Motivation and Happiness

What is the link between motivation and happiness?

How can a person be happy from within?

Can you see things from a different perspective?

How can you become aware of what happens in your mind?

These are some of the questions I answer in this spontaneous interview with Mike Gunsing, researcher in the field of Happiness and Motivation at the Saxion University of Applied Science.

What is the link between motivation and happiness?

There is a link between motivation and happiness.

For instance you think you must have motivation to do something. However motivation comes when you really want to do something. 

Sometimes you say “I have to get motivation to clean my house”. If you don’t like to do it, forget you will get motivated. Either you force yourself to do it (without motivation) or you decide to not have likes and dislikes. You just do what you have to do, you don’t need to like something or to get motivated. Just do it without bothering because it is necessary.

Many people get frustrated with themselves because they don’t get motivated to do something that they don’t want to do (eg. cleaning, administration, etc.). What people don’t understand is that there is an unconscious level and a conscious one. Motivation has to do with the conscious level. You must have a lot of willpower to keep it. What drives you without effort is what is inside you. 

How can a person be happy from within?

To be happy from within you first have to eliminate stress from your life. Anything that causes you stress has to go. 

Drinking coffee in the morning if this causes you stress. Watching television if this causes stress. Watching a violent movie if this causes you stress. Seeing some people that cause you stress. Everything that causes you stress has to go. This is the first thing. Until you have stress in your life it is impossible to feel good.

You can also help yourself with meditation, at least 10 minutes per day. Or relaxation techniques. Or yoga. Listening to music. Whatever makes you feel good and relaxed.

Second important thing is to see whatever is happening to you from a different perspective. Make yourself the right questions. Instead of asking yourself “what went wrong?” In one particular situation, ask yourself “what is good?”.

How to see things from a different perspective?

How to see things from a different perspective: every time you’re faced with a situation that makes you feel bad you have to learn how to ask yourself the right questions. It’s a process that goes through different phases.

According to Sadhguru we have four dimensions:

• body
• mind
• emotions
• energy.

These four dimensions have to work in the same direction and they have to work at the same speed and like this you can find balance. Once you find balance you naturally feel better. You don’t even have to do anything about it. Everything is going to come to you.

How can you become aware of what happens in your mind?

To become aware of what happens in your mind you have to start paying attention. Emotions and mind are more connected together so when you are more aware of how the thoughts are being formed you can influence your emotions. Everything is connected. The four dimensions are connected. The body is connected to the mind. If you feel sick it’s more difficult to think positively. If you feel depressed it’s also very difficult to feel really healthy and good in your body.

Download for free my e-book on how to gain better control of your mind.