If you find value in any of this week's resources, please forward this newsletter to your colleagues, friends, and family. Thank you!

Unstoppable Motivation

Ali Abdaal's new book "Feel-Good Productivity" provides important insight into the science of motivation. Intrinsic motivation (i.e. when you’re doing something because it feels inherently enjoyable) is widely considered more effective than extrinsic motivation (i.e. when you’re doing something because of an external reward). This shouldn't be a surprise, but research shows that for the majority of us, intrinsic motivation quickly dissipates when faced with challenging tasks that take a long time to accomplish, like getting in shape or learning a new language (I know, I know, this is the year!).

Intrinsic motivation is often not enough, and we need to draw on external motivators to help us persist to reach our goals. Although external motivators tend to get a bad rap, specific kinds of extrinsic motivation that are determined by us and not by others are also critical to accomplishing goals. In a 2018 study, University of Missouri professor Kennon Sheldon recruited ninety-two people, of mixed hiking ability, who were interested in hiking the entire Pacific Coast Trail. Keep in mind this is a 2,650-mile hike over freezing terrain that takes over five months to complete (yikes!). Sheldon found that hikers who could draw on external motivators, determined not by others but by themselves, were much more likely to complete the trail. In Sheldon's words, "They managed to tap into these forms of extrinsic motivation to help sustain their progress even when the going got tough."

Teachers of course play a vital role in helping students identify and recall both internal and external motivations by engaging learners in goal setting and aligning actions in and out of class that work towards those goals. Nir's article The Ultimate Guide to Unstoppable Motivation provides activities to set long-term, medium-term, and short-term time horizons for goal setting.

Below is one example called the "Wheel of Life". Nir writes's the following directions for the activity: "Ask yourself: 'To what extent do I feel like my current actions are aligned with my personal values?' Color in the segment accordingly – if you feel fulfilled, fill it in entirely; if you feel completely unfulfilled, leave it blank. In just a few minutes, you’ve done an audit of your life and identified the areas in which the actions you’re taking in the present moment do align with where you’d like to go, and, more importantly, the areas in which the actions you’re taking in the present moment don’t.

Cultivating the Mindset, Plan, and Process for Lifelong Learning

Start 2024 with purpose and intention! In this webinar, you will learn strategies for developing your own and facilitating other’s lifelong learning. Participants will learn current research on neuroplasticity and our ability to learn throughout our lives. Additionally, participants will be presented with a simple protocol to cultivate a growth mindset that they can apply in the classroom. Participants will also be guided in a mindfulness activity to envision and plan their professional development, as well as support their students in accomplishing their language and life goals. All are welcome to attend and participate.

Date & Time: Jan 10, 3:00 pm US-EST

Registration: Click here to register

Quote

“Never let people who choose the path of least resistance steer you away from your chosen path of most resistance.”

- David Goggins

Question

What do you avoid doing that you know is good for you, and at what time today are you going to start to do it?

Read past issues of '360' on FULLCIRCLELANGUAGE.COM  

Copyright © 2023

Full Circle Language Learning and Teaching, LLC

All rights reserved