When piecing your life back together, you might be in the mindset of trying to find ways to motivate yourself into action. The problem with motivation is that it will be a temporary boost. That leaves many people wondering, if motivation is not the answer, what is? That led me to start looking into determination rather than motivation to be the primary source of fuel for our dreams. Is there a difference between motivation and determination? Today, I will discuss the difference between the two in this blog to help you decide how to use each and which one has the edge over the other.

When we define motivation, it is the reason why someone would act or take action toward any specific task or goal. Do you know why you listen to music at the gym or when you are cleaning? There is a fun factor, but the main factor will be motivation. When we motivate ourselves, we help the brain perceive the task we are doing has some benefit. The brain loves when things benefit itself because it will either create a favored chemical reaction like an endorphin rush or have another advantage, present or future.

The world has taken motivation to the extreme and has become the primary source of people beginning things. When New Year’s resolutions start, the reason for that is determination, not motivation, but it turns into motivation when they have to start the act. Though you might say that you are determined to get in shape this year or that you will make this year your best year yet, it is not enough to reach a determined mindset. This spot is in between what motivation and determination are, but the mind will always fall back into trying to motivate itself because of its instinctual evolution.

Knowing the function of the brain will help you understand why it can be challenging to make changes in your life. The brain’s primary function/purpose is to keep itself alive. That means it wants to conserve as much energy as possible. So if you are trying to get in shape, that will require a lot of energy. Whether you know it or not, the brain now has to think about what foods it can and cannot eat, which requires energy. You will also need some sort of change in your exercise regime, which may be as simple as a minute a day of walking. 

The brain will notice the change, and you will have to be able to trick the brain if you are to make a process toward the fulfillment of your goal; that means that when it comes to motivation, you have to see it as a tool to help you get what you want. Motivation is the answer, not the guide posts that will help you stay on track. I have a gym playlist that I listen to when I work out. It is not that I need the music to complete my workout, but it helps keep me in the game and focuses on the goal. I know the motivation I get from the music is temporary, and I will need something past my playlist.

That leads us to the definition of determination. Definition of determination is defined as the act of coming to a decision or the quality of being resolute or the firmness of a purpose. As you can see from the definition, a determination is about creating a committed sense vs. motivation which only establishes a reason for action. In plain English, motivation is temporary, and determination is more embedded. When you have a profound purpose for doing something, your probability of completing the task/goal will increase. The problem is that though you have the will to change, you somehow have to have come to that resolute mindset.

People who become determined will have another factor influencing their motive for change. Typically that motive will be some sort of hardship or trauma, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. My coaching methods and programs help people get the change they want without the extra trauma. Trauma is not bad, but many often wait for it to hit them like a 16-wheeler before they begin to make a substantial change in their life. 

When someone is determined, they will have better habits and routines than others who might only be motivated towards a similar goal. For example, if you are a teenager and your room is messy, you know you need to clean your room. Your parents might come into the room and tell you that if your room is not cleaned, you will not be able to go out with your friends that evening. This is a trauma because there will be an inherent loss of peer interaction that teens crave. That teen will not need any motivation to clean their room because they are determined to fulfill their peer interaction needs. 

Though you might not see things as traumas that motivate you into action, you will first have to know how the brain will interpret the outcome. If you encourage yourself to go to the gym, you will find joy at first, but then it becomes work. The brain sees the benefit but doesn’t want to delegate the necessary energy. There is a reason why you begin to miss days at three months and eventually fall off the wagon. What happened there is that the motivation has finally run out, and the brain knows that there will be no consequence if you stop. There is a way to give yourself consequences for not taking action, but the probability a person will follow through on them is slim.

Now that you have a good understanding of motivation vs. determination, you will see that you can use motivation, but you have to create something permanent during that time. The best way I have found to get to this point is to get a coach or have a trauma. Again, I would rather you not have to go through trauma to make a committed change in yourself. The next best alternative is to put some skin in the game and hire a coach. I have tried paid and free coaching for clients and found that my paid clients have a higher success rate in their goals. The reason is that the brain sees loss as unfavorable; whether that loss is monetary or time will depend on the individual.

My advice for using these terms to the maximum effect would be to use motivation when you need a quick boost. For example, in the morning, I need a boost of motivation to start because I might be tired or not overly excited to face my day for whatever reason. What I do to motivate myself is I would listen to inspirational speeches. I also have a motivational video series on Youtube that I will listen to help me get in the right mindset. This is because no matter how strong your mind is, you will need a break. It doesn’t have to be a long break, but it has to be one that will recharge you or prepare you for the day.

When it comes to determining what is closely tied to my motives, goals, and habits, means my WHY must be greater than any temporary comfort I might have. Many people want the convenience of ease but the benefits of hard work. Both do not go hand in hand, and if people want to see effective positive change in their life, they must create a routine built on determination and not left to motivation alone. I find many people who try to motivate themselves to act without building a proper foundation of purpose and perseverance; have a more challenging time making progress toward their goals. 

In closing, determination has the edge over motivation when it comes to the completion of your goals and mission. Motivation has its place but must be met halfway with determination. If not, any motivation you find or give yourself will fall through the cracks. That is why you can listen to all the motivational speeches and attend all the Tony Robbins workshops but still not make any progress. Yes, you will get a temporary boost by going, but it will fade eventually, and Tony is betting on that because he wants you to be a repeat customer. I do the opposite. I want to give you the foundation to create the life you want rather than a fleeting moment that ends once the fuel runs out.

Understanding motivation vs. determination is a delicate balance; you must see which area you favor or gravitate towards. If you are a person who prefers motivation, then understand you will need a constant flow of it to keep pushing forward. If you are more determined and use motivation sporadically, you will have a stronger mindset that will keep you committed and resilient toward your most desired life. You all get to decide what you fill your life and mind with. The result should be effective change and closing of the gap between action and inaction.

 

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts