Understanding Motivation Will Help You Understand Yourself
Psychologists have studied many types of motivational behavior over the years and have developed several theories about what factors can motivate individuals into behaving in certain ways. In general they have come to the conclusions that there are two types of personalities. These are known as ‘towards’ and ‘away from’ personality types.
While both types will occur in almost everyone, most of us will have a more dominant type. But which one are you and how can this knowledge help you to motivate yourself? ‘Towards’-type people are more excited by thoughts of their future. They are more goal-oriented and are motivated by what will happen. ‘Away from’ personalities are more motivated by becoming more comfortable by escaping their problems, or to overcome any troubles that they may have.
To find out whether you have a ‘towards’ or an ‘away from’ personality, it is a good idea to think about what motivates you when you are goal setting. Do you do mostly things to obtain rewards? Then you must be a ‘towards’ type of person. Or, if all your actions are geared to giving you a more safe and secure life, being able to pay your bills and live the life you want, then you may be an ‘away from’ person.
The following scenarios can also greatly help you to decide. Imagine that you have won the jackpot in the national lottery. Now, how would you feel? Subtle differences in your ideal scenario can determine what type of personality you have. In the first scene, you are made for life. You will not have to work again, everything you could possibly need can be yours. In the second case, you can now do any thing you want, every dream you ever had is easily within reach. Now all your goals can be achieved.
Did you work it out? Yes, the first type of person, the ‘away from’ person feels happy and secure and will not want for anything again. On the other hand, the second, ‘towards’ person can now go out and achieve all of their goals and fulfill all of their dreams. They are sort of variant types of introverts and extroverts.
There is no type which is better than the other. Both have their strong points and both have their flaws. A ‘Towards’ person would make a good entrepreneur if they were able to ground themselves a bit more and make more plans. And the ‘Away from’ person is a little less driven and is happy to stay where they feel comfortable in the life they have. They are less willing to take risks or go out on a limb.
Once you have determined what sort of person you are, you can use this knowledge to influence your own reaction to situations and events and tailor your reaction. For example, if you know that you are an ‘Away from’ type of person, you will already know now that instead of being more goal oriented, you are seeking to achieve a certain level of comfort and outside of this you will find it a real struggle to take that one extra step. You need to push yourself that little bit harder.
Conversely, if you know you are ‘towards’ then you can realize that the goal is the whole thing to you and you will really have to stop yourself and plan things better, otherwise they will end up in a mess.
In similar ways you will be able to see what motivates others, and either tailor your product, or your service, to suit their needs.
Cherish each moment. These are the good old days we may long for tomorrow.
I wish you much success!
Scott Barker- EzineArticles- Expert Author
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Filed under: Motivation, Self-Improvement
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