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What are your life goals? What is your motivation for your life goals? One of our goals is to help others answer the most important questions in life. This website is for the honest inquirer who is willing to think and reason. Please read the “Your Life Goals” section and let us know your thoughts.

The fundamental component of the decision making process is motivation. Motivation, in this context, is the basis upon which a choice is made. It is the underlying, not necessarily the expressed, reason for one’s will making a decision. Motivation is not actually the cause of the decision, for one’s will is the cause, but it provides the will with the direction for each decision. The motivation establishes the purpose for the entire decision making process. Its function is similar to a rudder on a ship. It is the objective behind the decision. It explains what is being sought to be accomplished by the will. One’s will seeks the most efficient means of carrying out one’s motivation.

Motivation is not necessarily one’s expressed reason for making a decision to take certain action. It may not even be the objective that the individual believes is his motivation. For instance, one may marry for the expressed reason of “being in love,” but in actuality he married in an attempt to gain security. Because it is usually painful to admit such a purpose, the person marrying for security may accept the belief that he married for “love.” Motivation is the foundational purpose for making a decision, not the surface reason or the objective at any other level. What is the foundational purpose of seeking an education? Is it to obtain a better job? Is the better job to provide more income? What is the purpose of the income? This inquiry, if continued, would terminate at the foundational purpose (motivation) for the initial decision of seeking an education. This brief exercise gives one a glimpse of the potential complexity of the decision making process. Decisions are built upon decisions. The entire process, however, rests upon one’s motivation.

Motivation can be described as one’s ultimate goal. One’s ultimate goal defines his purpose for living and making decisions. An ultimate goal is the goal one will seek to fulfill above all other goals. It is the foundational goal used to formulate every other goal one adopts. One’s ultimate goal is that which, when all is said and done, an individual sought to accomplish with his life. It is the goal to which one devotes all of his time, energy and material possessions in an attempt to achieve it. It is the goal that will structure one’s personality, decision making process, philosophy and physical activities. Every decision one makes will be made in the furtherance of his ultimate goal in life.

To further expand on the importance of motivation as one’s ultimate goal, we need to view it in light of human organizations and institutions. If an individual is governed by his ultimate goal, then every human institution will be governed by the ultimate goal of those governing their institutions. In civil government, the controlling individuals’ ultimate goals will establish the purpose of the government. In a democracy, the ultimate goals of a majority of the eligible voters (not just the active voters) will determine the government’s immediate course. One’s ultimate goal governs whether he even votes. In a family, the parents’ ultimate goal will set the direction for the family. Schools, businesses, churches, clubs, and charities are all governed by the ultimate goal of those in charge.

Choosing one’s ultimate goal, therefore, is the most important and far reaching decision anyone ever makes. It is the most practical decision one ever makes for it governs every other decision. It is an interesting paradox, which will be explained later, that the only decision that one makes that is not governed by his ultimate goal is the choice of his ultimate goal. When considering the primary importance of this decision it is a wonder that so few choose to take the time to understand its significance. This too, is a direct result of motivation.

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By Embassy House at Oceanside