Self-Motivation

Self-motivation is the force that keeps pushing us to go on. It’s our internal drive to achieve, produce, develop, and keep moving forward.

• Some simple steps can be followed to stay motivated.
• Knowing your reason behind doing any activity will help you to stay motivated. If we know why we are doing something, we will be motivated to get there.
• Setting goals for a short time helps us to track progress and stay motivated.
• Do not forget to celebrate your progress even if it is little!

Locus of Control

• A study was conducted at Columbia University by prof. Claudia M. Mueller where she took 2 groups of 5th graders:
  • They were given numerous complex puzzles to solve.
  • Regardless of how the students did, she told them that they scored very well and that they did better than most of the others.
  • Afterwards, half of the students were told they scored better because they worked hard while the other was told they scored well all because they were smart.
  • Then they presented both groups 3 new types of puzzles: easy, medium and extremely hard.

• Students who were told that they are smart:
  • spent most of their time solving the easy puzzles and almost no time on solving the challenging ones.
  • spent much less time overall trying to solve any of the puzzles.
  • It was a sign of a lower level of motivation. They even said it wasn’t that fun for them.
• Students who were told they did good because of hard work:
  • focused most of their time solving the harder puzzle.
  • they also spent a lot more time overall attempting to solve the other puzzles.
  • This indicates a higher level of motivation. They said they actually enjoyed solving them.

What we can learn from this story is the 'Locus of Control', which is essentially the degree to which you believe you have control over your life.

• The kids that were told they did well because they were smart and gifted were led to belief in what's called 'External Locus of Control'. They were led to believe that factors outside of what they could control were the reason they did well.
• On the other hand, kids that were told they did well because of hard work started to believe what’s called an 'Internal Locus of Control'. They believed it was factors they controlled that led to their outcome, it was their hard work and extra effort that allowed them to do well in the puzzles. How much work you put into something is the thing that you have complete control over.

Hence, having an 'Internal Locus of Control' is the key to staying motivated.

Learn more about locus of control here.