The Connection Between Resilience and Motivation
There’s a connection between resilience and motivation that’s important to emphasize; especially to those who often say they lack motivation.
Resilience is the ability to behave competently when facing adversity and bounce back when adversity leads to loss. Motivation is simply the energy for action.
The spark that creates the energy for action we call motivation comes from the expectation of a reward or punishment. Whether the spark is a result of self-motivation or external motivation doesn’t matter. The spark remains the same. What doesn’t remain the same is how one reacts when that spark doesn’t exist.
The ability to still create energy for action in the absence of this spark is what connects motivation to resilience. Lacking motivation is an adverse circumstance. Those who can still find the energy to act competently under those circumstances are acting with resilience. What’s more, resilience is a skill. So, just as with all skills resilience requires practice.
With this in mind, the next time you or someone you know says they don’t have the motivation to take action, tell yourself (or that other person) you don’t need motivation. Instead, you need to practice being resilient. Furthermore, practicing resilience in times when lacking motivation is the only adversity you are facing is a gift. Use that practice time wisely and it will pay off immensely in circumstances that are far more challenging in the future.