The definition of motivation is ‘the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way’. For example, the reason I want to eat healthy food is so that I can stay healthy. Staying healthy is the reason or motivation for wanting to eat healthy food. The reason I don’t want to smoke cigarettes is so that I can continue to breathe in a healthy way. Continuing to breathe in a healthy way is my motivation for not wanting to smoke cigarettes.
Motivations can change over time depending on life situations. Sometimes motivation for behavior is basic survival. Other times motivation for change needs to be found in other ways. Maybe desiring to achieve a certain goal has motivation from hearing the story of another person who has achieved that goal.
What do you think about wanting to do or not do a behavior?
How might you change a thought to change a behavior?
Choosing a positive reason to achieve a goal can help us continue to choose actions to achieve the goal. Putting up reminders on sticky notes where we can see them helps as well.
