essay on life motivation

Motivation Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on motivation.

Everyone suggests other than the person lack motivation, or directly suggests the person remain motivated. But, no one ever tells what is the motivation of how one can stay motivated. Motivation means to face the obstacle and find an inspiration that helps you to go through tough times. In addition, it helps you to move further in life.

Meaning of Motivation

Motivation is something that cannot be understood with words but with practice. It means to be moved by something so strongly that it becomes an inspiration for you. Furthermore, it is a discipline that helps you to achieve your life goals and also helps to be successful in life .

Besides, it the most common practice that everyone does whether it is your boss in office or a school teacher or a university professor everyone motivates others in a way or other.

Role of Motivation

It is a strong tool that helps to get ahead in life. For being motivated we need a driving tool or goal that keeps us motivated and moves forward. Also, it helps in being progressive both physically and mentally.

Moreover, your goal does not be to big and long term they can be small and empowering. Furthermore, you need the right mindset to be motivated.

Besides, you need to push your self towards your goal no one other than you can push your limit. Also, you should be willing to leave your comfort zone because your true potential is going to revel when you leave your comfort zone.

Types of Motivation

Although there are various types of motivation according to me there are generally two types of motivation that are self- motivation and motivation by others.

Self-motivation- It refers to the power of someone to stay motivated without the influence of other situations and people. Furthermore, self-motivated people always find a way to reason and strength to complete a task. Also, they do not need other people to encourage them to perform a challenging task.

Motivation by others- This motivation requires help from others as the person is not able to maintain a self-motivated state. In this, a person requires encouragement from others. Also, he needs to listen to motivational speeches, a strong goal and most importantly and inspiration.

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Importance of Motivation

Motivation is very important for the overall development of the personality and mind of the people. It also puts a person in action and in a competitive state. Furthermore, it improves efficiency and desire to achieve the goal. It leads to stability and improvement in work.

Above all, it satisfies a person’s needs and to achieve his/her goal. It helps the person to fight his negative attitude. The person also tries to come out of his/her comfort zone so that she/ he can achieve the goal.

To conclude, motivation is one of the key elements that help a person to be successful. A motivated person tries to push his limits and always tries to improve his performance day by day. Also, the person always gives her/his best no matter what the task is. Besides, the person always tries to remain progressive and dedicated to her/his goals.

FAQs about Motivation Essay

Q.1 Define what is motivation fit. A.1 This refers to a psychological phenomenon in which a person assumes or expects something from the job or life but gets different results other than his expectations. In a profession, it is a primary criterion for determining if the person will stay or leave the job.

Q.2 List some best motivators. A.2 some of the best motivators are:

• Inspiration
• Fear of failure
• Power of Rejection
• Don’t pity your self
• Be assertive
• Stay among positive and motivated people
• Be calm and visionary

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Motivation: The Driving Force Behind Our Actions

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.

Verywell / Emily Roberts 

• Improvement

The term motivation describes why a person does something. It is the driving force behind human actions. Motivation is the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.

For instance, motivation is what helps you lose extra weight, or pushes you to get that promotion at work. In short, motivation causes you to act in a way that gets you closer to your goals. Motivation includes the biological , emotional , social , and cognitive forces that activate human behavior.

Motivation also involves factors that direct and maintain goal-directed actions. Although, such motives are rarely directly observable. As a result, we must often infer the reasons why people do the things that they do based on observable behaviors.

Learn the types of motivation that exist and how we use them in our everyday lives. And if it feels like you've lost your motivation, do not worry. There are many ways to develop or improve your self-motivation levels.

Press Play for Advice on Motivation

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares an exercise you can use to help you perform your best. Click below to listen now.

Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

What Are the Types of Motivation?

The two main types of motivation are frequently described as being either extrinsic or intrinsic.

• Extrinsic motivation arises from outside of the individual and often involves external rewards such as trophies, money, social recognition, or praise.
• Intrinsic motivation is internal and arises from within the individual, such as doing a complicated crossword puzzle purely for the gratification of solving a problem.

A Third Type of Motivation?

Some research suggests that there is a third type of motivation: family motivation. An example of this type is going to work when you are not motivated to do so internally (no intrinsic motivation), but because it is a means to support your family financially.

Why Motivation Is Important

Motivation serves as a guiding force for all human behavior. So, understanding how motivation works and the factors that may impact it can be important for several reasons.

Understanding motivation can:

• Increase your efficiency as you work toward your goals
• Drive you to take action
• Encourage you to engage in health-oriented behaviors
• Help you avoid unhealthy or maladaptive behaviors, such as risk-taking and addiction
• Help you feel more in control of your life
• Improve your overall well-being and happiness

Click Play to Learn More About Motivation

This video has been medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE .

What Are the 3 Components of Motivation?

If you've ever had a goal (like wanting to lose 20 pounds or run a marathon), you probably already know that simply having the desire to accomplish these things is not enough. You must also be able to persist through obstacles and have the endurance to keep going in spite of difficulties faced.

These different elements or components are needed to get and stay motivated. Researchers have identified three major components of motivation: activation, persistence, and intensity.

• Activation is the decision to initiate a behavior. An example of activation would be enrolling in psychology courses in order to earn your degree.
• Persistence is the continued effort toward a goal even though obstacles may exist. An example of persistence would be showing up for your psychology class even though you are tired from staying up late the night before.
• Intensity is the concentration and vigor that goes into pursuing a goal. For example, one student might coast by without much effort (minimal intensity) while another student studies regularly, participates in classroom discussions, and takes advantage of research opportunities outside of class (greater intensity).

The degree of each of these components of motivation can impact whether you achieve your goal. Strong activation, for example, means that you are more likely to start pursuing a goal. Persistence and intensity will determine if you keep working toward that goal and how much effort you devote to reaching it.

Tips for Improving Your Motivation

All people experience fluctuations in their motivation and willpower . Sometimes you feel fired up and highly driven to reach your goals. Other times, you might feel listless or unsure of what you want or how to achieve it.

If you're feeling low on motivation, there are steps you can take to help increase your drive. Some things you can do to develop or improve your motivation include:

• Adjust your goals to focus on things that really matter to you. Focusing on things that are highly important to you will help push you through your challenges more than goals based on things that are low in importance.
• If you're tackling something that feels too big or too overwhelming, break it up into smaller, more manageable steps. Then, set your sights on achieving only the first step. Instead of trying to lose 50 pounds, for example, break this goal down into five-pound increments.
• Improve your confidence . Research suggests that there is a connection between confidence and motivation. So, gaining more confidence in yourself and your skills can impact your ability to achieve your goals.
• Remind yourself about what you've achieved in the past and where your strengths lie. This helps keep self-doubts from limiting your motivation.
• If there are things you feel insecure about, try working on making improvements in those areas so you feel more skilled and capable.

Causes of Low Motivation

There are a few things you should watch for that might hurt or inhibit your motivation levels. These include:

• All-or-nothing thinking : If you think that you must be absolutely perfect when trying to reach your goal or there is no point in trying, one small slip-up or relapse can zap your motivation to keep pushing forward.
• Believing in quick fixes : It's easy to feel unmotivated if you can't reach your goal immediately but reaching goals often takes time.
• Thinking that one size fits all : Just because an approach or method worked for someone else does not mean that it will work for you. If you don't feel motivated to pursue your goals, look for other things that will work better for you.

Motivation and Mental Health

Sometimes a persistent lack of motivation is tied to a mental health condition such as depression . Talk to your doctor if you are feeling symptoms of apathy and low mood that last longer than two weeks.

Theories of Motivation

Throughout history, psychologists have proposed different theories to explain what motivates human behavior. The following are some of the major theories of motivation.

The instinct theory of motivation suggests that behaviors are motivated by instincts, which are fixed and inborn patterns of behavior. Psychologists such as William James, Sigmund Freud , and William McDougal have proposed several basic human drives that motivate behavior. They include biological instincts that are important for an organism's survival—such as fear, cleanliness, and love.

Drives and Needs

Many behaviors such as eating, drinking, and sleeping are motivated by biology. We have a biological need for food, water, and sleep. Therefore, we are motivated to eat, drink, and sleep. The drive reduction theory of motivation suggests that people have these basic biological drives, and our behaviors are motivated by the need to fulfill these drives.

Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is another motivation theory based on a desire to fulfill basic physiological needs. Once those needs are met, it expands to our other needs, such as those related to safety and security, social needs, self-esteem, and self-actualization.

Arousal Levels

The arousal theory of motivation suggests that people are motivated to engage in behaviors that help them maintain their optimal level of arousal. A person with low arousal needs might pursue relaxing activities such as reading a book, while those with high arousal needs might be motivated to engage in exciting, thrill-seeking behaviors such as motorcycle racing.

The Bottom Line

Psychologists have proposed many different theories of motivation . The reality is that there are numerous different forces that guide and direct our motivations.

Understanding motivation is important in many areas of life beyond psychology, from parenting to the workplace. You may want to set the best goals and establish the right reward systems to motivate others as well as to  increase your own motivation .

Knowledge of motivating factors (and how to manipulate them) is used in marketing and other aspects of industrial psychology. It's an area where there are many myths, and everyone can benefit from knowing what works with motivation and what doesn't.

Nevid JS.  Psychology: Concepts and Applications .

Tranquillo J, Stecker M.  Using intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in continuing professional education .  Surg Neurol Int.  2016;7(Suppl 7):S197-9. doi:10.4103/2152-7806.179231

Menges JI, Tussing DV, Wihler A, Grant AM. When job performance is all relative: How family motivation energizes effort and compensates for intrinsic motivation . Acad Managem J . 2016;60(2):695-719. doi:10.5465/amj.2014.0898

Hockenbury DH, Hockenbury SE. Discovering Psychology .

Zhou Y, Siu AF. Motivational intensity modulates the effects of positive emotions on set shifting after controlling physiological arousal . Scand J Psychol . 2015;56(6):613-21. doi:10.1111/sjop.12247

Mystkowska-Wiertelak A, Pawlak M. Designing a tool for measuring the interrelationships between L2 WTC, confidence, beliefs, motivation, and context . Classroom-Oriented Research . 2016. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30373-4_2

Myers DG.  Exploring Social Psychology .

Siegling AB, Petrides KV. Drive: Theory and construct validation .  PLoS One . 2016;11(7):e0157295. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0157295

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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How to Motivate Yourself: 11 Tips for Self Improvement

Achieve your goals with these science-backed motivation enhancers.

Setting a goal—anything from getting a degree or landing a new job to achieving a new level of physical fitness—is a big step toward improving your life. But following through to achieve what we’ve set out to accomplish can be challenging, especially on those days when motivation wanes. So how do you follow through on your commitments during those times when you just don’t feel like putting in the work?

We all lose motivation from time to time. When you’re feeling unmotivated, try one of these science-backed strategies to get yourself back on track toward your goal.

Put your goal on the calendar.

Make working toward your goal a habit.

Plan for imperfection.

Set small goals to build momentum.

Track your progress.

Reward yourself for the little wins as well as the big ones.

Embrace positive peer pressure.

Practice gratitude (including for yourself).

Do some mood lifting. 

Change your environment. 

Remember your “why.”

Self-motivation tips

Let's take a closer look at each of the above tips. Here, we'll break down these self-motivation techniques, detailing what they are and the science behind them.

1. Put your goal on the calendar.

One way to give a boost to your internal motivation is to create some external motivation: a target date. Whatever it is you’re aiming to accomplish, put it on the calendar. You may be working toward a goal with a set finish date built in. Examples include preparing for a test or taking a course with a fixed end date. 

If your goal lacks this structure, you can add it by deciding on a date by which you could realistically achieve your goal. 

Want to run a 5k or marathon? Sign up for a race on or near your target date. Considering a degree? Research the application deadline and write it down. Aiming to learn a new career skill? Register for a course and set a target date to finish. 

Having a target date not only helps you stay motivated, it also helps you track your progress—you always know how much further you have to go. This can have a big impact on your performance [ 1 ].

Tip: Setting a target date

Be realistic when setting your target date, but resist the urge to give yourself more time than you’ll need. Studies show that we sometimes perceive longer goals as more difficult, even when they’re not. This can lead to a greater likelihood of procrastination or quitting [ 2 ].

2. Make working toward your goal a habit.

When you make working toward your goal a habit—an automatic conditioned response—you no longer have to rely so much on feeling motivated. How do you turn a behavior into a habit?

Identify a trigger. 

Choose something that you already do everyday, like brushing your teeth or eating lunch, to be a trigger for the action you want to make a habit. Write out an “if-then” plan (also known as an implementation intention).

For example, if you want to create a habit of studying for a class everyday, your if-then plan might look like this:

If I pour my first cup of coffee, then I will spend five minutes on my math homework. 

To build consistency in exercise, it might look like this:

If I get up and brush my teeth, then I will immediately put on my workout clothes.

Making this plan and committing it to writing could increase the likelihood of following through [ 3 ].

Start small.

Notice that the above examples do not say that you’ll read six chapters of your textbook, watch two hours of lecture videos, or spend an hour sweating on the treadmill.

Getting started is often the hardest part on low-motivation days, and starting is much easier when the task is small: Five minutes of study or putting on your workout clothes [ 4 ]. 

These seemingly small actions can prime your mind for the task at hand, so the followthrough—a longer study session or a full workout—can happen more naturally with less mental resistance, according to The Science of Self Help [ 5 ]. 

3. Plan for imperfection.

It’s great to feel excited and confident about achieving your goal, but it’s also possible to be too optimistic [ 6 ]. Not every day will go exactly as planned, and that’s okay. Life happens. 

One way to boost motivation on difficult days is simply to plan for them. As you think about your goal, jot down a list of the things that could get in your way. If you’re taking an online course, this could include:

Losing internet access

Getting a phone call in the middle of a study session

Having a child home sick

Feeling stuck on a difficult concept or assignment

If your goal is to go running everyday, some obstacles might include:

Rainy weather

Getting asked to stay late at work during the time you usually run

We can’t predict everything that could happen, but we can predict those obstacles that are likely to happen from time to time based on our unique circumstances. 

Once you have your list, make a plan for how to handle the obstacle. How can you plan ahead for when your internet goes out? Maybe you could keep a few lecture videos downloaded to your phone or computer for offline access, or you could identify a nearby coffee shop that offers free wifi. 

Now when that obstacle pops up, instead of losing motivation and feeling deflated, you have a plan in place to keep the momentum going.

Keep in mind that for some obstacles, missing your task is a perfectly acceptable plan.  

The WOOP method

Next time you’re setting a goal for yourself, practice the WOOP technique, pioneered by Dr. Gabriele Oettingen. This stands for Wish , Outcome , Obstacle , and Plan . What is your wish? What would be the outcome of that wish coming true? What main obstacle stands in your way? What can you do to overcome that obstacle?

4. Set small goals to build momentum.

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another.” 

Naval Admiral William H. McRaven gave this advice during his commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. The former Navy SEAL was onto something.

Research shows that frequent small successes can build a sense of momentum that can in turn drive long-term success, especially early in the process [ 7 , 8 ]. Whatever your big goal may be, start by breaking it down into smaller chunks. Getting a new job might be a big goal. Smaller goals could be updating your resume, making a portfolio website, earning a certification, or attending a networking event.

Did you know?

Setting goals at the start of a new week, month, or year can naturally lead to increased motivation [ 9 ]. We tend to mentally associate these temporal landmarks with new beginnings while creating mental distance from any perceived shortcomings in our past. Now that’s what we call a motivational Monday.

5. Track your progress.

Seeing progress can be highly motivating [ 10 ]. You’ll find many tools out there to help you track your goals. This could be as simple as a to-do list or calendar where you can cross off tasks or days as you complete them. Or you might opt for a free tool like Trello , which allows you to create a personalized digital task board to categorize your big goal into daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly sub goals.

Another option is to draw a progress bar on a sheet of poster board or paper. Hang it somewhere where you’ll see it regularly, and fill it in as you get closer to your goal.

What is a SMART goal?

Sometimes the best goals are SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. 

6. Reward yourself for the little wins as well as the big ones.

It feels good to be rewarded for our work. But rewards can also improve motivation and performance. Rewarding yourself for reaching small milestones and completing big goals could boost your interest and enjoyment in the work you’re doing [ 11 ]. 

These rewards don’t have to be big or cost a lot of money. Here’s a quick list of ideas you could use to reward yourself:

Take a short break

Go for a walk outside

Enjoy your favorite snack

Read a chapter of your favorite book

Spend a few minutes meditating

Listen to an episode of your favorite podcast

Plan a night out with friends

Play an online game

Visit a free museum or attraction

Have a long bath or shower

Call a friend or family member

Spend a few minutes making your own reward list so that you’re ready to celebrate your wins, big and small.

7. Embrace positive peer pressure.

You’re ultimately the one who puts in the work to achieve your goals. But other people can be a great motivator. 

Research shows that feeling like you’re part of a team can lead to boosted perseverance, engagement, and performance, even if you’re working alone [ 12 ]. Depending on your goal, this might mean joining a study group, running team, gym class, professional organization, or virtual challenge. 

Another study suggests that sharing your goal with someone whose opinion you value can strengthen your commitment to attaining that goal [ 13 ]. For work goals, consider sharing with a mentor or supervisor. You might choose to share educational goals with a teacher or academic advisor, or fitness goals with a coach or fellow gym member who you admire.

8. Practice gratitude (including for yourself).

It might seem like gratitude would lead to complacency and acceptance of the status quo. Yet some studies have shown otherwise. Feelings of gratitude can:

Motivate self-improvement [ 14 ]

Make us feel connected to others (i.e. part of the team) [ 15 ]

Enhance motivation across time, beyond the duration of the gratitude practice [ 16 ]

Induce a sense of wanting to give back [ 17 ]

Improve physical and mental health, as well as sleep [ 18 ]

There’s more than one way to foster an attitude of gratitude. Spend the first five minutes after you wake up going through all the things you feel grateful for. Better yet, write them down in a gratitude journal. Is there someone in your life you’re particularly grateful for? Write them a letter expressing your thanks. 

9. Do some mood lifting. 

A good mood has been linked to increased productivity, and improvement in both quality and quantity of work [ 19 , 20 ]. This doesn’t mean that you have to be positive all the time—that’s not realistic. But if you’re feeling sluggish about working toward your goal, a quick mood lift could be enough to get you started.

Need some ideas for how to boost your mood? You could try to:

Spend some time in nature (or at least get some sunlight) [ 21 ]

Look at some cute pictures or videos of animals on r/aww [ 22 ]

Watch funny videos on YouTube [ 23 ]

Exercise [ 24 ]

Adopt an alter ego (i.e. the Batman effect) [ 25 ]

10. Change your environment. 

Sometimes a change of scenery can help you approach your task with fresh eyes (and a new sense of motivation). This is called the novelty effect—a short-term boost that comes from altering your environment [ 26 ]. 

If you usually study at home, have a session at your local library. Do you always watch lecture videos on your computer? Try downloading them to your phone to watch outside in the park. Switch up your running route, or try a new exercise routine. 

11. Remember your “why.”

Why is this goal important to you? Why is that reason important to you? Why is that important to you? Keep digging until you get to your ultimate “why”—the core value that’s driving your goal. 

To further reinforce your “why,” set an alarm every morning to remind yourself to spend one or two minutes visualizing what success would look like. What would it feel like to achieve your goal?

What’s your career goal?

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Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives Essay

Introduction, psychologists’ view on origin of motivation.

The complexity of motivation due to unpredictability and fluctuation from one individual to another and at different times has led to various theories being postulated to explain its causes. However, these psychologists agree that in way or another motivation is influenced by both biological and external factors.

Theories on motivation

Goal-setting theory.

Postulates that some individuals are driven to success by the goals they set. The success is measured by reaching the desired definite end. Such people set specific goals which are moderate in nature.

The goals have close proximity and limited security of success. Moderate goals limit the chances of quitting or becoming complacence which are characteristics of tough or easily-achieved goals. Thus, such goals generate optimal drive to success.

Setting of goals is only possible because human beings have self determination to succeed. This is what is postulated by the self-determination theory which explains what drives human beings to achieve. This theory opines that humans are inherently driven to grow and develop and hence our source of motivation inborn. However, these inherent motivators are activated by external factors.

This primary innate needs include; the need to control the events of our lives in order to feel connected to others and be competent in our skills. Thus, since we are able to control these primary inherent needs by controlling our thoughts and conscious, we can channel them towards striving for excellence. We are able to control our desires for success, and feelings of pleasure and acceptance.

The Need Hierarchy theory

This theory states that human beings are only driven to success by those needs which they have not satisfied. Have complex needs, we satisfy our needs from bottom up with those on the higher levels satisfied first. As one moves up the hierarchy of needs, the drive to achieve increases.

Thus, the drive that an individual has for quenching his thirst or filling an empty stomach is lower compared to that of achieving his full potential or self actualization which is the highest level of need.

The Incentive theory

This theory incorporates various aspects of the other theories and proposes that human beings are driven by incentives. These incentives can both be intrinsic or extrinsic and bring satisfaction in the form of physical rewards, pleasure and acceptance. Even though the rewards of pleasure and acceptance are intrinsic, their achievement is usually activated by external stimuli.

However, it has to be noted that external and internal stimuli sometimes work antagonistically. Continued usage of external stimuli as a source of motivation may eventually replace the innate drive to succeed. Such external stimuli become part us and may even turn into ‘innate’ stimuli. Since our autonomy is very important, usage of external stimuli should limited less they replace our intrinsic stimuli.

Self-efficacy and self-esteem as motivators

Self evaluation of capabilities and comparing it with the task at hand is a source of intrinsic stimuli which can drive us to success despite the challenges. High levels of self-efficacy will lead to high levels of motivation and vice versa. This is because it only by believing in ourselves that we can take on challenges.

The motivation resulting from self-esteem or feeling good about one’s self is not strong enough to enable us complete a goal despite the challenges. Ego and goal-orientation are also internal stimuli which can provide incentives which can motivate us.

Motivation plays a critical role in our daily lives including planning our goals in life. Hence, more evidence based research should be done on it. The research studies should include such areas as religion. Moreover, the motivation factors and psychology of athletes who use high performance drugs should also be studied.

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IvyPanda. (2022, April 20). Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-motivation/

"Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives." IvyPanda , 20 Apr. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-motivation/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives'. 20 April.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives." April 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-motivation/.

1. IvyPanda . "Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives." April 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-motivation/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Motivation Importance in Our Daily Lives." April 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-motivation/.

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Essay 1.1 What Is Motivation, Where Does It Come from, and How Does It Work?

• Published: January 2023
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Motivation is the process that drives, selects, and directs goals and behaviors. Motivation typically arises out of the person’s needs, and it then comes to life through the person’s specific goals. In this essay, the authors examine the concept of “needs” as the crucible from which motivated behavior arises because all individuals are born with needs that jump-start the goal-oriented, motivated behaviors that are critical to survival and thriving. These are both physical needs (such as hunger and thirst) and psychological needs (such as the need for social relationships, optimal predictability, and competence). The aim of motivation is therefore to bring about a desired (need, goal) state. Motivation underlies and organizes all aspects of a person’s psychology. As it does so, motivation “glues” a person together as a functioning individual in their culture and context.

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• Essay On Motivation

Motivation Essay

500+ words essay on motivation.

Motivation, the word itself, means positive vibes which push an individual to go through tough times. We all are unaware of what drives one to stay motivated. We have different sources, such as our role models, parents, teachers, etc. Everyone should have some infrequent motivation intervals to move forward in their life.

Meaning of Motivation

Motivation provides us with positive energy to achieve our goals and makes us feel optimistic and enthusiastic. It pushes us to perform our work specifically to get results. In our life, it gives us the energy to stay focused on our work. Every individual needs the motivation to achieve their dreams and aspirations. Human beings have numerous things to motivate themselves, such as encouragement from loved ones, friends, etc. Motivation from our parents makes us feel more confident about the path we pursue. It encourages us to believe in ourselves and make us stronger. Sometimes, we fail to achieve success, and at that phase, we require motivation. Once we get motivated, we start fresh with energy and hope.

Motivation comes with constant practice, meaning getting moved or inspired by someone that will help you achieve your goals. Everyone needs motivation, whether in a workplace, school, institution, etc.

Role of Motivation

Motivation comes with the right mindset irrespective of your goal, too big or long term. It helps us to move ahead mentally and physically. To keep ourselves motivated, we require a driving factor or tool and to become successful; we need to push our boundaries. Also, you need to come out of your comfort zone to reveal your true potential.

Types of Motivation

An individual might have various types of motivation, but in my opinion, motivation can be self-motivation and motivation by others.

Self-motivation: Self-motivation means keeping ourselves motivated without the influence of other people and situations. If you are self-motivated, you can complete the given task without guidance and encouragement.

Motivation by Others: People who lack self-motivation need help from others to keep themselves motivated. They need encouragement from others to maintain their state of motivation. These people also need to listen to motivational speeches for inspiration.

Sources of Motivation

The source of motivation can be anyone, either your school teachers or your parents, depending upon the situation.

From People: When it comes to our motivation, our mothers play an imperative role. Mothers selflessly motivate their children in every stage of life. According to research, it is found that when we communicate with our mothers, our brain releases oxytocin in a reasonable amount. It makes us feel good and motivated. Also, some people are well-known about our goal clearly, so they encourage us.

Famous Personalities: We also get inspiration from our favourite personalities like social workers, writers, political leaders, film stars, presidents, cricketers, etc. We want to become like the person we follow, which indirectly becomes our motivation.

Animals: Animals also motivate us, like dogs, which always make us happy. We can also take the example of an ant who keeps on falling but never gives up, so it teaches us that we should not feel unmotivated by our failure. Similarly, if we look at our surroundings, many animals motivate us.

Nature: The season is the best example when we talk about nature. The season keeps on changing, but we might not like every season, but still, we survive and understand its significance. Rivers also inspires and teaches us to face every problem of our life.

Books: They are one of the best sources of motivation. Many books have beautiful experiences shared with some captivating stories. Books are our best friends and the best motivators.

Conclusion of Motivation Essay

It is not only you who may feel low or sad. People meet different people and get motivated, like an energy drink. Always have your inspiration with you because it will help you achieve your goals. It is good to be optimistic because it helps us achieve our goals and adds peace to our lives.

From our BYJU’S website, students can learn CBSE Essays related to different topics. It will help students to get good marks in their upcoming exams.

Frequently Asked Questions on Motivation Essay

How important is self-motivation.

In today’s competitive world, motivating oneself constantly is necessary to move forward in life and career.

Do teachers play an important role in the ‘motivation factor’ of students?

Students spend maximum time in school, and thus, teachers are solely responsible (after parents) in motivating children towards the right goal.

How do students develop motivation?

Students can keep themselves motivated by setting realistic goals, making note of their progress, following timelines and rewarding themselves for their achievements.

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Motivation Essay. What Drives Your Life?

The essence of most essays on motivation is that people’s behavior is determined by their needs.  

Motivation is an engine of our life. It’s a power that pushes us towards our dreams and targets. Our acts are dedicated by external factors and inner power. But the most reliable and effective type of motivation is a self-motivation. If you don’t have enough motivation in your life check out this story. You will see that our academic writers wanted to make you think about some kind of power that drives your actions and behavior. Also, our team provides all variety of writing services online including specific types of papers.

Contemporary motivation theories essays. Have you ever wondered about them?

If you never read such stories before just try to look through at least one of them. These theories are very useful for understanding people’s behavior. They give us the theoretical background of this process explaining the nature and types of motivation. There are more than 50 main theories.

The most well-known among them is the carrot and the stick method. It is often used while animals training. This theory is supposed to be very primitive in our modern world, as it takes into account only basic instincts. You must have seen a picture with a sad donkey, sweet carrot and a stick that describes this method. Its simplified point means that a man wants to eat and not to be beaten. So it ignores other human needs like communication, relationships, need in respect, aesthetic needs, etc. But unfortunately some parents use it for kids and some employers implement it for their staff. As for our company we never use this approach. That’s why our team provides the best writing services for you , it has enough inspiration and motivation.

The most objective theory is probably Maslow’s pyramid. It covers seven types of human needs. In most cases, we rarely think about the first stage of needs. We take it for granted that we breathe and have enough food. But still, it’s very difficult to love someone or reach high results at work being always hungry or thirsty. The second stage is connected with safety. It’s obvious that we need confidence in security for today and for future. The third stage is probably the most spiritual one. It’s connected with our soul and involves such needs as love, friendship and belonging to a certain group of community. Everyone wants to feel needed, to love and to be loved, to get friends’ support. The fourth stage of this theory is about success and appreciation in society. After this stage, people want to investigate and widen their knowledge. They open new horizons of philosophy and science, become more intelligent. Do you remember Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” and his desire to systematize everything? It’s the sixth stage of the pyramid which contains aesthetic and harmony needs too. The last stage is the stage for very special people. Only 2 % of people reach the top of the pyramid and realize all their potentials.

This pyramid is only the basis of needs for motivation. And sometimes people just skip some stages on their way to the top of it. It’s very important to understand that Maslow’s pyramid is not a dogma. Its levels can change their order. For example, dedicated musicians, painters or writers can work even without any food for a whole day just to finish their masterpiece. They want to get success in their art first. Nevertheless, almost all contemporary theories are based on these two classical approaches.

Different needs grow at different speeds. Nowadays some people even put “internet” in the first place in this pyramid. Of course, it’s a joke, but this fact is still a reflection of modern trends. For example, students use global web to pass their exams. They can order some writing services online .

Why do we need knowledge about motivation? Understanding the basis of motivation and needs can help you lead any group of people.  But still, the most important thing about motivation is that it should start with your own self-motivation.

Your own self motivation essay. What would you write there?

Do you need any help to write an essay on this topic? If you already have one you can hire experienced essay editor to check your work. In this case, you will get the most literate variant. But do you have any examples from your own experience for it? Our modern world is quite cruel and self-motivation is a necessary feature for a person to get success. Everyone is responsible for his acts, deeds and the whole life. There is no sense to accuse other people, government or circumstances of your own failures. You should be self-motivated. There is a joke: “How to motivate oneself? Just do nothing and stay in that place where you are now”.

You can read more amusing stories on our blog:

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Self-motivation is an essential condition for your personal progress. It gives you the energy to reach your goals and success in the whole life despite any external factors. Here are some tips on self-motivation.

• Comprehend the sense and philosophy of your life. Don’t choose only one thing like wealth. Let it be a healthy happy family for example.
• Think about the worst things that will happen if you don’t act. Imagine the darkest and the lightest pages of your life. Choose the one you want and do everything you can to reach it.
• Take an example from people who live in harder situations and conditions than you. Many people survived wars, disasters, diseases and didn’t give up. 
• Determine some steps on how to reach your goal. Think about different variants and back up plans. Solve priority problems first. If you don’t have enough time ask someone’s help. If you are a student, use online services https://livecustomwriting.com/blog/best-essay-writing-services to make your home tasks.
• Act. Don’t think too much about your wishes, go ahead.
• Get energy and inspiration. Study something new and useful for your life. Communicate with positive interesting people.

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If you ever need to write an employee motivation essay ask our team

Your request “ do my essay for me ” will be approved by the talented authors of our company. They will prove that a well-motivated team is a key to the successful business. Knowing wishes of each employee helps an employer manage his staff. People whose needs are not satisfied won’t do their work properly. They will quit in a long-term perspective. And on the contrary, people who are well-motivated will have enough vital force and inspiration for doing their tasks. Our authors who are writing cool academic essays for you now are a case in point. They take their place of work like an essential part of their life associating it with their wish fulfillment.

The main sense of employee motivation is to reveal workers’ needs and to give an honest opportunity to satisfy them. It’s not only about money or any material things. Some people want to become good specialists in their professional spheres or have an appropriate schedule to spend enough time with their families. 

Here are some modern perks, which are used by companies to motivate their employees:

• free professional conferences, meetings, and workshops;
• fresh coffee in the morning;
• business trips abroad;

Self–motivation is a feature of adult independent people. Life without it looks like a car without an engine. Just compare blinding Bugatti racing on the road and overtaking other cars and a wagon just going down the mountain. Which one would you prefer? Always choose the best decision like our clients do https://livecustomwriting.com/blog/student-essay-writing-service-best-decision . Don’t let things slide, just pull yourself together and try your best to reach the best results. Don’t ignore motivation and don’t miss opportunities to reach success. Let your self-motivation drive your life.

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Essay on Motivation in Life- Meaning & Importance for Students

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Motivation is the true force that makes us do wonderful things in our life. It is what drives us to achieve our goals and objectives. It is the inner power that compels us to act in spite of all the obstacles and challenges that we face in life. Motivation is a very important concept, which is essential for success in any field.

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Essay on Motivation in Life | Meaning, Purpose, Importance & Ways to Motivated in life

Motivation can be defined as feelings of eagerness or enthusiasm that drives one to do something. It is the inner desire to achieve a goal. It is what gives us the energy and determination to pursue our dreams. Motivation is courage, energy and determination in the pursuit of a goal. It is the ability to face and overcome any obstacle in order to achieve our objectives.

Importance of Motivation in Life

Motivation is very important for success in any field. It is what gives us the strength to fight against all odds and achieve our goals. A motivated person is able to take on challenges and overcome them. He is always ready to face new challenges and overcome them. A motivated person is always full of energy and enthusiasm. He never gives up easily and is always willing to try again.

Motivation for Students

As a student, motivation is very important. It is what drives us to study hard and excel in our exams. A motivated student always strives to improve his performance. He is never satisfied with his current level of knowledge and skills. He always strives to acquire new knowledge and skills. A motivated student is always willing to take on new challenges. He never gives up easily and is always willing to try again.

>>> Read Also : “Paragraph On an Ideal Student”

How to Stay Motivated?

There are various ways to motivate yourself. Some of the most common methods are as follows:

1. Set Goals:   One of the best ways to motivate yourself is to set goals. When you have a goal to achieve, you will be motivated to work hard and achieve it.

2. Visualize Success:   Another way to motivate yourself is to visualize success. visualize yourself achieving your goals and objectives. When you see yourself succeeding, you will be motivated to work hard and make it a reality.

3. Make a Plan:   Another way to motivate yourself is to make a plan. When you have a plan of action, you will be more motivated to execute it.

4. Take Action:    The best way to motivate yourself is to take action. When you take action, you will be more motivated to achieve your goals.

5. Be Persistent:   Another way to motivate yourself is to be persistent. Never give up on your dreams and objectives. If you fall down, get up and try again.

6. Stay Positive:   The best way to stay motivated is to stay positive. When you are positive, you will be more motivated to achieve your goals.

7. Reward Yourself:   Another way to motivate yourself is to reward yourself. When you achieve a goal, reward yourself with something that you enjoy. This will motivate you to work hard and achieve more goals.

8. Find a Role Model:   Another way to motivate yourself is to find a role model. Find someone who has achieved what you want to achieve and follow his or her example.

>>>> Read Also : ” Essay On My Hero is My Father “

Therefore, motivation is extremely important in our lives. It is what gives us the strength to fight against all odds and achieve our goals. A motivated person is always full of energy and enthusiasm. He never gives up easily and is always willing to try again. So, if you want to be successful in life, you must learn to motivate yourself.

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Essay on My Inspiration In Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Inspiration In Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Inspiration In Life

My inspiration.

Everyone has someone who inspires them in life. For me, it’s my mother. She is strong, kind, and works hard every day. Her love and support give me the power to face challenges.

Lessons from Mom

My mom has taught me to be honest and to always do my best. She shows me that with patience and hard work, I can reach my goals. Watching her overcome difficulties with a smile is truly motivating.

Dreams and Goals

Because of my mom, I dream big and set goals. She encourages me to study and learn new things. Her belief in me makes me believe in myself, and that’s why she is my inspiration.

250 Words Essay on My Inspiration In Life

My guiding star.

In life, everyone has a source of motivation that pushes them to do better. For me, that source is my mother. She is my inspiration, showing me the power of love, hard work, and kindness every day. Her life story is like a book filled with lessons that guide me.

Strength in Tough Times

My mother has faced many tough situations. When things get hard, she doesn’t give up. Instead, she finds a way to solve problems with a smile. Watching her has taught me to be strong and positive, even when things don’t go my way.

Love and Kindness

Her love for our family and others is endless. She cares for everyone, even people she doesn’t know well. This has taught me to be kind and to help others. I’ve learned that a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s day.

Working Hard

My mother works very hard. She always says that if you want something, you need to work for it. She never waits for things to happen; she makes them happen. This has shown me the value of hard work and not to be afraid of trying new things.

My mother is the light that guides me. She has shown me how to face life with a brave heart, to be kind to everyone, and to work hard for my dreams. She is not just my mom; she’s my hero. I want to be like her as I grow up, spreading love and positivity wherever I go.

500 Words Essay on My Inspiration In Life

Who inspires me.

Everyone has someone who inspires them to be better, to reach higher, and to dream bigger. For me, that person is my grandmother. She is the light that guides me through my life’s journey. Her life story, the kindness she shows to everyone, and her never-give-up attitude are what make me want to become the best version of myself.

Grandmother’s Life Story

My grandmother grew up in a small village with very little. She didn’t have the chance to go to school for long because she had to work to help her family. But she loved to learn. She taught herself to read and write more by reading old newspapers and practicing every day. Even now, she tells me stories of those times and how important it is to keep learning, no matter what. When I think of her, I feel motivated to do well in school and to never stop being curious.

Kindness to Everyone

Another thing about my grandmother that inspires me is her kindness. She has a smile for everyone and always finds a way to help those in need. I’ve seen her give food to people who are hungry and offer warm clothes to those who are cold. She says, “Being kind costs nothing but means everything.” I try to live by these words and show kindness just like she does.

Never-Give-Up Attitude

Life has thrown many challenges at my grandmother. She has seen tough times, but she never lets them defeat her. She always finds a way to solve problems, and she never stops trying. When I face something hard in school or with friends, I remember her strength. It gives me the courage to keep going and not to quit, just like she never does.

Learning From Mistakes

My grandmother always says that mistakes are just another way to learn. She doesn’t get upset when something goes wrong. Instead, she looks for what can be learned from it. This has taught me not to be afraid of making mistakes. I know that when I mess up, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just a step in learning and getting better.

Looking to the Future

Thinking about my grandmother and all that she stands for helps me to dream about my future. I want to be someone who makes a difference, just like she does. I want to work hard, be kind, and face challenges with a brave heart. She has shown me that it’s possible to do all these things, even when life is tough.

In conclusion, my grandmother is my inspiration in life. Her story, her kindness, her strength, and her wisdom light up the path I want to follow. She may not be famous or have done world-changing things, but to me, she is a hero. She makes me believe that I can achieve my dreams and be a good person along the way. Whenever I think of her, I am filled with hope and a desire to reach for the stars, just like she has always done.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Motivation Essay

500 + words essay on motivation in english .

Motivation plays an important role in building the personality of an individual. It provides encouragement to achieve goals in life. Needless to say, motivation is an essential part of life, which makes a person more confident to do work. It is a quality that helps in facing and overcoming hurdles. The feeling of motivation makes a person to fight during hard times and move on with life. Motivation can change the personality and perception of people. Those who are motivated tend to be stronger and more confident. Whereas, the person who lacks motivation fails to achieve success in life. Therefore, it is necessary to be motivated in whatever you do. 

How can you motivate someone or get motivated? It can be achieved through speech or actions. You can speak to someone and motivate them to do something in life. Besides this, your actions can motivate people to do something good. Being motivated will help an individual to break down their barriers and explore new paths. They will overcome and try to resolve their problems sensibly and systematically. Moreover, you can motivate people in some way or the other with a positive attitude. In this motivation essay, let us discuss a few tips to motivate people and the importance of motivation in our lives. 

Types Of Motivation

The two types of motivation are mentioned below: 

• Self Motivation: This basically happens when a person does not need other people to motivate them. They are self motivated individuals who work tirelessly to achieve their goals in life. Besides this, these people have their own strategies and perception towards things. They can take up and complete any challenging task with dedication and determination. 
• Motivation by Others: There are times when people feel low in their life. During this time, someone can motivate them and develop confidence in whatever they are doing. This is possible when they hear inspirational talks or speech from others. With this, they feel motivated and happy in their life. 

Tips For Motivation 

Motivation is an important tool that makes a person stronger and braver. To make someone feel motivated, there are certain things that you can follow in your life. Here are a few tips for motivation mentioned below: 

• Encourage people in whatever task they take up. 
• Speak positive words to show appreciation. 
• Listen to other people and their point of view. 
• Give positive feedback for their performance.
• Surround yourself with people who are positive. 
• Read motivation related articles and books. 
• Watch videos or documentaries related to motivation. 
• Break your goals into segments so that you can give enough attention to each task that you are doing. 
• Seek motivation from the people who are experienced and well informed. 
• Meditate to improve your mental health in order to feel motivated all the time. 
• Keep upgrading your knowledge on goals that you want to achieve. 
• Stay focused on things for an effective outcome. 
• Stay in touch with your loved ones who motivate you in every situation of your life. 
• Set goals and make a checklist of tasks that you want to accomplish. This will help you to be motivated and work towards your goals. 
• Stick to the things that fascinate you. This will enable you to feel motivated in doing things that interest you and you are passionate about. 
• Find ways to feel motivated in your work or task. 
• Track your progress on a regular basis so that you can feel motivated to know how far you have reached your goals. 
• Visit places where you feel relaxed and motivated. 
• Interact with people who give you motivation in everything that you do.
• Exercise to relax your mind and body. 
• Be patient in achieving your goal. 

Also explore: Leadership qualities essay and friendship essay .

Importance of Motivation 

When you feel motivated, there are abundant opportunities that come your way. It changes the way you perceive things. There is improvement in the work and desire to achieve goals in life. The importance of motivation is mentioned below: 

• Building Confidence: When someone influences and motivates you to do something great, there will be improvement in confidence. This will enable you to work in a systematic way. Moreover, it will make you come out of your comfort zone and achieve success in life. For example, if someone is feeling nervous to take part in sports. In such scenarios, you can assure them by making them feel confident about the game. 
• Enhances Performance: The person who feels motivated will enhance their performance. They feel and think in a certain way that will be beneficial for the task. It will enable them to put their thoughts into action. For instance, if someone is doing some project work, if he or she is motivated, only then will the performance improve. It will give abundant energy to work in an effective way. 
• Achievement of Goal: With increased motivation, there are chances that you can achieve your goal in a systematic way. Due to this, you can improve your concentration and focus towards the task that you are doing. 
• Improves Efficiency: The person who is motivated will work tirelessly to give their best. If you feel motivated, there will be proper planning and systemic approach towards the task that you are doing. 
• Develops Essential Skills: When your motivation level is higher, there will be development of essential skills such as communication, problem solving, decision making and analytical skills while learning or doing some work. 

Motivation is an internal process that is initiated in people so that they can achieve anything in life. It is important for every individual to stay motivated in order to be happy in whatever they do. Being motivated makes a person happy, focused and confident. 

We hope this motivation essay was useful to you. Check essays for kids to explore more topics. 

Frequently Asked Questions On Motivation Essay

What is a motivation essay.

It is a short write up on motivation which is a feeling that is initiated in people to stay happy and achieve their goals.

What are the tips for motivation?

A few tips for motivation are staying healthy, doing exercise, being with positive people, setting goals, breaking tasks into smaller sections, tracking progress, etc.

What is the importance of motivation?

The importance of motivation is that it helps in enhancing performance, building confidence, achieving goals and improving efficiency.

Home — Essay Samples — Psychology — Motivation — Motivation in Different Aspects of Our Lives

Motivation in Different Aspects of Our Lives

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Published: Mar 18, 2021

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16 Funny Motivational Quotes About Life That Will Make You Laugh

How do you develop motivation.

Motivation is the affirmative desire to accomplish something, but it isn’t a prerequisite for accomplishing it. However, it sure can help. When you’re not feeling motivated, getting things accomplished can feel like an enormous burden. So, clearly, it’s in your best interest to find your motivation. But the question is how?

“It’s easy to believe motivation is a feeling that just happens to hit us, randomly, like a bolt of lighting,” says Melanie Shmois, a cognitive behavioral therapist in Western Reserve Counseling, in Avon Lake, Ohio. “But the truth is motivation isn’t a feeling. Rather, it’s a manifestation of thought, and you can create it by adjusting your mindset.” The challenge is figuring out what sort of mindset you need to cultivate motivation. For some, the right mindset involves setting goals , but that won’t necessarily work for someone who finds it challenging to connect actions with results, particularly if the results can’t be seen immediately (like weight loss or earning a degree).

“I like to help my patients figure out what stands in the way of their feeling motivated,” says Amy Axtell, a mental health counselor at A Center for Change in Tucson. Sometimes it’s fear , sometimes it’s a lack of self-confidence . One way to change the narrative is to literally change the narrative voice in your head to one that’s, say, kinder, more encouraging, and has a sense of humor.

So, if you’re like comedian John Mulaney, who says, “things have to be funny first, and if they have a point, that’s awesome,” then these funny motivational quotes will help you find inspiration.

Give it your all (within reason)

Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.” —Bill Murray

Bill Murray’s career as a comedian, writer, and actor has spanned half a century, and one reason it’s lasted so long is work comes first, and he’s not going to let up until it’s done. “When I work, my first relationship with people is professional. There are people who want to be your friend right away. I say, ‘We’re not gonna be friends until we get this done. If we don’t get this done, we’re never going to be friends, because if we don’t get the job done, then the one thing we did together that we had to do together we failed.'” (Is being more healthy one of your goals? Here’s how to set health resolutions for every month.)

Stop procrastinating because who knows what tomorrow brings

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.” —Erma Bombeck

Procrastination can be bad for your health—and that includes your mental health . Humorist Erma Bombeck understood that well. As a woman who often waved off the dessert cart, she understood that the concept of carpe diem can also be applied to the joy in life —not just your to-do list. So if you need to get motivated, remember that life is short. It’s important to find and experience joy—to seize those moments—when you can.

Motivate, rinse, repeat

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” —Zig Ziglar

Hilary Hinton “Zig” Ziglar was an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker, and it seems that combination worked for him. His unique style of connecting with people on a shared level made him trustworthy, believable, and ultimately, a source of inspiration. This quote, which epitomizes Ziglar’s style, is a reminder that motivation is something you have to cultivate every day of your life. Like your teeth, if you ignore it, it will disappear. (Try these tricks for exercise motivation .)

Don’t give up even when the going gets tough

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” —Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill, the two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain, who in his first term led the U.K. to victory in World War II, saw his share of suffering throughout his life, which spanned the reigns of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. So the Bulldog, as he was called because of his ferocious tenacity, knew of what he spoke when he offered up this bit of advice to “never surrender,” period. (Here’s how to develop a positive attitude .)

Stop thinking, stop making excuses, and start doing

“My advice is not to wait to be struck by an idea. If you’re a writer, you sit down and damn well decide to have an idea. That’s the way to get an idea.” —Andy Rooney

When writer and television news columnist Andy Rooney passed away at age 92 in 2011, the world lost its go-to curmudgeonly pundit who told it like it is. Over a period of 33 years, Rooney made 1,097 appearances on the television news magazine, 60 Minutes . That’s a lot of ideas he had to come up with week after week. If anyone has a right to have no patience for “writer’s block,” it was Andy Rooney. (Here are some short inspirational quotes to make your day.)

Commit to completing

“Do or do not. There is no try.” —Yoda, from Star Wars

Standing at only 66 cm tall, Yoda was nevertheless one of the most renowned and powerful Jedi Masters in “galactic history,” but those who can never get enough funny motivational quotes might remember him best for making it really clear why committing to “try” is no commitment at all. You want to accomplish something? Do it. That is all. (Also, adopt these habits to improve mental health .)

Great ideas require discipline to carry out

“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” —Dorothy Parker

While witty, wise-cracking, satirist Dorothy Parker was known for a love of whiskey and general carousing, her discipline was unmatched. That’s how she managed to be so incredibly prolific, infusing New York and American culture in the first half of the 20th century with bon mot after bon mot , many of which were not stand-alones, but embedded in longer, well-structured essays, poems, and short stories. (Here’s how reading poetry can boost happiness .)

While Parker was known for a love of whiskey and general carousing, her discipline was unmatched,

Don’t have a great idea? Find one.

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” —Jack London

Jack London was also a prolific writer, and apparently, when he didn’t have any idea what to write about, he went out and found one. Thank goodness, because without him, there would be no Call of the Wild , no Buck or the Saint Bernard/Sheepdog mix in the book, and no movie starring Harrison Ford. (Feeling down? Here are therapist tips for finding hope.)

Walk the walk

“A peacock that rests on his tail feathers is just another turkey.” —Dolly Parton

You know who has never rested on her tail feathers? Country music icon, Dolly Parton, that’s who. So when she gives free advice on walking the walk, you’re going to want to listen. (Beware of bad health advice on the Internet though.)

Quell the inner critic and just keep doing

“So long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you’re on the right track.” —Ed Helms

This was the advice actor (and star of television’s The Office ), comedian, singer, and musician, Ed Helms, gave to the 2013 graduating class of Knox College. That was the same year The Office finished its 10-year television run, but already several years after Helms first made a splash in The Hangover . As nice as it might be to make big Hollywood movies, it can also be challenging to have your work watched and critiqued by millions of people around the world. It’s enough to make you stop in your tracks and, well, just stop. But Helms’ advice? Don’t let the inner critic stop you from meeting and exceeding your expectations. Clearly, he’s onto something. (Here are some of the best quotes from graduation speakers .)

Be persistent in the face of challenges

“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” —Vince Lombardi

American football coach, Vince Lombardi’s career really took off when he decided to embrace a challenge. That challenge was coaching the NFL Green Bay Packers, which were a losing team when he started and a two-time Super Bowl championship team by the time he was done with them. Not only did Lombardi inspire his team, but he also inspired the late 1990’s hit song, Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down), by Chumbawumba. (Here are 2019’s most i nspiring moments for people with disabilities.)

If you don’t do it, someone else will

“Even if you’re on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” —Will Rogers

Born on a Native American reservation in what is now Oklahoma, Will Rogers grew up on a ranch and often played country “bumpkins.” Rogers was not only smart and sophisticated, but he was also incredibly hardworking, having made his mark as a Broadway actor, a Hollywood actor, a newspaper columnist, and author, among other things. His advice was heartfelt and clearly words he lived by. (Strike a balance with work and pleasure with “ me time .”)

Let fear motivate you, rather than discourage you

“Don’t do what you want. Do what you don’t want. Do what you’re trained not to want. Do the things that scare you the most.” ―Chuck Palahniuk

These words appear in Palahniuk’s novel, Invisible Monsters , which he wrote before Fight Club , but which came out only after Fight Club became a hit. Invisible Monsters is about a beautiful, seemingly shallow woman whose life changes radically after she suffers a devastating car accident that destroys half her face. The story is dark, even for the author of Fight Club , but that didn’t stop him from managing to put these inspirational words into print. (Feeling depressed? These depression quotes may capture your mood.)

Stop wasting time

“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.”―Charles Dickens

“Never do tomorrow what you can do today,” says Wilkins Micawber to David Copperfield in the novel, David Copperfield , before getting to the good stuff about procrastination. Ever an optimist , Micawber, was modeled after Dickens’ father, so it’s safe to assume that what Micawber said was alright by Dickens. And who would doubt it? Carpe diem , as they say. Seize the day.

Don’t take yourself too seriously

“To be is to do — Socrates. To do is to be — Jean-Paul Sartre. Do be do be do—Frank Sinatra.” —Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut was a wildly successful author and one with incredible intelligence and wit. But he also had depression . Cultivating a satirical edge was one way he coped, and the world got the benefit in the form of such masterpieces as Slaughterhouse Five and Cat’s Cradle . Here, he takes two motivational quotes, one from the ancient philosopher, Socrates, the other from French existential author, Jean-Paul Sartre, and mashes them up with Frank Sinatra’s famous “Stranger in the Night” scat. The result is at once absurd and effective as a funny motivational quote.

Never give up

“It ain’t over til it’s over.” —Yogi Berra

In a rare moment, baseball great, Yogi Berra, who was known for his athletic talent as well as his hilarious, paradoxical one-liners, offers advice that doesn’t actually contradict itself. What he’s saying is you never really know when it’s over until it’s already over, so the only right time to stop trying is when they’re turning off the stadium lights and sweeping the field. (Next, read these self-care quotes to take care of your body and mind.)

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That Viral Essay Wasn’t About Age Gaps. It Was About Marrying Rich.

But both tactics are flawed if you want to have any hope of becoming yourself..

Women are wisest, a viral essay in New York magazine’s the Cut argues , to maximize their most valuable cultural assets— youth and beauty—and marry older men when they’re still very young. Doing so, 27-year-old writer Grazie Sophia Christie writes, opens up a life of ease, and gets women off of a male-defined timeline that has our professional and reproductive lives crashing irreconcilably into each other. Sure, she says, there are concessions, like one’s freedom and entire independent identity. But those are small gives in comparison to a life in which a person has no adult responsibilities, including the responsibility to become oneself.

This is all framed as rational, perhaps even feminist advice, a way for women to quit playing by men’s rules and to reject exploitative capitalist demands—a choice the writer argues is the most obviously intelligent one. That other Harvard undergraduates did not busy themselves trying to attract wealthy or soon-to-be-wealthy men seems to flummox her (taking her “high breasts, most of my eggs, plausible deniability when it came to purity, a flush ponytail, a pep in my step that had yet to run out” to the Harvard Business School library, “I could not understand why my female classmates did not join me, given their intelligence”). But it’s nothing more than a recycling of some of the oldest advice around: For women to mold themselves around more-powerful men, to never grow into independent adults, and to find happiness in a state of perpetual pre-adolescence, submission, and dependence. These are odd choices for an aspiring writer (one wonders what, exactly, a girl who never wants to grow up and has no idea who she is beyond what a man has made her into could possibly have to write about). And it’s bad advice for most human beings, at least if what most human beings seek are meaningful and happy lives.

But this is not an essay about the benefits of younger women marrying older men. It is an essay about the benefits of younger women marrying rich men. Most of the purported upsides—a paid-for apartment, paid-for vacations, lives split between Miami and London—are less about her husband’s age than his wealth. Every 20-year-old in the country could decide to marry a thirtysomething and she wouldn’t suddenly be gifted an eternal vacation.

Which is part of what makes the framing of this as an age-gap essay both strange and revealing. The benefits the writer derives from her relationship come from her partner’s money. But the things she gives up are the result of both their profound financial inequality and her relative youth. Compared to her and her peers, she writes, her husband “struck me instead as so finished, formed.” By contrast, “At 20, I had felt daunted by the project of becoming my ideal self.” The idea of having to take responsibility for her own life was profoundly unappealing, as “adulthood seemed a series of exhausting obligations.” Tying herself to an older man gave her an out, a way to skip the work of becoming an adult by allowing a father-husband to mold her to his desires. “My husband isn’t my partner,” she writes. “He’s my mentor, my lover, and, only in certain contexts, my friend. I’ll never forget it, how he showed me around our first place like he was introducing me to myself: This is the wine you’ll drink, where you’ll keep your clothes, we vacation here, this is the other language we’ll speak, you’ll learn it, and I did.”

These, by the way, are the things she says are benefits of marrying older.

The downsides are many, including a basic inability to express a full range of human emotion (“I live in an apartment whose rent he pays and that constrains the freedom with which I can ever be angry with him”) and an understanding that she owes back, in some other form, what he materially provides (the most revealing line in the essay may be when she claims that “when someone says they feel unappreciated, what they really mean is you’re in debt to them”). It is clear that part of what she has paid in exchange for a paid-for life is a total lack of any sense of self, and a tacit agreement not to pursue one. “If he ever betrayed me and I had to move on, I would survive,” she writes, “but would find in my humor, preferences, the way I make coffee or the bed nothing that he did not teach, change, mold, recompose, stamp with his initials.”

Reading Christie’s essay, I thought of another one: Joan Didion’s on self-respect , in which Didion argues that “character—the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life—is the source from which self-respect springs.” If we lack self-respect, “we are peculiarly in thrall to everyone we see, curiously determined to live out—since our self-image is untenable—their false notions of us.” Self-respect may not make life effortless and easy. But it means that whenever “we eventually lie down alone in that notoriously un- comfortable bed, the one we make ourselves,” at least we can fall asleep.

It can feel catty to publicly criticize another woman’s romantic choices, and doing so inevitably opens one up to accusations of jealousy or pettiness. But the stories we tell about marriage, love, partnership, and gender matter, especially when they’re told in major culture-shaping magazines. And it’s equally as condescending to say that women’s choices are off-limits for critique, especially when those choices are shared as universal advice, and especially when they neatly dovetail with resurgent conservative efforts to make women’s lives smaller and less independent. “Marry rich” is, as labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards put it in Bloomberg, essentially the Republican plan for mothers. The model of marriage as a hierarchy with a breadwinning man on top and a younger, dependent, submissive woman meeting his needs and those of their children is not exactly a fresh or groundbreaking ideal. It’s a model that kept women trapped and miserable for centuries.

It’s also one that profoundly stunted women’s intellectual and personal growth. In her essay for the Cut, Christie seems to believe that a life of ease will abet a life freed up for creative endeavors, and happiness. But there’s little evidence that having material abundance and little adversity actually makes people happy, let alone more creatively generativ e . Having one’s basic material needs met does seem to be a prerequisite for happiness. But a meaningful life requires some sense of self, an ability to look outward rather than inward, and the intellectual and experiential layers that come with facing hardship and surmounting it.

A good and happy life is not a life in which all is easy. A good and happy life (and here I am borrowing from centuries of philosophers and scholars) is one characterized by the pursuit of meaning and knowledge, by deep connections with and service to other people (and not just to your husband and children), and by the kind of rich self-knowledge and satisfaction that comes from owning one’s choices, taking responsibility for one’s life, and doing the difficult and endless work of growing into a fully-formed person—and then evolving again. Handing everything about one’s life over to an authority figure, from the big decisions to the minute details, may seem like a path to ease for those who cannot stomach the obligations and opportunities of their own freedom. It’s really an intellectual and emotional dead end.

And what kind of man seeks out a marriage like this, in which his only job is to provide, but very much is owed? What kind of man desires, as the writer cast herself, a raw lump of clay to be molded to simply fill in whatever cracks in his life needed filling? And if the transaction is money and guidance in exchange for youth, beauty, and pliability, what happens when the young, beautiful, and pliable party inevitably ages and perhaps feels her backbone begin to harden? What happens if she has children?

The thing about using youth and beauty as a currency is that those assets depreciate pretty rapidly. There is a nearly endless supply of young and beautiful women, with more added each year. There are smaller numbers of wealthy older men, and the pool winnows down even further if one presumes, as Christie does, that many of these men want to date and marry compliant twentysomethings. If youth and beauty are what you’re exchanging for a man’s resources, you’d better make sure there’s something else there—like the basic ability to provide for yourself, or at the very least a sense of self—to back that exchange up.

It is hard to be an adult woman; it’s hard to be an adult, period. And many women in our era of unfinished feminism no doubt find plenty to envy about a life in which they don’t have to work tirelessly to barely make ends meet, don’t have to manage the needs of both children and man-children, could simply be taken care of for once. This may also explain some of the social media fascination with Trad Wives and stay-at-home girlfriends (some of that fascination is also, I suspect, simply a sexual submission fetish , but that’s another column). Fantasies of leisure reflect a real need for it, and American women would be far better off—happier, freer—if time and resources were not so often so constrained, and doled out so inequitably.

But the way out is not actually found in submission, and certainly not in electing to be carried by a man who could choose to drop you at any time. That’s not a life of ease. It’s a life of perpetual insecurity, knowing your spouse believes your value is decreasing by the day while his—an actual dollar figure—rises. A life in which one simply allows another adult to do all the deciding for them is a stunted life, one of profound smallness—even if the vacations are nice.