Putting things into order

When we look at motivation, we start from a basic assumption: There is something that motivates us, such as goals, willpower, and to-do lists. And when we are motivated, we start acting.

We work with a straightforward cause-and-effect model. First comes motivation, then follows the activity.

But are we right with this causal sequence?

Albert Bandura was intrigued by the question of happiness. He wanted to find out, when people were happy and what influence they had on their happiness. In his research, he came to a simple and mundane finding:

We are happy when we feel that we can master our lives. So there is an intense connection between our confidence to be up to the demands of our lives and our happiness. We feel comfortable when we act successfully and we deeply long for this experience.

Interestingly, there is a strong interaction with motivation here. If we act successfully, then we feel comfortable and dare to do something. Then we are motivated to act, and we do act. If we are less successful, it undermines our confidence and thus our motivation.

Accordingly, it is exactly the opposite

Action is not the effect of an abstract motivation that acts as a cause. Motivation is rather the result of successful action.

And because this is so important but can be overlooked so easily, I feel the need to repeat: Action is not the effect of an abstract motivation that acts as a cause. Motivation is rather the result of successful action.

And this takes us on a whole new and decisive track when it comes to strengthening our motivation and “self-discipline”. We are challenged to organize our actions and our tasks in such a way that we master them. If we do so, then we emerge strengthened and inspired by these actions.

We set in motion a Perpetuum Mobile, a self-reinforcing feedback loop. And that brings us to the question of how we can set this spiral of blessings in motion?