What Really Drives Human Behavior And Happiness

In the twelfth century the Crusaders originally paid mercenaries to join their cause. They required the new soldiers to be baptized before joining the army.

The mercenaries stepped into the river, took out their swords and held them out of the water as they were baptized, a symbol that they retained control of their weapon and would not submit that responsibility to the Crusaders nor divine forces. It was also a sign they were not fully committed to the cause.

Soren Kierkegaard said, “The thing is to understand myself…to find the idea for which I can live and die.” What makes the difference is to be committed until the end.

Personal growth and leadership skills apply to everyone and to every aspect of life. Whether talking about business or family, community or one’s own dreams, it is leadership of self and others that takes the invisible and makes it visible.

Gandhi said; “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.”

So what dreams and goals do you have? Become the leader necessary to make them happen. Learn from mentors, books, seminars and anyone you can about what it takes to move people from where they are to where they need to be. Then apply these principles to yourself first.

Author Daniel Pink, drawing on over fifty years of research in the science of human behavior, found that what motivates people to go to the next level whether in business or in life is not the instant rewards people think.

(Indeed, the carrot and stick approach used by many companies has limited impact. Simply giving someone a bonus or a raise for performance will produce short lived results in behavioral change.)

So what really moves people to consistently raise their standards? It is in a word, progress. Anthony Robbins shares, “Progress equals happiness.” A half century of science confirms that fulfillment is found in moving forward.

So chasing your dream not only produces the reward of reaching a goal, it is also the basis of true joy as your life moves towards a definite direction. So commit fully to your outcome, see things as they can be, and then make them as you see them.