Measuring Motivation

When it comes to finding motivation to achieve our goals, there are some of us who just naturally have it—and then there are others who struggle to locate and embrace it. As a person who is always highly motivated, I do find there are certain days when I wonder to where my motivation has disappeared. It's on these days I question if there is a way to actually measure my motivation levels in comparison to others days, outside of knowing I feel more or less motivated.

We know that motivation is the fuel that supports people to take actions necessary for them to achieve their goals. When people have a strong desire to take action or are willing to take chances, think outside the box or blaze their own path, we recognize they have a strong sense of being motivated. Yet when an individual has a less-than-strong inner desire to take action and makes little or no progress in his life, we know these people as slackers or lacking motivation.

Outside of these two perspectives, is there another way to learn how to measure motivation? Simply put: yes. This is done by actually looking at and recognizing the type or quality of action steps highly motivated individuals take versus those who lack motivation to reach their goals.

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Earth Day 2011 and Questions that Arise

All over the US and Canada there are millions of people celebrating Earth Day, and I often wonder what this day really means to people. For me Earth Day is a reminder to be kind to Mother Earth and remember that as much as we have renewable resources, it doesn’t mean we have unlimited resources.

Our household does what we can to reduce, reuse and recycle, but I know we could likely be doing more. But how much more? And how much is realistic? As a Motivational and Empowerment Coach, I work with my clients to learn and find balance within their lives—to be honest with what they can do to achieve the life they desire.

Looking at how my family embraces the love of nature and wanting to do more to support Mother Earth, I am always asking myself, "How much more can we honestly do without it backfiring so that we ultimately use more resources or become more wasteful?" Between recycling and composting, growing our own vegetables, making single car trips instead of multiple car trips, riding our bikes in the summer, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and using low wattage light bulbs, it’s hard to identify where we could make more changes so the experience feels natural.

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Powerful Questions

When we journey through life in a state of consciousness that is more awake and more aware, we begin to see the power behind the questions we ask. When we are able to ask not just the right questions but powerful questions, we open ourselves to achieving greater results and success.

I remember before becoming a mother how I would chuckle at friends who would get caught in circular conversations with their toddlers: you know, the “But why?” to every answer they provided. As I have become more aware, I realized the power behind the toddler’s intention. Children are like sponges and want to learn and soak up every piece of knowledge they can and by asking a “why” question to succeed in drawing out more information from the individual with whom they are engaged while remaining unsatisfied with the response, hence prompting the “but why” circular conversation. Now as adults we are able to ask more appropriate questions that draw out the exact knowledge we yearn to receive. We move beyond the “why” to the land of “how” and “what” questions.

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Surviving vs. Thriving: Can You Spot the Difference?

We hear the buzz word “thrive” all over media outlets these days, but can you spot the difference in your own life between when you’re thriving and just surviving? One medical organization has been embracing the buzz word “thrive” for the last two or three years, and every time I hear or see its commercials, it definitely gives me goose bumps. The power behind thriving can move obstacles and challenges like giant earth movers clearing debris in a disaster area: quickly, efficiently and with great results.

What prevents us from moving from survival mode into truly thriving? There are organizations and individuals that are excelling at what they’re doing even in this challenging economic time. So how do they do it? What motivates them to continuously move forward and step into or stay in action?

Before answering, let’s take a look at an exam¬ple of what it means to be just surviving versus thriving in an area of our lives to which we all can relate: our physical wellness.

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A Teacher’s Philosophy

Part of my own personal philosophy is that we carry the energy of both “student” and “teacher” within us, and depending on the experience or situation in which we find ourselves, one of these two energies becomes primary. We invoke our inner teacher when we have the need to pass along our knowledge, wisdom or a gold nugget to another; and when it is our time to listen, learn and embrace new information, our student self steps forward.

So the one question that yearns to be answered is, “What is my teaching philosophy?” Not sure? A great place to begin is to honestly acknowledge you have something of worth to pass along to another. Then begin to remind yourself of all the amazing ideas and experiences you have collected throughout your life while bringing in the perspective of a teacher. Begin to ask yourself what type of student might need to learn what you have to offer.

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Business and Your Education

There isn’t a child in the world who hasn’t been asked the question, “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” And depending on their personal situation, external influences and experiences, their answer will change by the day. As we enter high school we become clearer about what drives us, fuels our spirit and motivates us to do better. The clock is ticking to choose a path for our lives, our careers and our futures. Entering college and choosing to complete your academic journey with a business degree always seems most desirable when we are looking to go into business for ourselves, climb the corporate ladder or just not sure about where we might be headed in life but still want to keep the most options open to ourselves. But as a small business owner, how does the integration of an individual’s educational focus and training impact her success—or does it?

There are those who believe if a student wants to succeed in the business world, then receiving an education in business is where she needs to begin her career. Her education in any subject matter will ultimately support her…

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