Motivation: social construct or self-awareness?

I recommend you to read the article "How motivation is slavery: Why youthful action does not come from motivation" by Acharya Prashant! Kindly click here.

Overview

Acharya Prashant, a spiritual guru and founder of Prashant Advait Foundation, provides a rumination about motivation- a form of modern slavery to our own way of living. He claims that the definition of motivation has been reduced to our reaction in response to what is perceived as a positive external power. For instance, the sudden urge to get your life together at midnight after long hours of watching CEO’s flattering their privileged lives on TEDx Talks on YouTube. This is exactly how motivation is meant to be transmitted, through motivators. Consequently, the writer also stated that these external forces are blinding and lead to an unconscious life, making us the slaves of our own motivation. However, how is this perspective related to spirituality? In fact, spirituality can be defined as a motivational force, whereby individuals seek meaning to life and self-improvement (Sager, 2017). They work hand in hand to disrupt a mundane life, to find oneself after traumatic events or periods of crisis and just like spirituality, motivation is vast.

"If motivation can come from the outside, motivation will disappear when that 'outside' disappears."

Acharya Prashant, spiritual guru and founder of Prashant Advait Foundation.

Note. From Acharya Prashant, 2017 (https://acharyaprashant.medium.com/let-body-and-mind-operate-freely-without-you-570f2e6fece2)

Motivators

Motivation has a significant influence on various aspects of life, namely, social institutions such as family, social media and workplace. Family, friends, intimate relationships and religion act as primary motivators in our lives. Pushing us through norms, values and verbal gratifications. Altogether, nourishing the mind with hope of a utopian future by constantly transcending oneself and to receive the satisfaction of being the pride of our surroundings. Prashant’s message conveys that people come and go alike motivators. Hence, it is essential that motivation comes from within. Depending solely on motivators could be fatal, as once the motivator is gone, the motivation is gone too.

Let's go online!

GYM Motivation. (2021). Wow!... In Facebook.

Instagram. (2021). #motivation. In Instagram.

As it can be seen, social media feed us with motivation on a daily basis. Here on Facebook and Instagram, most of the posts about motivation are based on fitness.

Intelligence

Additionally, the author stresses the idea of intelligence rather than motivation which is conceptual and finite. According to him, ‘In your intelligence action takes place’, supporting that intelligence is the pathway to youthful actions. More specifically, in this case, looking at spiritual intelligence which can be referred to as reaching the higher self or consciousness, using spiritual energy to unravel situations and the ability to surpass the physical or materialistic elements (Louca et al., 2021). In today’s hectic world, individuals tend to focus only on climbing the social ladder: becoming successful, famous and rich, but underestimate inner growth and well-being. Reaching for the higher self can be described by using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs within the level of self-actualization, from which an individual is aware if his/her full capabilities and own nature (Maslow, 1954 as stated in Louca et al., 2021). Self-actualizers fulfil themselves and do not depend on others for safety.

Habits

Moreover, the writer identifies similarity between motivation and habits, claiming that habits perpetuate slavery ideologies through pre-programmed actions that hinder a spontaneous and youthful living. Paulo Coelho's book, The Pilgrimage, is one that can support this viewpoint as he describes spirituality through characters (Petrus, his guide and himself) who left behind their old habits such as business affairs, family and projects to carry out a spiritual pathway for wisdom to Santiago de Compostela. Being spiritual also means being self-aware, recognising the impact of the strings of society that shape behaviour and the willingness to stop the habitual brain-washing system from affecting our mindset.

"Do not look for habits like motivation, look for your intelligence."

Conclusion

Today motivation is prominent across social media platforms. Influencers actually live off it by creating a community based on motivating each other and perpetuating the ideology. I personally believe that motivation should not be banned from our lives but rather we should be taught how to cultivate our own motivation from within.

Picture from WIX Media.

References Coelho, P. (1987). The Pilgrimage Summary. In www.bookrags.com. http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-the-pilgrimage/#gsc.tab=0

GYM Motivation. (2021). Wow!... In Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/MotivationKing/photos/a.242431932454930/4776834355681309/?type=3

Instagram. (2021). #motivation. In Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/motivation/

Louca, E., Esmailnia, S., & Thoma, N. (2021). A Critical Review of Maslow’s Theory of Spirituality. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2021.1932694

Prashant, A. (2021, July 20). How motivation is slavery: Why youthful action does not come from motivation. The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2021/jun/20/how-motivation-is-slaverywhy-youthful-action-does-not-come-from-motivation-2317787.html

Sager, M. (2017, June 12). Spirituality is required to understand human motivation and personality. Mathias Sager - Psychology & Art. https://mathias-sager.com/2017/06/12/spirituality-is-required-to-understand-human-motivation-and-personality/