Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Shellie Sampson, Jr. earned a degree in Natural Science from Rutgers University, a Masters and Doctorate from Drew University, and a Ph.D. in Urban Education and Psychological Motivation from Temple University. Formerly a food chemist and headmaster in an urban school, he currently works with adolescents and adults.

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THE MOTIVATED LIFE

iUniverse, Inc.

Contents

PREFACE.......................................................................................................v1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................12. ADOLESCENTS FACING ENVIRONMENTAL COPING....................................................................183 THE DYNAMICS OF GOAL-SETTING MOTIVATION.....................................................................404. EARLY INDICATORS OF MOTIVATION TENDENCIES LESSONS FROM LIFE: SCHOOL AND SOCIAL SETTING.....................645 PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER: EMERGING PATTERNS STRUGGLING TOWARDS THE MOTIVATED LIFE........................896 THE NEW PARADIGM OF THINKING, LEARNING AND LIVING...........................................................1287 CONCLUSION: STUDY RESULTS AND FUTURE PLANNING...............................................................151APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS RELATED TO THE STUDY..................................................................176APPENDIX B: THE STUDY SET-UP..................................................................................179REFERENCES....................................................................................................193

Chapter One

Why the Urgency of the Motivated Life?

He is not so lost as he who has no dreams. -Anonymous

Life is defined by a moving motivation. Motivation requires a perspective on life itself. Personal direction, stability, and positive self-esteem require a clear focus and on-going effort. Chosen goals and involvements are carefully pursued. They increase the quality of life for the seeker. Motivation is not a stop and go operation. It is not a project by project task. It is an ongoing pattern with plan and purpose. It is a momentum.

Many social and scientific explorations start out with a key focus in mind that eventually leads to a wider perspective. Many investigations that seek information about a particular subject start with certain focus groups, test groups or segments of a population. Some groups have greater challenges than others in certain categories. In the case of adolescents in general and African American adolescents in particular, motivation and goal-setting is a major area of concern. Motivation and goal-setting continue to be important subjects in society.

This book The Motivated Life resulted from a long term study of motivation and goal-setting over many years. This study originally centered around achievement motivation of adolescents and young adults in a school setting. But, after a period of time I realized that motivation is as much about a whole life as it is about specific desires, educational pursuits and success. Motivational thought and principles go beyond study groups and careers. It encompasses the entire range of life from childhood to mature adulthood. It is difficult indeed to live a productive and meaningful life without ongoing energized tendencies that move the person toward a satisfying level of well-being and personal development.

Maintaining high levels of motivation in most companies and institutions is a high priority. For most people who live in this complex global society the need for organized, planned lives is critical. There are personal, employment concerns, bureaucracies and institutional policies to deal with. Those who interact with schools, places of work, or businesses cannot afford to engage others haphazardly. Even informal social gatherings may require some degree of reflection for those who "plan" to attend. The motivation to present the best display of ourselves and talents should prompt our preparation.

The purpose of The Motivated Life is to reinforce the felt importance and application of motivational and goal-setting principles. The significance of motivation is most critical in for learning and planning for the future. The book begins with insights gained from three main sources. First, the literature provides us with an overview of the characteristics of adolescents and young adults in transition. The literature provides particular insights about motivational, social, and educational concepts. This information includes key ideas in goal-setting, success, role of the family, the school, neighborhood, and the influences of urban life. The reason for this overview serves as a reminder that motivational tendencies emerge from many sources. Some of these sources are obvious. Some of them are not. Many factors work together. To create a kind of trajectory or directional push that helps to move us in one direction or another. We do not live in a void. The places we go, the people we meet, and the things we hear can affect what we will or will not do. In fact, personal and social meaning is an acquired "taste". That is we not only develop our thinking from a pool of collective sources, we interpret that information from our own vantage point in society. If we are somewhat satisfied with the conclusion of our experiences we feel a sense of well-being. If our reflections on life do not lead to some sense of balance and well-being we attempt to find ways and insights that add to our satisfaction and minimize our anxiety.

The second phase of the book deals with the study group of Afro-American adolescents in an urban setting. This also includes motivational perspectives of experienced guidance counselors and others. The way the study was carried out is outlined for readers who may want to know. The study utilized research definitions, concepts, and ways of viewing motivation. This information was in turn used to measure and assess the various dynamics of goal-setting and motivation that affected the motivational life of the students in the study. This information includes factors relating to self confidence, preparation, personal habits, and hindrances to motivational life. The reader may select a section of particular interest to review in more detail in the book. Each section presents insights about motivation in regards to putting a more complete picture together on the subject of Motivated Life.

The third part of The Motivated Life uses information from the literature, the study group and related concepts to discuss overall applications. This discussion is for a wider audience of readers engaged in on-going self help tendencies. This discussion moves from adolescents to adults living in a complex post modern world. In this world motivational tendencies for success, achievement, and well-being are extremely important. The post modern world can be illusive, very competitive and fast moving. Motivated persons must be flexible, alert, constantly learning new things and new ways of coping and achieving. A motivational program is proposed in the book to aid those who need to engage a structured program for realizing success.

The Goal-Setting Approach for a Better Life

The book begins with an overview of motivational study in the urban context. There is no lack of research and data to document the plight and problems of urban adolescents and adults. There has been a stream of continuous dramatic publicity about the social difficulties of African American males in particular. Problems and concerns like:...