For your consideration:
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to just try one more time.”
– Thomas Edison
Introduction
Honest self-reflection is a precursor to self-awareness and the starting point for our discussion of personal growth. To start to know yourself, you need to consider who you are and what’s important to you at this point in your life. This is the second of four exercises designed to encourage you to take the time to think about and identify your goals and motivations. This exercise is designed to help you understand the forces driving your pursuit of a key personal or professional goal. It may help you understand yourself better, figure out your goals, and make more informed decisions about your future. It may also help you to develop a stronger sense of purpose and direction in life.
Key Points to Remember
- Be honest with yourself; there are no right or wrong answers, and no judgment is attached to your responses.
- Take your time with these exercises, thinking about what is important to you and why.
- As you work through each prompt, take a moment to record your thoughts. These reflections can serve as a valuable resource for developing self-awareness.
Goals and Motivations
A Quick Refresher Regarding the Types of Motivation
Intrinsic motivation is the drive that comes from within. You do it because the act itself is enjoyable, satisfying, or aligns with your core values and sense of purpose (e.g., learning a skill because you are passionate about learning, solving a puzzle for the challenge).
Extrinsic motivation is the drive that derives from external factors. You do it for a separable outcome, like a reward, recognition, status, or to avoid punishment (e.g., working hard for a bonus, getting a degree to impress others).
Healthy motivation is often a blend of both, but an over-reliance on extrinsic factors can be unsustainable and lead to burnout.
Prompts
Prompt #1:
Choose one significant goal you are currently working towards regarding your personal success or growth. Describe it in one or two clear sentences.
Prompt #2:
List the things that truly motivate you to achieve this goal. Are they intrinsic motivations (lead to a sense of accomplishment or happiness) or extrinsic (money, job title, or recognition). How did these motivations influence your selection of this goal?
Prompt #3:
Think of a past achievement you’re proud of. What motivated you in this endeavor, and how did it make you feel to achieve it?
Prompt #4:
Think of a time you overcame an unexpected challenge or setback. What motivated you to keep going? What did you learn from that experience? How, if any, has it changed the way you set goals in the future?
Up Next: Expectations and Beliefs
The next set of prompts, part three of the series, will ask you to examine your expectations and your belief system.
