How Motivation Works
By Dr Jill Ammon-Wexler
Pioneer Brain/Mind Researcher
© 2006 All Rights Reserved

Motivation is a brain-based state that stimulates and directs goal-oriented behavior. At its core, motivation is based on emotions – on a desire to have positive emotional experiences, and to avoid negative emotional experiences. It really IS that basic.

But the question of *what* motivates each of us is where individual differences enter in – since each person has their own unique idea of what’s positive, and what’s negative, Motivation is therefore based on your actual brain states.

Motivation and your Brain
Your brain has several “components” that are related to the experience of motivation. One such – the amygdala (ah-mig-da-la) – is an important part of the “emotion system” sitting in the centermost portion of your brain. The primary job of the amygdala jis to assign emotional value to the internal and external stimuli that come to your attention.

A second component – the reticular activating system ( RAS ) – is located in your brain stem. This is a more survival-oriented portion of the brain that extends downward to your spinal cord, and also upward into your brain’s central emotion system. The RAS determines if something is worthy of your focus – and if so, if it is basically positive or negative.

Physiological Needs
The easiest type of motivation to understand is that focused on satisfying our basic physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, and avoidance of pain.

However, in humans, even these fundamental motivations are often conditioned by social influences. For example: Anorexia nervosa is often considered to be a cultural malady related to modern views that an extremely lean body is inherently more attractive than a full-figured body.

Peak Performance Motivators
Top performers have unique control over their motivation, and have developed the ability to motivate and inspire themselves at will.  The most effective people in virtually every field have learned to establish laser-like focus in seconds, and to maintain it for extended periods of time.

For example, top performing athletes people are successful because they control their mental states. Because of their level of mental control, they can get themselves to practice their skills day after day, and to commit unconditionally to their coach.

Developing Amplified Motivation
The good news is this: Elite-level “on-demand” motivation is a learnable skill. But contrary to popular assumptions, this is not something that just “happens” from positive thinking, or just because one “wishes” it to be so. This level of motivation is directly tied to one’s brain states and mental contents.

In terms of brain states, I’m referring to your actual brainwave configuration. And in terms of mental contents – to your combined beliefs, memories and personal expectations – all of which are glued together to form what psychologists call your “self-concept, or self-image.”

If you are experiencing motivational short-comings, nine times out of ten this is directly related to your early childhood programming. Unfortunately our parents and teachers are not trained as motivational coaches, and have no concept of the damage that can be done with criticism and lack of support. Hence many of us grow up believing we have permanent shortcomings and limited capabilities.

Luckily, this can be reversed. Click here!

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