WHAT IS MOTIVATION?

WHAT IS MOTIVATION?

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
Steve Jobs

Motivation is at the forefront of many people’s minds in January, when we think about how we want to be in the New Year, and what we want to change.  So let’s begin by saying—

Motivation is not what you think it is.

Many people associate motivation with will-power-limiting ourselves in some way that we hope will be beneficial.  Has that worked for you so far?

Now, think of something that you love doing- something in which motivation is natural, that you prioritize and make time for, even when you’re busy.  Perhaps you love to cook, and every evening when you come home you find that creating dinner is nourishing and relaxing.  Maybe it’s connecting with your friends, and you find that you make it happen, even if it means putting other things aside.

The activity that you chose probably has most of these qualities:

• Drive: It feels good in the moment.  You don’t have to wait for affirmation until a future time.
• Emotion: It brings up positive emotions.  It’s not only based in an idea of what’s good for you-it’s satisfying as you do it.
• Thought: It’s free of inner conflict.  You aren’t pulled in two directions equally when you want to engage in this activity.
• Self-efficacy: You feel reasonably confident that you can do it.  You don’t experience much self-doubt about your ability in this area.
• Vision: You are clear about what you want to do.

Motivation is strong when the activity feels good, when we get immediate positive feedback, when it brings up positive feelings, when our mind is aligned, when we feel we have what it takes to do it, or it’s a challenge that’s interesting but not overwhelming, and there’s a clarity about what it is that we’re moving towards. Motivation is a way of talking about the intersection of these qualities.  If you have them, you have natural, deep, strong motivation. When those qualities are missing, you’ll have trouble motivating yourself.

Think of a child that becomes completely absorbed in watching an anthill.  Where does their motivation come from?  It’s a feeling of deep engagement and interest.  It’s a wholehearted response to something interesting.  Their motivation doesn’t come from an idea- “Now I’m going to watch this anthill for 15 minutes”- it comes from a natural desire to follow an interest.  Motivation is more about clearing what’s in the way than it is in imposing something on top of your natural feelings.

And, here’s where hypnotherapy comes in.  Hypnotherapy can help you to clear away the conflicts, enhance your self-efficacy, clarify your visions, connect with the positive emotions related to your deeper goals, and soothe the drives that pull you towards doing something in the moment that overrides your deeper goals for health, well-being, and other important issues.  It clears the way for your deeper goals to be fully expressed.

May your new year be filled with a deep sense that you are trustworthy- that you can dive down into your deepest self, and live from there.

With much love,

Rochelle