I was reading a book entitled "Feeling Good" by D. Burns, M.D., ...
One section asks which comes first - motivation or action.
I figured it has to be motivation. But the author states that no - you have to "prime the pump" so to speak, and force yourself into action, which then creates a motivating force. In other words, you can't wait passively for inspiration to strike - you have to be the lightening bolt and strike yourself.
In my opinion, the above quote of D. Burns just proves that even people with "M.D." after their name who author books, don't always know what they are talking about.
First of all, define the word "motivation." (the following definitions come from The American Heritage Dictionary, 2000)
"
motivation n. 1a. The act or process of motivating. b. the state of being motivated. 2. Something that motivates; an inducement or incentive."
What then, does it meat to "
motivate?"
"
motivate tr.v. To provide with an incentive; move to action; impel."
Further explore the root word "
motive."
"
motive n. 1. An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action. adj. 1. Causing or able to cause motion; motive power. 2. Impelling to action; motive pleas. 3. Of or constituting an incitement to action. tr.v. To motivate. [Middle English motif, motive, from Latin motus, past participle of movere; to move."
Therefore, the term "motivation," by definition, means to impel into action. Impel means "To urge to action through moral pressure; drive."
Isaac Newton's theory of reactions basically states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of an inanimate object, action and reaction occur simultaneously in opposite directions, with equal force, thus neither one is distinguishable from the other. Which one was the action, and which was the reaction? No way to tell since they are the same.
On the other hand, with people, there is intent, desire, "motivation." Psychologically speaking, we tend to act to seek pleasure, and avoid pain (not taking into consideration the psychologically "abnormal" behavior where pain is pleasurable, and vice-versa). Even if we are not consciously aware of why we are doing what we are doing, it still requires a mental decision to command the muscles to move. Our mental process could be broken down into stages of a
thought, a
preference, a
desire. Both preferences and desires come in varying degrees from mild inclination to strong urges. The strongest of urges might be habitual and addictive behavior. We may be compelled into action on the slightest preference for change, or not until a strong desire or urge takes hold.
In any event, what D. Burns has failed to recognize is that there is active thoughts occurring in the brain constantly, some of which turn to a preference or desire and impel us to move. As Jade Tigress correctly put it, "you have to have some sort of motivation to make the first action in the first place. Perhaps action begets
increased motivation?" Very well stated Jade!
he has a chart:
1 - action;
2 - motivation;
3 - more action [back to #2, creating a "loop"]
The above chart is missing that which is not visible, and often undetected by the conscious mind. There is "motivation" in the form of a preference to change the present condition; a desire to act prior to the initial action. Even if a person does not "feel extremely motivated," a slight amount of motivation needs to be present in the brain to decide to move in the first place. Think of Isaac Newton's theory of inertia - a body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
The chart should read:
1 - initial motivation (conscious or subconscious)
2 - initial action
3 - increased or decreased motivation
4 - decision to continue action, increase action, decrease action
(decreased action may be slight or to completely cease action.)
[back to #1 or #3, depending on decision in #4, thereby creating a "loop"]
This is my interpretation of motivation into action.
CM D.J. Eisenhart
