It’s early on a winter morning and the sun hasn’t even thought about coming up yet. I’m supposed to get up and do a short work-out before I get my kid to the bus stop, but instead I stay snuggled up under the blanket. I barely get dressed in time to get out the door for the bus, and when I get back, it’s all I can do to get a cup of coffee instead of getting back in bed. It’s grey. It’s cold. I’m not motivated. I scroll through my friends’ social media posts and then, I find this:

I’m thinking, “How does a Mongolian Heavy Metal Band get Millions of YouTube Views?” …Click… Yuve Yuve Yu…Click…it starts off slow, like my morning. The video connects beautiful scenery, history, and unique cultural traditions with a raw rock and roll, and a challenge to listeners to reconnect with what’s important. Just like that, the humdrum day became new and interesting. Then, Wolf Totem makes me want to crush this day. I exercise, shower, get a ton of work done, and I’m happy to do it. Why?

What is it about the Hu Band that motivated me? Was it the sky, so sunny and clear in the video while it’s so gray where I live? Was it the instruments I’d never seen before or the low, low tone of the throat singing? The connection of Mongolian history and cultural pride in the lyrics with a music form that originated far away and traveled the world to reach the Hu Band? The more important question is, how can we capture this kind of motivation when we need it?

After thinking about motivation on and off for weeks, it comes down to this: people are more motivated and happier when they can draw on their strengths. If you look at my top strengths, according to Strengthsfinder 2.0, they include Adaptability, Intellection, Strategic, Learner, and Input. As someone with Adaptability for a top strength, I like it when every day is different, so you can see why I was not motivated by the routine morning and the monotonous weather. I was also working on a few tasks that had dragged on much too long for me. My Input strength makes me excited to collect new information. In this case, a new music style, Mongolian history and musical traditions. My Learner strength complements Input, because I am happy to master new topics and share what I’ve learned.

How can we motivate ourselves, especially in the early days of Spring when sudden returns to January temperatures can easily change our moods? Look for things that connect with your strengths. What are some of the things that always make you smile? Puzzles? Music? Art? Nature? Connection? Problem-solving? This can be harder than it sounds. Even when you take an assessment, it can take a bit of deep thinking and discussion to figure out the types of things you will find motivating. And, just to complicate things, what you find motivating today may not motivate you two months from now. With practice, you can get better at knowing where to find the new motivator. Check out the steps below to see what motivates you. Find your own Hu Band!

Step 1: Know yourself

This sounds a lot easier than it is. We may think of ourselves the way we want others to see us or the way they actually see us, which is not necessarily the way we really are. One way to learn about what motivates you is to think about a time when you were generally happy to complete a task. What was it that was motivating you? It could be learning a new skill, connecting with a colleague, creating an impactful diagram, or getting a new idea from something you read or something else. Some people have “Activator” as their strength, and they may be more easily motivated.

Step 2. Take an assessment

It is difficult to objectively look at your own strengths, and there are assessments that can give you a vocabulary and framework to take a deeper look. The Strengthsfinder 2.0 is a good way to help you learn about the strengths that motivate you at work. It is an especially good tool for working with teams. Individuals not only learn about their own strengths, but also learn about and appreciate the strengths of other team members. The VIA Character Strengths assessment helps you more broadly identify the strengths that are core to your overall character. Both are ways to think more clearly about your strengths.

Step 3. Discuss the results with a coach or other trusted adviser

Another person will notice different things than you when you tell a story. They may notice the vocabulary you use or the posture when you’re speaking. They may ask questions you never thought about before. You may have a friend, co-worker or boss who could discuss motivation with you, but if you seek a structured approach to self-reflection and developing new habits, you may want to engage a coach. A coach is an objective person who is trained to listen and ask questions that help you explore your own motivations and obstacles.

Step 4. Try new things

If you don’t regularly explore your own strengths and motivations, trying new things may lead you to discover something unexpected. It could be as simple as walking a new way to work, trying a new playlist, or signing up for a new class at the gym. By opening up to new experiences, you can find new ways to use your strengths.

Finding Motivation