Motivation and Satisfaction

Previous Post: Stress

In the previous posts, conditions of Efficiency and Stress were described and discussed as persuasive forces within the system of Experience. In this post, concepts of Motivation and Satisfaction are introduced as dynamic aspects that are derived from those forces. Everyone should feel encouraged to join the discussion and comment on or debate the assertions presented. All relevant comments are welcome and appreciated.

Motivation directs Experience

As mentioned previously, a state of relative Understanding represents the primary goal for the system of Experience; which stands to reason in light of its Efficiency. By the same token, a relative lack of Efficiency; a state brought about by Stress, for example, represents an operational threat to the system of Experience. For both of these conditions, Attention is called up to address Efficiency goals. Here, two primary forces are being described that are constantly at work in directing the operations of the system of Experience; both pivoting on Efficiency. One force pulls while the other pushes. These forces not only play a part in the lower-level aspects of the four components of Experience described previously, they also serve to direct the higher-level operations of the system of Experience; the choices we make, the concerns we choose to attend to, the relative values we place on concerns, our self expressions, and the like. The forces represented by the Efficiency goal of Understanding and the toll of Stress direct our Motivation; our propensity to act, choose or attend in a progressive fashion.

Satisfaction rewards Experience

Our Motivation serves to lead the system of Experience away from situations of relative Stress or inefficiency and toward a relative state of Understanding. Motivation is the direction of effort applied to progress toward Efficiency. However, there are competing factors of Motivation; in that the progression is aimed at Efficiency, yet the means with which to reach that goal costs Attention effort. There is a regulatory aspect of Motivation that assesses the relative progress toward Efficiency and that either calls up further Attention effort to be applied, as when situations of Stress arise, or allows the directed effort on the concern in question to wane as specific measures toward Efficiency are reached. If Understanding is the overall goal of the system of Experience, it is these specific measures toward Efficiency; where Attention is allowed to wane, that are the intermediate goals. Upon reflection to a course of Attention effort applied, an intermediate goal that is achieved, represented by a specific measure of progressive Efficiency, is seen as a point of Satisfaction; where its amplitude can be roughly correlated to the amount of Attention paid in relation to the Efficiency gained.

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