Motivational Connection

Change can happen with motivation.  Motivation is defined as, "the impetus that gives purpose or direction to human or animal behavior and operates at a conscious or unconscious level" (VandenBos, 2007). In simple terms, sometimes we need motivation to reach our goals. What makes us click?  What makes us want to work for what we wish? What do we like?  Always find something you love to help guide your motivation. Further research suggests that motivation occurs more successfully when a person chooses to make a change, rather than it being pushed upon them (Deckers, 2010). For example, let us take the challenge of a person quitting smoking.  Anyone who has smoked in his or her lifetime understands the challenge faced with quiting. The person decides to decrease the amount of cigarettes they smoke in a day. This person is making a conciuos decison to make a change and is working towards their goal of quitting.  Drug or alcohol addiction is also a challenging situation.  Decker's suggests, "court-ordered drug treatment is less effective than if a person decides for himself to seek treatment.  Personal reasons for quitting are much more effective" (p. 95.). What I just wrote on motivation and change is taken from textbooks and are only a couple examples of issues a person may wish to change.  Motivational change can take place with every situation in our lives. Maybe we don't eat as healthy as we wish.  Maybe we do not have the motivation to get up in the morning to do our exercise which we know will will benefit from.  Perhaps the motivation is lacking in areas such as school work, procrastination, anxiety, self-worth, building a productive scedule etc.  The list goes on and one as to why someone wishes to seek change in his or her life. Change will happen if you are the one deciding to make a change. Although the following tips or ideas are not the only ideas out there to help with motivation and change, these are a few that I have personally found to work.