The Difference Between Motivation and Commitment
Motivation is the energy to act. Self-motivation is when that energy to act comes from within instead of from an external source. The problem most of us have with self-motivation is when we want something but don’t have the energy within to act on that desire. So, we then lean on extrinsic motivation.
Extrinsic motivation is when we use things like money, titles, fame, beauty, material things, test scores, grades, and rankings to energize us to act on a desire. This type of motivation is not as effective as self-motivation but can benefit us temporarily in the right circumstances.
Herein lies the difference between motivation and commitment. Whether motivation comes from within or from an external source, it comes and goes. In other words, motivation is a feeling.
On the other hand, instead of commitment being a feeling it’s a choice. Moreover, while we may need motivation to decide to commit, we don’t need motivation to stick to a commitment. We stick to our commitments because of our integrity and integrity comes from our values.
Simply stated, the difference between motivation and commitment is that motivation is a feeling and commitment is a choice. Therefore, when you find that you consistently lack the motivation to do what it takes to get what you want, then the feeling of motivation is only a band-aid. To solve your problem, you must:
- Evaluate your core values
- Decide if integrity is part of your core values
- Define your true commitments in life
It’s at this point you must decide if you are committed to what you say you want and if you have the ability to hold yourself accountable to that commitment. If you find that you can’t hold yourself accountable, then you need an accountability partner.
Empowering an Accountability Partner
The fact is, when you are in pursuit of an important goal empowering an accountability partner to kick you in the ass when you start missing milestones is critical. A friend as an accountability partner does not work well in this role. Friends are great cheerleaders, but they will be despised in the role of an accountability partner.
To that end, this is one of my specialties as a mental skills coach. In my role as coach, I will:
- Help you define your goals and split them into outcome, performance, and process goals.
- Develop a realistic plan for progress using process and performance progressions.
- Most importantly, hold you accountable to that plan with daily check-ins and weekly accountability calls.
For more information on my coaching program, contact me here.