11 Mind-altering facts about motivation you never knew!

According to Verywell Mind, "Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviours." It is the reason for our actions. Motivation is at the heart of all we do. Why do we eat? To be alive. Why do we earn money? To buy things. Without motivation, we would not have excelled as a race and invented all these things around us.

It is not, however, as simple as it appears. Motivation is a difficult concept to grasp. It's profound and mind-altering.

Read on to know facts about motivation you never knew.

What do you believe motivation looks like in our heads?

It's through our thoughts. These thoughts can be emotional or logical. Either of them is manifested in our thoughts, and we are motivated to achieve our goals.

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Now, to achieve our goals, it's essential to recognize the source of the motivation

What is the real motivation? The answer to this will drive you to achieve your goals. For example – I want to become financially independent. Why? To be able to make my own decisions without having to rely on others. This "why" is the thing you need to recognize to achieve the goal. 

The 'real' motivation is, however, more profound than you think

Our inspiration comes from the perks we get from taking a specific action. For example – you earn money not because you want to make more money but because you want to buy things. So, our motivation does not stem from the action itself but the benefits associated with them.

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Motivation, according to scientists, is inextricably related to our underlying values

We work hard, for example, because we believe that effort pays off.

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People can also get motivated by external factors

For example – A man might get motivated to get a better-earning job when he's married, or he might get inspired to get a bigger house when he has a child.

Motivation is a process that starts with a thought

As a result of that thought, you take the necessary actions. These actions lead to more ideas and eventually more action.

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American psychologist Abraham Maslow stated that all people are naturally "good" and are driven by a hierarchy of needs

Before more advanced demands may drive us, we must first satisfy our basic human needs. The theory comprises a five-tier model of human needs. Our physiological needs, such as food and clothing, are at the bottom of the list, followed by safety, love and belonging, esteem needs, and eventually self-actualization. Now, the physiological and safety needs come under the basic needs. Psychological conditions can be divided into two categories: love and esteem. The uppermost in this hierarchy is self-actualization, which is the self-fulfillment needs.

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A goal without reason is bound to fail

You might have a dream of becoming the President. But, if you do not realize and recognize why you want to become the President, you will never become one. Goals themselves are not sufficient for motivation. You need to have a good amount of reasons why you want to achieve that goal. 

Never get motivated by what others want you to do, but what you want to do

Often, children assume that their parent's motivation is their motivation. This happens because they are too young to know themselves or recognize what they want. This can, sometimes, be seen in adults too. Hence, you must know what you truly desire before setting a goal.

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Negative motivators have the reputation of being the most potent motivators

It is used more than positive motivators. However, it is positive motivators that do the work. It is more effective because it boosts morale.

We get more motivated with creative tasks rather than repetitive tasks

That's because we love finding innovative solutions by employing our skills, whereas repetitive tasks lack creativity and do not require our skills.