What is the motivating factor in life?

Answer 1

Maslow's most well known contribution is the Hierarchy of Needs and this is often used to summarize the belief system of humanistic psychology and of human motivation. The basic premise behind this hierarchy is that we are born0 with certain needs. Without meeting these initial needs, we will not be able to continue our life and move upward on hierarchy. This first level consists of our physiological needs, or our basic needs for survival. Without food, water, sleep, and oxygen, nothing else in life matters.

Once these needs are met, we can move to the next level, which consists of our need for safety and security. At this level we look seek out safety through other people and strive to find a world that will protect us and keep us free from harm. Without these goals being met, it is extremely difficult to think about higher level needs and therefore we can not continue to grow.

When we feel safe and secure in our world then we begin to seek out friendships in order to feel a sense of belonging. Maslow's third level, the need for belonging and love, focuses on our desire to be accepted, to fit in, and to feel like we have a place in the world. Getting these needs met propels us closer to the top of this pyramid and into the fourth level, called esteem needs. At this level we focus our energy on self-respect, respect from others, and feeling that we have made accomplishments on our life. We strive to move upward in careers, to gain knowledge about the world, and to work toward a sense of high self-worth.

The final level in the hierarchy is called the need for self-actualization. According to Maslow, may people may be in this level but very few if anybody ever masters it. Self-actualization refers to a complete understanding of the self. To be self-actualized means to truly know who you are, where you belong in the greater society, and to feel like you have accomplished all that you have set out to accomplish. It means to no longer feel shame or guilt, or even hate, but to accept the world and see human nature as inherently good.



Application to Real Life

As you read through the section above, many likely tried to place themselves on one of the five levels of the pyramid. This may be an easy task for some, but many struggle with the ups and downs of life. For many of us, life is not that straight forward. We often have one foot in one level, the other foot in the next level, and are reaching at times trying to pull ourselves up while making sure we don't fall backward at other times.

As we climb the pyramid, we often make headway but also notice that two steps forward can mean one step back. Sometimes it even feels like two steps forward means three steps back. The goal of mankind, however, is to keep an eye on the top of the pyramid and to climb as steadily as possible. We may stumble at times and we may leap forward at times. No matter how far we fall backward, however, the road back up is easier since we already know the way.


Physiological Needs
Physiological needs are those required to sustain life, such as:

air
water
nourishment
sleep
According to Maslow's theory, if such needs are not satisfied then one's motivation will arise from the quest to satisfy them. Higher needs such as social needs and esteem are not felt until one has met the needs basic to one's bodily functioning.

Safety
Once physiological needs are met, one's attention turns to safety and security in order to be free from the threat of physical and emotional harm. Such needs might be fulfilled by:

Living in a safe area
Medical insurance
Job security
Financial reserves
According to Maslow's hierarchy, if a person feels that he or she is in harm's way, higher needs will not receive much attention.

Social Needs
Once a person has met the lower level physiological and safety needs, higher level needs become important, the first of which are social needs. Social needs are those related to interaction with other people and may include:

Need for friends
Need for belonging
Need to give and receive love

Esteem
Once a person feels a sense of "belonging", the need to feel important arises. Esteem needs may be classified as internal or external. Internal esteem needs are those related to self-esteem such as self respect and achievement. External esteem needs are those such as social status and recognition. Some esteem needs are:

Self-respect
Achievement
Attention
Recognition
Reputation
Maslow later refined his model to include a level between esteem needs and self-actualization: the need for knowledge and aesthetics.

Self-Actualization
Self-actualization is the summit of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It is the quest of reaching one's full potential as a person. Unlike lower level needs, this need is never fully satisfied; as one grows psychologically there are always new opportunities to continue to grow.

Answer 2

Maslow's theory proposes a pyramid of motivational factors, where different factors are in effect at different times/events.
Survival ( need for food and drink) are the base of the pyramid ( all people must have these to move on) and at the top of the pyramid is self-actualization.



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http://www.tutor2u.net/business/people/motivation_theory_maslow.asp

Answer 3

Every one in there life span are motivated in one form or the other. From the cradle to grave we are motivated by the circumstances around us.

Motivation gives us the mission and purpose of life. Those who lack mission and purpose of life are only dependent on air, water, air, food and shelter for living but above all motivation keeps you going when circumstances say stop.

Motivation help to become a person of love and discipline, what else you will want a motivation to give you, it is beyond all.

In childhood I was motivated by mother, in school by teacher and in life span till date by the circumstances I have learn ed and have ever thought that : "BEYOND FEAR THERE IS FREEDOM."

Answer 4

I love a challenge. I set goals. I set realistic goals and long term goals. I have them written down in 2 columns. I feel a great deal of gratification each time I reach a goal and cross it off my list. I live on self satisfaction. I have a Strong need to satisfy my self.

I try to do the best I can, to the best of my ability. I also try to be all I can be all that I can be to those that are an important part of my life.

Most important. Be kind and care and have a plan.

Some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth and have the red carpet rolled out for them but most of us have to take life one step at a time. Life is usually what we make of it. By our mistakes we learn . . . as long as we don't keep making the same mistake over and over. Life isn't easy for anyone. We all have to struggle. I want to leave you with one of my favorite Quotes.

"If you don't know where your going any road will take you there".
George Harrison

Answer 5

I think the motivating factor in life is LOVE..love from spouse,parents friends childern.
another motivating factor in life is the appreciation and recognition you get for your hard work

Answer 6

Happiness

Answer 7

the small fear that there might be a reason for your life, and if you just give up you will miss out on something good. No one really knows what the point of their life is, but everyone has their own ideas.

Answer 8

Survival

Answer 9

A few things ,they are:

1.goals(what u whats do do in life)

2. Faith(believing things will get better though the roughest times)

3.True Love(the thing we all hope to fine)

Answer 10

Motivating factor...I feel every morning...thanks to God we have seen one more day...

Answer 11

why do you wait for motivation? we do not wait for motivation to take rest, we do not wait for motivation to clean our teeth in the morning, we do not wait for motivation to take our break fast, we do not wait for motivation to take our lunch. then why we are waiting for motivation in life for other matters. why cannot we do things as a matter of duty?