Motivation Versus Enthusiasm: What’s the Difference?

We’re amid the great resignation. Have you considered quitting your job?

What are your motivations to stay, and how enthusiastic are you to leave?

Maybe the money’s good and motivates you to stay, but you can no longer muster the enthusiasm to get out of bed in the morning. Shouldn’t our motivation for money create enthusiasm?

What’s the difference between motivation and enthusiasm?

Motivation is the driving force behind your actions. Enthusiasm is the eagerness to act. The difference is an intentional process (motivation) as opposed to an emotional response (enthusiasm). The least complicated difference is that motivation is external: some force creates an act of compliance on your behalf. Enthusiasm is internal: you feel inspired to act.

The two terms are often confused due to their congruence. It’s possible to be motivated without enthusiasm. Enthusiasm reinforces motivation, resulting in a greater will to act. But, can you be enthusiastic without motivation, or can they be the same thing?

Is Motivation the Same as Enthusiasm?

Motivation involves consequence, as in “I need to do this or.” Enthusiasm is an innate desire, “I want to do this.” If you are willing to act, you are motivated. When inspired by action, you are enthusiastic.

They may seem the same at times, but it’s relative to how you feel about your motivation. Emotions around motivation change, but the consequences don’t. People say that they feel motivated, but the feeling is enthusiasm. Motivation is a sense of being compelled to act.

Have you ever said to yourself? “I don’t want to do this, but I have to.” This thought is an everyday example of the difference between motivation and enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm without motivation?

Enthusiasm without motivation happens all the time. Remember that book you always wanted to write or the backpacking trip through Europe you daydreamed of years ago? You haven’t done them because your enthusiasm wasn’t met with motivation. Your wanting didn’t manifest as a need.

We’re enthusiastic about a lot of things these days. Much of this enthusiasm manifests itself as a goal. Most people realize that reaching a goal takes more than enthusiasm. It takes motivation. If you want to run a marathon, you can’t just wake up one morning and run 26.2 miles on enthusiasm. Motivation is physical milestones, a process of achieving them and consequences for not.

Do You Pay the Rent with Enthusiasm or Motivation?

It’s the first of the month, and rent is due. Your motivation to pay the rent is avoiding eviction. Aversion is an example of motivation without enthusiasm.

Using the same rent example, let’s say you just found your dream house and cannot wait to move in. Motivation to pay that first month’s rent is highlighted by your enthusiasm to live there. Positive emotions are the driving force behind your action, but you must continue to pay the rent after your initial feelings wear off.

In the dream house scenario, motivation and enthusiasm seem interchangeable. It’s understandable how someone could mistakenly mix them up.

How to Motivate People

The best way to motivate people is to give them a reason to complete the task. Motivation can be positive or negative based on consequences.

“Every human action, whether it has become positive or negative, must depend on motivation.” a quote by Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama.

Reward is a great motivator, but is punishment more effective?

The Carrot or the Stick?

We live in a time of great positivity and negativity. It seems that some psychologists promote positive body image and self-confidence everywhere we turn. When you watch the news, though, negativity is the recipe.

Loss Aversion is a theory developed by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman in their 1992 paper entitled “Advances in Prospect Theory: Cumulative Representation of Uncertainty.” The theory states people tend to react differently to the motivation of loss vs. gain. The authors claim that the bias toward loss is double that of gain. Put simply, we are twice as likely to avoid pain versus seeking pleasure.

Positive motivation is excellent as a show of support, but negative motivation results in change more often. If an under-achieving person receives positive reinforcement, the motivation for improvement doesn’t exist. That same person, negatively motivated, is more likely to change.

The reason the news and politics are negative is to drive fear. Fear triggers loss aversion and motivates you to keep watching or vote for the candidate that will protect you.

Parenting with Motivation and Enthusiasm 

Parents use both types of motivation to train behavior in their children. Little Suzy gets dessert if she finishes her dinner but gets sent to her room if she doesn’t.

Enthusiasm aids motivation as dad stands a few feet away, arms open, encouraging his child to take those first steps. We find parents using enthusiasm to motivate children when they’re young and seeking approval. As they become teens, independence replaces approval, and punishment often becomes the best motivator.

Motivation can get tricky as a parent. Children need encouragement and boundaries to succeed in life. Too much of either method can backfire.

Do Motivational Speakers Motivate? 

Think about how a motivational speaker inspires her audience. She speaks about success and excites people to act. She hits all the happy buttons, and people feel inspired. But are they motivated?

Inspiration and enthusiasm are both emotional terms. Necessity is the birthplace of motivation, while enthusiasm is a yearning. Inspiring enthusiasm does not always motivate people. You may feel inspired at the moment, but you’re actually only enthusiastic.

Enthusiasm will wane. Motivation is steady.

It may not be technically correct to call them motivational speakers, but I doubt enthusiastic speaker holds the same cachet.

The Enthusiasm Gap

Motivation is less effective without enthusiasm pushing the agenda. The enthusiasm gap is the ratio of motivation to enthusiasm.

Minding the Gap

The enthusiasm gap is a common term in politics. It’s a general reference to the rate at which people prefer a candidate and their willingness to cast a vote for them. No matter where a candidate stands on the issues, voters won’t show up for someone that doesn’t excite them.

Closing the enthusiasm gap is the genesis of campaign rallies and political conventions. Politicians are adept at striking the right chord with their audience at these events. As people see a crowd cheering and chanting, enthusiasm builds, and the motivation to vote strengthens.

Is Negative Enthusiasm a Thing?

Negative enthusiasm might be the most potent form of motivating influence. It doesn’t need pairing with negative motivation to be effective, but it helps.

The same political rally, building energy in its attendees, creates negative enthusiasm in opponents’ supporters. The enthusiasm gap closes as the urge to vote against one candidate reinforces conviction for the rival.

When you decide to look for another job, you’re motivated by the prospect of a new work environment. After deciding to move on, the lack of interest in your current work morphs into contempt. In most people, negative enthusiasm fuels a job search.

Different, but Complementary!

Motivation and enthusiasm are not the same but do complement each other well. You will be more willing to accomplish a task if you are eager.

On its own, desire requires a goal to be a compelling emotion. A goal is achievable given the right impetus. Motivation combined with enthusiasm constitutes an unstoppable solution to all your problems.

 

Take care, even down there.

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