The Things we use to Motivate Ourselves

I think that often the thing that is underpinning someone's motivation might be something that they're not even aware of. So it can be worth having a think about sometimes. Have you ever heard of the expression "to burn your boats"?

This is one thing that I've found about myself. Often when new to a job because it's best to learn fast in order to make life easy. So in order to learn fast I will chase after that compliment that the boss will give when he sees that I can learn the tasks quickly. If I don't get the compliment, it'll just make me try harder for it. The great thing is, that the person who's compliment you're chasing doesn't know the real reason you're working so well. When I hear words like "good work today" I act like it's not even a big deal but yet it means a lot to me. So basically, I get to use that person to make me do something that is to my benefit anyway. Of course if I still don't get the compliment then I mightn't bother working so hard in after that.

I used to motivate myself this way in school a lot too. Let's say there was a topic I was greatly interested in but found quite difficult to grasp. The fact that I would have the interest would not be enough in itself. So often knowing the teacher would phrase my work would be the factor that would make me work hard. I remember at one point I was having problems at the place I worked. They did happen to be very under staffed. I sought motivation in finding a better job by knowing that I'd leave them in the lurch. They were due for an audit the week after after I handed in my notice!

The only downside to this tactic is that you're placing a certain amount of trust in the person that you're trying to prove yourself to. If they prove themselves not to be a fair person, then this sort of backfires. But ultimately the reason I'm chasing after compliments in the first place is because I'm a neurotic people pleaser. I've no doubt that a lot of people's motivation stems from a desire for approval. So it probably makes sense that some of the most confident people you will meet are people who draw the dole, and who have no ambitions what so ever.

The other day I was running up a hill when I could hear a tractor coming up that further down the hill. It was a big long hill, and I said I'd show off to whoever was in it by running faster. I'd say I ran up that hill about 30% than what I usually would have. Once I got to the top of the hill I couldn't have even been bothered looking back to actually see who was in the tractor.

Have you ever had an unusual motivation factor?

 

generally not finding something i'd like to eat in the house motivates me to go to the grocery store.
my imagination generally motivates me to be more creative with it and actually create things from it,
even though they are mostly making pictures on the computer as that is most of what i have resrouces and means to do anything about it.

now if land was something that didn't have to be owned, even with my tiny pension, what i could get at the hardware store and all the wonderful stuff people throw away,
and what nature provides for free when there isn't someone trying to make everything have to be about money trying to control it for no good reason.

not interested in better or more, just stranger and more fascinating by its oddness, complexity, unusualness, or even unusual calmness.
i'm not motivate to compete with anything, but i am to make more gratifyingly strange and interesting surroundings for everyone who wishes to enjoy them.

i can't claim to do much, but what interests me is what interests me, and i'm really not motivated by how popular is what doesn't.

 

I don't like sucking up to people, and this doesn't motivate me in the least. Especially in cases, where I can already predict that my effort would be met with indifference and disdain. I'm motivated by two things: personal gain and benefit (as cynical as it may sound), AND the knowledge of doing the right thing, where applicable. Anything else, and I'm not getting out of the proverbial bed.

 

strange things in the sky that are clear and sharply focused, and not fuzzy blobs or a talking head trying to convince us fuzzy blobs in the sky are the end of life on our planet.

consideration is not sucking up, aggressive inconsiderateness is the lack of moral character and demonstrates the lack of a conscious.
personal gain isn't itself evil, if it is pursued considerately. narcissism masquerading as masculinity, or any other gender based behavior is.

what motivates me; dreams of life in a world that doesn't hate logic, cosideration nor logic in the service of consideraton,
nor honesty nor imagination. learning how to illustrate concepts, feedback by means of which i can determine if those concepts are being communicated.

i'm really not at all interested in trying to impress anyone, but i am, or would be, interested in being able to communicate concepts,
especially visually, without having to live with anxieties for my survival.