The Power to Act Comes from Within
How do you motivate yourself to take action?
What do you do when you are somewhat hesitant or unable to move forward to change, grow, overcome a challenge, or accomplish a specific goal, even when you know it is in your best interests to do so?
Does it require outside forces to get you moving, or can you find some way to motivate yourself from within?
If you find these questions hard to answer, the following thoughts will hopefully help you.
Ancient Wisdom Regarding the Heart
In Proverbs 23:7, King Solomon, a man renowned for his wisdom, said -
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."
For those familiar with Proverbs 23:7, please note that my use of this verse differs from the context of the Bible, which focuses on the motive of someone else whose words say one thing but misrepresent what is in their heart.
So, think in terms of an inward focus on self, or "As I think in my heart, so I am."
That said, my review of commentary on this verse stresses the importance of understanding that what we believe in our hearts shapes who we are, thus shaping how we think, which in turn shapes how we act.
Additionally, from what I have learned about ancient Hebrew culture, the heart was often considered the center of a person's being, encompassing their thoughts, emotions, and will.
When I apply such understanding to this proverb, it suggests to me that our actions and behaviors are empowered by what is deeply embedded in our hearts—our beliefs, values, and attitudes.
Current Neuroscience
Interestingly, current neuroscience recognizes that the brain is not just a collection of separate functions but an integrated system where different regions work together to produce thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This appears to align with the ancient Hebrew concept of the heart as our center, where thoughts and emotions reside.
"The mind is not just what the brain does, but what the brain, embedded in the body, does in interaction with the environment." - Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine
"The brain is a complex system that operates by generating beliefs about the world that can be updated to improve our understanding and promote our survival." - Dr. Antonio Damasio, Neuroscientist and Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Southern California
"Our beliefs and experiences shape our neural connections, making us who we are." "Our brains are constantly creating our reality."- Dr. David Eagleman, Neuroscientist and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine
These quotes from prominent neuroscience experts highlight an understanding that our thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions are not isolated brain functions but are intertwined with our experiences, emotions, and behavior, influencing our actions and shaping our reality.
The Impact of Our Beliefs on Our Thoughts
To highlight a contrast in beliefs versus thoughts, I found the following statement attributed to Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company –
"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."
While I understand the point of this thought, it leapfrogs a critical issue. To make my point, I would change this statement to –
"Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're right."
Why?
From my perspective, in order to "think you can," you must "believe you can."
"Thinking you can" sounds more like a consideration without a firm commitment, while "believing you can" is a conviction that fuels a commitment.
In addition, while I believe in having a positive mindset, my experience developing, training, and coaching people for over thirty years has taught me that, in most cases, positive thinking alone is unlikely to overcome "believing you can't."
Similarly, I also believe in positive environments, but attempting to encourage people by simply telling them, "You can do it!" or cheerleading, or having them attend a motivation seminar, doesn't always work, especially for those adults struggling with a lack of motivation, negative self-efficacy, self-limiting beliefs or negative thought patterns.
However, having someone important genuinely believe in you can be a great benefit, especially for kids, but as Stephen Covey says –
"Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly."
Therefore, we must recognize that what we believe about ourselves and our capabilities affects our thinking, which in turn guides our actions or inaction.
Motivation Does Not Exist By Accident
According to psychologist Dr. Albert Bandura, self-efficacy refers to our belief in our ability to accomplish tasks and achieve goals. And it is not only about having skills or knowledge but also the confidence to apply them effectively. Our self-efficacy influences how we approach tasks, handle setbacks, and ultimately, whether we succeed or falter.
In addition, psychologist Dr. Robert F. Hicks, Clinical Professor of Organizational Behavior at The University of Texas at Dallas and founding Director of the Organizational Behavior, Coaching, and Consulting program in the Executive Education Department within the Jindal School of Management, offers the following from his book, The Process of Highly Effective Coaching - "Motivation is determined by the importance of the goal, the confidence people have in their ability to make it happen, and their readiness to go after it."
Dr. Hicks cites three questions we must answer -
- Importance – Do I want to?
"Importance creates a bond or attachment to the goal that generates determination and persistence in its pursuit."
- Confidence – Can I do it?
"Confidence stems from self-efficacy, the conviction that one has the ability to execute a course of action to achieve valued outcomes."
- Readiness – Am I ready to take action?
"Importance and confidence are not enough to ensure action: action requires readiness. When [people] are less than ready, it indicates that they are either ambivalent about the importance of what they want in relation to other things in their life or they have doubt about their capability."
To summarize, Dr. Hicks explains -
"There is no change [or progress] without action, and there is no action without motivation. Motivation does not exist by accident. It is the result of beliefs and values [people] hold about their goals, themselves, and their priorities. To be motivated, [people] must believe that success is possible, that there is a relationship between what they do and the achievement of what they want, and that there is some value to succeeding."
Conclusion
I want to reemphasize that I have nothing against extrinsic motivation that results from money, job promotions, praise, rewards and recognition. I feel the same about positive thinking, positive environments, cheerleading, and motivational seminars.
However, ancient truths, current neuroscience and psychological thinking, and my own learning and experience tell me they are not enough for many or even most people.
I believe that those who struggle with the questions asked at the beginning of this article or for those attempting to influence the actions or behaviors of others with these challenges, we need more coaching—helping people discover and harness the power of intrinsic motivation that comes from within to change, improve performance, overcome challenges, and reach goals.