Motivation: What Drives Us and How It Affects Our Lives

The words motivation and emotion share a common root: both come from the Latin motere, which means to move. Motives guide us towards pleasure and help us overcome difficulties. When we are motivated, we feel better. As one scientist put it, "Nature turns what it needs into pleasure to make us do it." Motives indicate where the pleasures lie. But when it comes to achieving our goals, we often encounter obstacles. When we face them, motives push us further, directing the impulse to the left prefrontal zone of our brain to remind us of the pleasant sensations awaiting us upon achieving the goal. This helps us endure hard times.

People whose emotional settings are more dependent on the left prefrontal zone are generally more positively tuned. However, as neuroscientist Richard Davidson notes, they are often prone to anger, especially if something hinders them from achieving an important goal. They get upset and irritated—and this is good because their energy is mobilized, and they focus on overcoming the difficulties and continuing their movement towards the goal. On the other hand, activation of the right prefrontal zone acts like a brake—when faced with difficulties, such people give up more easily. They are generally not inclined towards risk, even justified risk, are overly cautious and prudent. Their motivation is low, they worry more, are more fearful and vigilant.

David McClelland proposed three main motivators: the need for power, the need for affiliation, and the need for achievement. The need for achievement can lead to workaholism and neglect of personal life. Some people become true workaholics, focused on work goals and stop living a full life. This can be students cramming textbooks in hopes of maximum scores in all subjects, successful managers working 18 hours a day, and other perfectionists.