As discussed in the previous episode, you need big picture motivation to stimulate broad goals, like the decision to take action to protect your brain and nurture your mind. The core objective of the MAPS method is to motivate and empower you to develop your own brain health action plan, complete with specific strategies and tactics.
Just as you need big picture motivation to set broad goals, you also need targeted motivation to encourage you to carry through on each specific strategy and tactic.
This episode reviews some of the science about motivation. We identify core components of targeted motivation, discussing the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and the relative merits of motivation through reward versus punishment. You can shore up weak or dwindling motivation by recognizing which component has been compromised and addressing it. Having each component in place gives you the strongest motivational push to initiate and sustain positive action.
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