Zone Positive

Our lesson in motivation covers the spectrum of self determination, praise, rewards, feedback, goal setting and other tools and instrumentalities that may (or may not) prompt people to take action.  The research of psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan provides much of our present day insight into the science of motivation.  There are no techniques that will motivate people or make them autonomous—free of outside control.  Intrinsic motivation must come from within, not from techniques.  It comes from people deciding they are ready to take responsibility for managing themselves. Once people are motivated and ready to change for their own personal reasons, then various techniques may be useful for them (like goal setting)—but without true resolve, without personal importance, techniques will not help.  Compliance produces change that is not likely to be maintained, and defiance blocks change to begin with.  Meaningful change occurs when people accept themselves, take interest in why they do what they do, and then decide that they are ready to do differently.