What drives you? Let's talk about motivation

Did you know that motivation is one of the most decisive factors in human behaviour?

Motivation is a central determinant of human behaviour, being widely studied in psychology for its influence on the direction, intensity, and persistence of action.

The word motivation comes from Latin (movere) and refers precisely to this idea of movement, which moves us in one direction or another. It is motivation that drives our behaviours, leads us to act in a particular way, and to do so in order to satisfy needs.

Motivation can be extrinsic, when it is assumed to depend on external factors, meaning behaviour occurs in response to a stimulus found in the environment; or intrinsic, when it depends on internal factors, on the individual's personal desires. To understand the motivational process, it is necessary to analyse the needs that generate specific behaviours (Griffin and Moorhead, 2006).

Often these needs are not entirely clear or evident to us, as we are not aware of what motivates us or for some reason do not recognise its role, however, making concrete the factors that motivate our behaviour and our lives can be the start of a good path towards achieving greater personal fulfilment.

Feeling motivated, in our personal lives, at work, or in a hobby, brings with it commitment and dedication, as we feel we are on the right path to effectively achieve our desired results. This feeling of victory, or of being one step away from victory, is by itself capable of bringing about surprising results that can be responsible for important milestones in our lives.

On the contrary, without motivation we can lose interest, the purpose for our actions and in extremis for our lives. The absence of motivation robs us of the strength and meaning of our actions, often resulting in automatic and routine behaviours imbued with a certain apathy and devoid of any meaning, giving rise to depression. Hence its fundamental importance; by recognising and identifying what motivates us and what we want to achieve, we are taking small steps that can be important in our fulfilment.

Thus, understanding motivational factors is a relevant element in both clinical and organisational contexts, allowing for the identification of variables that influence an individual's psychological functioning and adjustment.

The exploration of personal motivation sources, both internal and external, can therefore be an important step in the development of self-regulation and psychological well-being.

Have you ever thought about what motivates you? Have you stopped to reflect on which activities or directions you feel most motivated by? Sometimes we feel lost and unsure about the direction we want for our lives. My name is Sofia, I'm a psychologist, and more recently I discovered Coaching, which I fell in love with. Today, I dedicate myself to helping people discover what moves them.

If you'd like to know more about coaching, ask us in the comments, check out our website or send us an email to info@integrativa.pt.

Sofia Raposo Psychologist and Personal/Professional Coach