Basic principles of motivation and how they dictate goal achievement
Do you find yourself making goals and never quite finding the motivation to achieve them? Or maybe you frequently set goals and almost always achieve them, but don't really know why. There are many factors that dictate whether or not you will achieve your goal. Many people are pre-conditioned to be less successful at being motivated to achieve a goal. This means that, for whatever reason, some people will be less likely to achieve their goals than others. Wouldn't you like to know what is standing in your way of becoming a better you? By better understanding the basic principles of motivation, you can change those factors that dictate goal achievement and improve your ability to accomplish the goals that you set.
Basic principles of motivation include factors that are both controlled by the individual and determined by other uncontrollable factors. The key is to take the motivational factors that you can control and align them with your motivational goals; this is definitely easier said than done, but definitely possible. You may not be able to change other factors but, you can change your attitude regarding how you view these obstacles. Here are some examples of principles of motivation, whether or not you can change them, and how they are instrumental in dictating goal achievement.
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Environmental factors
The "environment" in which an individual operates, refers to the people, settings and general attitudes that exist around the individual. Environments consist of purely external factors. While we cannot change the way that other individuals operate within our environment, we may have the option to remove ourselves from unhealthy environments. A healthy environment is one in which our physical and emotional needs are being met. Having a healthy environment is a huge factor in achieving goals because it can be extremely difficult to become self-motivated when your environment is destructive and the individuals who surround you are unsupportive. It takes a very strong individual to find motivation and sustain the drive to succeed despite the fact that external factors are working against them.
Incentives
Incentives consist of the reasons or rewards for which we are motivated. Incentives are incredibly personal. What could incentivize one individual may not provide any motivational factor for another. Understanding what motivates you is essential to goal setting. Creating incentives that you know you will be motivated by means the difference between accomplishing a goal and falling short.
Be organized, have a plan
In general, the better organized the process for achieving a goal is, the better the outcome will be. If you have checkpoints set up along the way, it is easier to stay on track. For example, if you goal is to learn how to be a better cook, create a schedule for yourself where you learn one new recipe a week. Then challenge yourself to cook a meal, incorporating the things that you learned, for a dinner party. Without a plan, it can be very easy to dismiss a goal. Having friends and family help you stay on track can also be powerful motivation; after all, no one likes to let others down.
Mind your emotions
Doing something new can be scary. Fear can definitely stifle motivation. It is ok to be anxious about changing your behavior in order to do something. Realize that a certain degree of anxiety is normal, even to be expected. If you perceive the fear that you will have to conquer in order to accomplish your goals as insurmountable, the likelihood of goal achievement is dramatically reduced. Naturally, things like approval and encouragement can help to counter the effects of anxiety and allow a person to find the motivation to accomplish goals that they may not have believed were possible.
