Direction in Motivation
The first indicator of motivation is that of direction. This is the behaviour of focus that implies a choice has been made, or is being made and so decision making is central to understanding motivation. For example, a smoking client has made a choice to stop, which they are unable (or believe they are unable) to implement on their own. Another example might be a client who has decided that they are unhappy to continue with their current level of stress and is thus motivated in the direction of stress reduction. Choice is not always obvious, and alternative behaviours should be considered. If our smoking client believes that to quit would mean putting on weight, this could affect their motivation, and our stress client would need to consider alternative ways of being rather than simply being “less stressed”. This may be more relaxed or more confident while continuing with the situations which created the stress, or to alter those situations (or a combination of both).
