Swami Vivekananda, etc. These positive drivers/factors create great power in people and their names get immortalized.
Till you read my next blog, till then Work on Your Motivation, Stay Healthy, and Stress-free!!