New Student Orientation Resource Book

Motivation ..... Go ahead, you can do it!

To motivate a person means giving them a reason to take action for themselves or for others. It is hard to motivate people because it means they have to change, and change is hard!

The BEST kind of motivation is intrinsic, or from within. There is another kind, not as good but still effective, called extrinsic, or from without. Rules are a good example of motivation from without. A rule gives you a reason to do something because if you break a rule you get punished. But, if you agree with a rule and it is part of your character, say the Golden Rule, then the reason you take action is because you want to take action.

MOTIVATION is based on your ATTITUDE about things. So, if you work on your attitude, you are working on your motivation as well. Change is still hard, but if your attitude is right then change is possible and will probably happen. Attitude also affects the CHOICES you make and helps you make right ones because your motivation is also right.

Back to Table of Contents | Next