What is motivation? the emotion of movement

A Paradigm Shift. Motivation as Creation

In our culture, we often talk about motivation as if it were an external resource or an innate quality that some people "have" and others don't.

We wait until we "feel motivated" to start taking action, which leaves us at the mercy of a capricious mood.

Emotional intelligence proposes a radical and much more empowering paradigm shift: conceiving of motivation not as something you have, but as an emotion that you create.

Like joy or calm, motivation is a psycho-physiological state that we can deliberately cultivate.

Designing the Emotion of Motivation with the PALM Model

If motivation is an emotion, we can use the PALM model (Posture, Attention, Language, Meaning) to design it and activate it at will.

This approach makes us the generators of our own momentum.

• Posture (Physiology): What is the physiology of a motivated and energetic person like? They are not slumped and apathetic. They are upright, with their shoulders back, more dynamic breathing, and action-oriented body language.

To generate motivation, we can start by deliberately adopting this posture. Stand up, stretch, put on some energetic music, and move. Movement generates excitement.

• Attention (Focus): What does a motivated person focus on? Not the obstacles, difficulties, or the long road ahead.

Their attention is fixed on the desired goal and, above all, on the benefits and satisfaction they will gain from achieving it.

To create motivation, they vividly visualize the end result and connect with the sense of accomplishment.

• Language: What kind of internal dialogue does a motivated person have? They use language of possibility, capability, and action. Instead of "this is very difficult," her language is "I can do it, one step at a time."

She asks herself empowering questions like "What is the first step I can take right now?"

• Meaning: What meaning do she attach to the task? A motivated person doesn't see effort as a burden, but as an investment in a greater purpose.

She connects the task at hand to her deepest values ​​and the person she wants to become.

By understanding that motivation is an emotion we can build piece by piece, we free ourselves from passive waiting.

We no longer need to wait for inspiration to strike; we can rise up and, through our deliberate actions, ignite our own inner fire.