What Drives You?

Drive is different than motivation. Drive is what we want to accomplish, and motivation is our willingness to do the work to achieve our accomplishments. When we are in tune with what drives us, we feel a deeper sense of peace. Knowing what drives us allows us to know our purpose and feel invigorating and energized. We have more positivity and hope. Understanding our drives help us succeed and know what we value. Knowing our private individual values requires us to truly know ourselves. An exercise that can help you understand what drives you is to picture a single word that defines what you want out of life.

For example, some people want wealth. If it is wealth, ask yourself; what does wealth give you? That secondary answer is generally what truly drives you. What we want is in services of what we need, and what we believe are our primary needs are what drives us. For example if what you want out of life is family, the drive is usually feeling loved. Knowing your key drives lets you look at where and how you are spending your energy. It also lets you answer more honestly if your efforts are aligned with goal achievement. Our wants are rooted in our drives, and that in turn impacts our motivation. The interconnection of wants, drives, and motivation cannot be over-stated.

How successful you are is determined by how aligned your understanding of what drives you is. If you do not understand your drive, it is much harder to pivot when you notice that your energy is being misspent because it is more difficult to notice energy drains. Focusing our energy on what is the most economical way to achieve our goals and satisfy our driving force results in a happier, more fulfilled life.  Whatever your drive is, it is achievable. Knowing what you are working for will help you feel more in control of your life. You deserve to have your drives acknowledge, celebrated, and realized. I believe in you and hope you believe in yourself.