What Is Your Motivation?

Change

What led you to this path, what keeps you going?
Most people give up, why haven't you?

Brief

My background is in humanities, I'm a social worker with experience primarily in Mental Health and Addictions fields. I have been fascinated by what enables people to change with the most tragic circumstances. Despite working mostly with individuals with a wide range of pathologies, the working theories regarding change are applicable not only to pathology but to all humans. I wanted to summarize two critical components that comprise successful change and progress.

Motivation is what gets you started.
Willingness is what gets you through.

Motivation

Essentially, motivation is the reason for participating in a certain activity. This is the why behind the activity. Motivations are only partially conscious. The discovery of your why is a potential journey in itself. It's a journey worth taking.

Willingness

For every change you'd like to make, there are pros and cons to consider. The pros are usually the motivations, and cons are the reasons for avoiding the change. Willingness is the degree to which you are willing to bear the consequences (cons) to achieve the benefits.

No change is without a sacrifice.

Two key takeaways:

1. Without motivation and willingness, change is destined to fail.
2. Be aware of your motivations. They can push you forward, but they can also drag you down. Repeatedly, for infinity.

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