Theories of Motivation
Some theories of motivation cannot be tested so nobody can predict if they really work or not. In this article, however, I describe four motivation theories that were tested and which produce positive outcomes.
Introduction to the Theories of Motivation
We are motivated to take some action because of two reasons:
1)We expect to get something in return (praise, money, achievement of goals).
2) We want to experience positive feelings (love, happiness, fulfilment).
Here are four theories of motivation that work in most cases:
- Radical motivation
- Motivation through goals
- Motivation through punishment
- Motivation through self-convincing
These theories of motivation are listed in a specific order. Strongest theories are at the top. I will explain each of them starting from the strongest one.
Theories of Motivation: Radical motivation
I call it ‘Motivation through burning bridges’. This is the strongest, but least used motivation. The process to follow this motivation is by eliminating everything that could keep you attached to the current comfort zone.
This theory can be used when you must achieve some goal you could not live without it.
As you eliminate absolutely everything that might hold you back, you have no choice but to be motivated until new conditions are reached.
The example of this motivation would be when an employee quits his job whilst not having any additional income sources. Now he will be naturally motivated to do whatever it takes to succeed.
The problem with this motivation is that some people get too scared halfway through. They cannot bear the pressure of uncertainty. Thus, their old comfort zone sucks them back in. They may experience embarrassment when returning to their old life (for example, an employee asking for his job back).
This motivation is used by two types of people:
1)People that are extremely courageous and like to experience large adrenalin rush.
2)People who finally realise that if they don’t take action now, they will never achieve anything significant.
This is the most radical and the most effective way to motivate yourself. It is my favourite motivation. It not only naturally keeps you motivated, but it also helps you overcome big fears.
Even if you use this motivation only once, you will still experience a shift out of your comfort zone.
Theories of Motivation: Motivation through goals
This motivation is effective, but is weaker than the one above it. Read this theory if you are not brave enough to take the first one!
This theory of motivation is used by about half of the world’s population.
This is how it works. Write down some goal into your daily planner. Leave enough time for the goal to be achieved.
As you set a specific date for the accomplishment of the goal, this affects your unconscious mind. Your unconscious mind immediately starts planning how to achieve the goal within the time limit.
During this time limit you start getting ideas out of nowhere. You may see them as images in your mind, or you may hear them. Basically, they are almost the same as ordinary ideas that you receive every day. But there is one difference.
When you get ideas directly from your unconscious mind, you will feel that you did not cause those ideas. It was not YOU that thought of them. You will not see any direct action you took to produce those ideas. They appear as something you would have never thought of.
Your subconscious mind gives these ideas to you as the quickest way to achieve your goals. Do not ignore these ideas. Implement them as soon as you can. It is the best, quickest and most interesting way to achieve goals.
Yet the majority of people ignore these ideas. After some time they start complaining that such goal setting does not work.
Your unconscious mind is 100% more accurate than your experience-based logical thinking. The ideas that come from subconscious will keep you motivated until you achieve your goals.
However, if you keep thinking that you cannot achieve your desires, you stop their manifestation.
Always think that you can achieve everything you set your mind to.
Theories of Motivation: Motivation through self-convincing
The first two theories of motivation were focused purely on goals. The following motivation is based on general well-being. You should follow previous theories if you have some particular goal in mind.
Motivation through self convincing uses daily affirmations. Affirmations repeated enough times start to overwrite your entire belief system. As you repeat positive affirmations, you become more and more motivated to take action towards your well-being.
For example, you keep repeating:
I am very slim, I look great and people notice my fitness
for a month.
You gradually notice that your preferences to certain foods change. You do not intentionally change the food just because you want to get slim, but some internal changes happen inside you.
One day you wake up and the thought of fries makes you sick. For some strange reason, you start wishing for vegetables rather than spaghetti. Congratulations, you have just overwritten your old program!
Positive affirmations can range from health, happiness, empowerment to money affirmations. They are used to motivate you to become in control of your life and achieve your goals.
For this type of motivation to work you should repeat the affirmations at least once a day. The more frequently you repeat them, the quicker you will notice the change.
You should repeat them whilst feeling already in the possession of your desired situation. For example, when you repeat “I am in total control of all aspects of my life” you should feel empowered and happy the way you would feel if you were in total control. Even if you don’t feel empowered, you will have to fake it for this process to work.
Theories of Motivation: Motivation through punishment
This is an effective motivation only for those that are disciplined enough.
It works this way:
If you do not accomplish a certain goal, you have to punish yourself. For example: if you keep spending all your money on clothes, you will have to ring 20 unknown people, say something crazy and hang up on them. You certainly don’t want to do that, so you stop spending all your money on clothes.
But here is the problem. The majority of people would accidentally ‘forget’ the punishment part… That’s why it works only on highly disciplined people.
It is a very useful motivation though, as it affects the core of your mind.
You see, when you introduce new effect to the old cause (in previous case, instead of happiness after shopping you feel embarrassment), the mind starts to rethink if it wants to keep experiencing this new uncomfortable effect. Of course, it doesn’t. Therefore it stops the loop of daily routine by introducing something better.
Conclusion
These are the main and most effective theories of motivation. They are called theories, but I would rather call them facts, as they work for sure. You should select the motivation theories that are the most comfortable for you and test them. This way you will find out what motivates you most and this will help you improve your daily results.
Further reading: Personal Development Motivation, Limiting Beliefs About Money, How To Have More Energy, Mind Power.
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My name is Simona Rich and I help people improve themselves through the articles and products of this website. Although I have found my life's purpose and now I spend my time traveling throughout India and sharing my knowledge, my life used to be completely different. 
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