Podcast - the tricky world of motivation

Episode description
Welcome to another episode of "Making It Happen", the podcast where we help you with insight on how to bridge the gab between intention and action and make things happen that do not happen by themselves. Today we are going to talk about the tricky world of motivation.

Motivation is a bit of an unfaithful person. One moment, you're all fired up to conquer the world, the next you're convincing yourself "I'm never doing this again." We're peeling back its layers, guided by years of research and practical wisdom.

And I am thrilled to introduce two esteemed guests who have dedicated their lives to the study of motivation. They're joining us straight from the University of Southern Denmark, at the Danish Centre for Motivation.

First, we have Professor Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani. She's a renowned expert in the psychology of physical activity and health. She's committed to helping us understand the relationship between our minds, our bodies, and our drive to take action. Welcome, Professor Cecilie!

And we're equally privileged to be joined by Professor Nikos Ntoumanis, a Chartered Psychologist and esteemed Professor of Motivation Science. He's here to share insights from his extensive research into the forces that compel us to act, and the factors that hold us back. Welcome, Professor Nikos!

Together, we're going to untangle the mysteries of motivation, explore why it can be such a fickle friend, and discover how to harness its power more consistently. So whether you're looking to motivate yourself, or to inspire others, we've got some great insights in store for you. So, let's dive in!

In this podcast we will talk about:

• What is motivation and what is the problem
• What is the role of Self-Determination Theory in our research and how does it impact behavior change
• What are the three psychological basic needs identified by the Self-Determination Theory that must be satisfied for an individual to develop self-determined motivation?
• How does the individual's social environment affect their self-determined motivation.
• HOW you can promote motivation in groups and teams.
• How can peer leaders contribute to supporting an individual's self-determined motivation?
• How important is goal flexibility in maintaining behavior changes, and why might it sometimes be necessary to let go of the principle of "never give up”?
• How does forming strong habits, particularly those driven by self-determined motivation, influence behavior change?
• How has our research demonstrated the importance of self-care (self-compassion) in behavior change and overall well-being
• What are the long-term implications of these research findings on individuals' behavior and their ability to maintain behavior changes?