Chapter-2: Motivation and Fun
Outline of Article:
- Introduction
- First Interconnected Question
- Second Interconnected Question
- Thank You
Introduction
In order to fully understand the expanding details of consciousness, there needs to be a chapter dedicated to the analysis of motivation and fun. Often, these two concepts are confused for one another. But, they are not one and the same function. In fact, they each serve two distinct roles in evolution. However, there is a strong interconnected bond that exists between motivation and fun.
To be precise, my claim here is that motivation and fun are both functions of consciousness. And, in order to substantiate this claim, I focus on seven interconnected questions of consciousness, with respect to motivation and fun.
First, what are the factors of motivation? Second, why does a person experience low motivation? Third, why does motivation fluctuate in the presence of others? Fourth, what are the factors of fun? Fifth, why does fun fluctuate in the presence of others? Sixth, what is the connection that exists between motivation and fun? And, seventh, what is the rule of misery?
The First Interconnected Question of Consciousness:
What are the factors of motivation?
There are a number of ways each person may define motivation; but, there is a general set of factors which, overall, captures the meaning and purpose of motivation. For this chapter, I will only consider three main factors which produce motivation. In particular, motivation is the product of: value, expectation and willpower. Moreover, I claim that each of these factors do in fact act as multiplicative factors to produce motivation in life. Meaning that, all three factors must exist in order for motivation to exist.
Before answering this first interconnected question, it is important to define exactly what I mean by each factor of motivation. Therefore,
Value is the free-will to assign an amount of worth to something in reality.
Expectation is the free-will to assign an amount of belief in reality to something that has occurred, is occurring, or will occur, regardless of proof or in contradiction to proof.
Willpower is the free-will to act in a participatory manner with reality.
A few comments are needed before continuing on. First, each of the three factors of motivation is a function of free-will, which means they are functions of consciousness. This is a critical observation to make; since the free-will in question is directly linked with the motivator in question. In other words, a person’s motivation is one hundred percent dependent on their choices in life—and not directly dependent on others.
Furthermore, there appears to be an upper limit on how much value and expectation a person can assign in their life, for any given event in life. However, with training, it is possible to increase these limits to higher capacities.
In addition, since willpower is a measure of action in reality, then this factor must function in a similar manner as a muscle. As such, training this particular factor of motivation will be critical in producing higher amounts of total motivation in life. This suggests that, one main general goal in life is to regularly train one’s willpower into a much stronger factor within personal motivation.
An important comment to make is that the numerical quantities within the factors of motivation are individualized. Specifically, these numerical quantities will not be the same for each and every individual, even when considering the exact same event in reality. For example, consider eating broccoli.
The Broccoli Example:
Suppose that, in order for a human being to eat broccoli there needs to be at least 1,000 units of motivation to carry out this event in reality. Now, I personally don’t like the taste, smell and fell of broccoli; but, I like the color and sight of it. So, I only assign a Value of 2 out of 100 in my life, for consuming it. However, I am aware of its health benefits, so I Expect it to be important to my life, if I consume it. Still, based on prior data, I believe in eating broccoli at a rate of 5 out of 100. As a result, in order to consume broccoli, my Willpower would need to be at least 100 units, in order to reach the minimum 1,000 unit requirement of eating broccoli.
See, (2)(5)(100) = 1000.
In contrast, a vegetarian will have different values for creating the exact same event in their life, and assign: Value to be 50; Expectation to be 50; and, Willpower to be 10. Hence, from a vegetarian’s perspective they can easily produce a much higher amount of motivation, with respect to eating broccoli in their daily life. See, M= (50)(50)(10) = 25, 000 units of motivation.
Notice, that a person’s value and expectations for an event in life places different demands on a person’s willpower to participate. However, the minimum requirements for a given event may still remain unchanged across individuals.
At this point, I am now ready to answer the first interconnected question of consciousness, with respect to motivation and fun.
1. What are the factors of motivation?
Motivation is the product of three factors in a person’s life: value, expectation and willpower. And, in symbolic form: let M = motivation; v = value; e = expectation; and w = willpower, then one approximate definition of motivation in a person is:
M = (v)( e)(w) Equation-1
The Second Interconnected Question of Consciousness:
Why does a person experience low motivation?
In order to answer this question I will need to introduce a rule from algebra.
The Zero Product Rule:
If a product is zero, then at least one of its factors must be zero.
Applying this rule to motivation, we have that if motivation is zero or very close to zero, then at least one of its factors: value, expectation or willpower must be zero, or very close to zero. With symbols, this means that if M = (v)( e)(w) = 0, then at least one of these factors v, e or w must be zero, or very close to zero in real life.
To further clarify this concept, consider the following example:
Example: Jim Has a Crush
Jim has a crush on Sandra, the most attractive girl in his freshman English class in college; and, he wants to ask her out on a non-platonic date. However, for the past month, Jim hasn’t been able to ask Sandra out on a date. Moreover, he is saddened because of his lack of action.
Michael, a close friend of Jim, has intervened and gathered pertinent details, and is working on developing advice for his friend. Using the givens below, follow along as Michael analyzes the situation Jim is in, and helps to develop a plan of action and advice.
Givens:
- Asking Sandra out requires at least 100,000 units of motivation.
- Jim values Sandra’s beauty, physical proportions and character; and he assigns a quantity of 80 out of 100 for v, value, in asking Sandra out.
- Jim has claimed he is willing to do almost anything to convince Sandra to go out with him; and, assigns 91 out of 100 for w, willpower, in asking Sandra out. But, Michael adjusts this value down to 20 after talking with Jim.
- Jim is shy, embarrassed and highly negative over the event of asking Sandra out; and he is overwhelmed with fear. As a result, Michael approximates a numerical quantity of 6.2 out of 100 for, e, expectations in a favorable outcome in asking Sandra out.
- Currently, Jim is at (80)(20)(6.2) = 9,920 units of motivation—not even 10% of the required 100,000 units of motivation required to ask Sandra out.
Advice and Plan of Action:
Since Jim is exhibiting shyness, embarrassment and a highly negative outlook on the event of asking Sandra out, this points to inner strife within Jim. In particular, he perhaps does not have enough successful accumulated minor events in interacting with women—or in other personal areas of his life.
In addition, shyness and embarrassment are indicators that Jim may not be fully developing his willpower in life, in general.
Areas in which willpower may need training, include but are not limited to: exercise for a stronger body; exercise for a more aesthetic appearance; healthy eating habits; a life goal or goals that contribute to society in a positive manner; knowledge and practice in conversations; and, hobbies and actual long term interests in Sandra beyond superficial intentions. Also, Jim must practice accepting that all things in life have a risk and cost factor, especially the better the events are in life. Overall, Jim must accept the practice of moving or acting despite the potential of an unfavorable outcome.
Furthermore, Jim should spend at least a month, maybe more, working on developing his willpower in order to increase his amount of belief in expecting a better result in asking Sandra out. The areas of improvement include all the areas mentioned above. In addition, Jim needs to practice better general planning and contingency planning. Meaning that, before asking Sandra on a date, Jim needs to: plan out potential date locations, date activities and an overall goal in dating; and consider possible back up plans just in case.
The main thing for Jim to consider is that a stronger, better and well balanced person will increase their success in creating meaningful events in life. Otherwise, if Jim continues to deny his honest positive desires in life, then he will practice and develop a debilitating habit of inner dishonesty. Overall, Jim must accept that there are no 100% guaranties in life, especially when involving another’s free-will.
At this point, I am now able to answer the second interconnected question of consciousness, with respect to motivation and fun.
2. Why does a person experience low motivation?
Since, motivation is defined as, M = (v)( e)(w) ; then by the zero product rule, when M = 0, then at least v = 0 or e = 0 or w = 0. Alternatively, at least one of these factors may be very close to zero, when M is very close to zero.
Thank You
Thank you for your attention, Dear Reader. I am grateful for your time and consideration of my ideas. Next Monday, I will post the second part for this chapter on: Motivation and Fun.
Total Consciousness 