What does “Motivation” mean?

Images like the one above continue to mislead people everywhere, by framing motivation as fleeting.

Motivation is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the world because people seem to think we either have it or we don’t. Motivation is always present, but it shifts as our desires do throughout the day and is largely based on environmental factors. Our behavior has “Motivating Operations” (M.O.s) lying under most actions, let’s break this down.

Establishing Operations – These are environmental variables that increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring. A great example of this is the candies at a check-out line, you’ve just been exposed to food you cannot eat for the entirety of your shopping trip and are now acutely aware of how hungry you are. Having candy or snacks at the checkout line, so close to when you’ll be able to eat one (after you pay), increases the likelihood of you buying it.

Supermarkets often have candy by the cashier because a customer is more likely to buy it after walking around the store and building an appetite.

Abolishing Operations – These are environmental variables that decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring. Taking the example mentioned above (candies at the checkout line) what is a way to decrease the likelihood of this happening? Grabbing a snack or drink before the shop to maintain a level of satiation and avoid feeling hunger pains as you leave the store.

By eating before you go to the grocery, you satisfy your hunger and decrease the likelihood of buying an impulse snack at checkout!

Motivation simply means we are more likely to engage in a behavior. If you’re not motivated to run, you don’t lack “motivation,” you simply have more motivation to sit on the couch or lay in bed. Instead of seeing it as an absence, ask yourself “What am I motivated to do right now?” once you ask yourself that you can begin manipulating the M.O.s around you to change your behaviors.

Try this:

I’ll be more likely to move if I get access to something as a result – Lift with a friend, walk to a coffee shop, put your favorite podcast on while you’re biking.

I’ll be less likely to watch TV if I must do a chore while watching – Keep a basket of laundry near your couch as a reminder or that stack of paperwork you’ve been meaning to go through.