MOTIVATION SKILLS

"Man's greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time he falls", Oliver Goldsmith.

He failed in business at 21 years. He was defeated in elections at 22 years. Again he failed in business at 24 years. He lost his wife at 26 years and had nervous breakdown at 27 years. He lost senatorial elections at 45 years, lost elections as Vice-President at 47 and again at 49 years. Ultimately he became the President of USA at 52 years. By this time, it is obvious to every reader that he was none other than Abraham Lincoln. What do we call his spirit? Can we call it as motivation? Certainly, Yes. Success is product of successive setbacks. The ability to move from one failure to another without losing energy and enthusiasm is known as motivation. If someone achieves success after a success without any setbacks, can we call it as motivation? Of course, Not.


TYPES OF MOTIVATION:


Basically there are three types of motivation such as internal motivation, external motivation and incentive motivation. In internal motivation, the individual gets motivated of his own by various ways and means without expecting any external support. In this scenario the individual has extraordinary will power and he constantly and continuously motivates himself whenever he is faced with failures and then gradually rises like Phoenix. It can also be called as self-motivation. It is the hallmark of great leaders. In the case of external motivation, the individual is motivated by means of external influences by way of inspirational songs, slogans, pictures and persons. When the individual is motivated due to monetary reasons which usually happens in the corporate world it is known as incentive or monetary motivation. Both internal and external motivation does not involve monetary aspects and hence belong to non-financial motivation. In this context, let us know what is the basic need every human being wants and craves.


HIERARCHY OF NEEDS:


According to psychologist Abraham Maslow every human being has certain needs to fulfil. The first and foremost need is the physiological need without which man can not survive and these are the basic needs for all. After fulfilling this need man craves for security needs. That is, he wants to protect and secure himself from any threats towards his life. After meeting the second level of needs, he is eager to have affiliation needs. He needs to belong to his own group of people and feels like to get associated. Aristotle aptly said, 'Man is a social animal. He can not live alone and he always wants to move with his group'. He would not only like to be affiliated but also like to be accepted with in the group. And he would try to flex and adapt to fulfil this need. The fourth one is self-esteem needs. And the fifth one is the self-actualization needs where by after having all the basic needs he wants to prove himself of a superior and like to excel in life. Every man after reaching one need gradually graduates to the next higher level of the need in the hierarchy and that is why Abraham Maslow called it as 'hierarchy of needs'. This is why it is suitably said that man can't live by bread alone. Having known what one needs and what is motivation it is relevant to briefly explain the tools and techniques to motivate.


TIPS FOR MOTIVATION:


• Always surround with healthy and positive people. The positive vibes will have tremendous effect. As every person has positive and negative thoughts, when one is faced with negative emotions, feelings, which arise out of successive setbacks, it is the healthy ambience that will bring up the person from falling into abyss.
• Listen to music, which is encouraging and soothing.
• If required, relax your mind by giving a break.
• Reward yourself whenever you achieved something by holidaying or partying or celebrating with your kith and kin.
• At times, positive self-talk can trigger motivation.
• Keep slogans, which are inspirational in your home and office. These days we find slogans in corporate offices, which will constantly rise the spirits. The author has the poster of Swami Vivekananda with a slogan of 'Arise, Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached' in his bedroom. He reads after waking up and before going to bed. Slogans make a magic and which one reads regularly twice it will go to the subconscious mind it will constantly keep the person on toes. Even if the person goes out of track due to failures or setbacks the subconscious mind alerts and puts him o the right track and on the fast track.
• Goal setting is a wonderful tool, which encourages the individual to stay focussed. Goals will keep the individual to move ahead despite odds. Dividing the goals into short term and long term is essential. Even if there is failure in short-term goals, the long-term goals will overtake the setbacks in short term goals.
• Take a role model that is ideal and symbol of values, principles and success and start dreaming about him.
• Visualizing success as though you had reached your goals will boost your energy levels.
• Meditation will motivate and bring fresh levels of enthusiasm. You can draw more mental powers by way of meditation.
• Recall your past achievements and ruminate for sometime.
• Read the biographies and autobiographies of great leaders in the world.
• Maintain a separate diary for collecting motivational quotations and read it whenever you are upset it will energize you instantly.
• Faith is the force of your life. Have strong faith in your abilities and capabilities.
• Believe in yourself and know that every dog has its own day.
• Lend your hand to the unsuccessful persons and it will bounce back automatically because good begets good.
• Try to find out what motivates you. Whether it is love, money, success, comforts, power, prestige and then pursue it.
• Never stick to one place as it may lead to regimented thoughts and ideas. Try to change, as every change will lead to better opportunities. And of course, opportunities stimulate and motivate.
• Always put your imagination at work.
• Thing big and break your mental barriers.
• Do know that failure is only a comma but not a full stop.



MESSAGE:


Motivation is built on the bricks of optimism and confidence. These two fundamental factors are the driving forces towards higher motivational levels. Problems are part of life and each problem will teach many lessons and makes an individual tough. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. It is an well-admitted fact that a smooth sea never makes a skillful mariner. And success touches to the toes of skillful mariners only.


T H E E N D