Illusion: engine and breath of our desires

We have all felt excited about something or someone at some point in our lives, right? Try to remember a moment in which you experienced this feeling very intensely. It was linked to other mental variables, right? Among them, a very specific one: motivation.

When something or someone truly excites us and we do not “enjoy” it, we witness how that illusion is transformed into a force. A source of energy that we draw on to achieve what is drawn on our horizon as a desire with possibilities. That is to say, in this case the illusion would act as an element that predisposes us to action, just as fire heats everything we bring close to it.. Thus, we must ask ourselves, what is it about the enthusiasm to achieve this? Keep reading and find out!

What is illusion?

Intuitively, if we think about what illusion is, it is likely that we all include positive ideas in the definition. In fact, we associate it with positive values. It is something that helps us seek change and improve as people. But not only that, it also makes us grow and our quality of life increases, without forgetting that it is a powerful reinforcer for those actions with which we feel good.

That is, it motivates us to use the necessary means to achieve the object of that illusion. It is an initial hope, fueled by the idea or feeling that we have located something positive on our radar. . What does this mean? That the illusion is what stimulates us, at the same time as it does with the actions we carry out to achieve it, as well as the consequence itself.

Let’s take an example. The illusion appears when we see the offer of the job we want, that is, the stimulus. But not only there, also while we prepare the resume and the subsequent interview, or in other words, in our response to achieve it. Finally, when we are selected for that job (the consequence), it is normal for this illusion to remain.

In short, the illusion partly comes from faith, from imagining a possibility of at least getting what we want. It materializes when we begin to walk the path to achieve it and We sign a contract in which we promise not to give up at the first hurdlewhether real or imaginary, anticipated or unforeseen.

What are the components of the illusion?

As we have seen, the illusion is stimulus, response and consequence, but not only that, it is made up of many more elements. Thus, some appear related to emotions, especially of a positive nature. This way, Illusion is linked to joy and happiness, but also to the desire to live.

On the other hand, the illusion is associated with more cognitive processes, such as our thoughts and beliefs. Future and life projects, valuing everyday life and relationships with our loved onestrusting ourselves, having hope in achieving our goals and being constant would be elements of this group.

Finally, linked to the idea that we respond when the illusion appears, we see that there are action or behavioral elements. That is, all those behaviors that we carry out when something excites us and motivates us to want to achieve a certain goal.

The illusion and its projection

From everything discussed so far, a key idea emerges: the importance of enthusiasm as a driver of our growth . When something excites us, we are more capable of coping with the different handicaps that arise along the way, without paralyzing ourselves or losing energy. That is, we empower ourselves.

So, We manage to move forward despite the uncertainty of whether or not we will achieve our goal. Of course, as with many other ingredients in our lives, we have to stay in control. If we set unattainable goals, what we will achieve in the long run is waste time and feel worse.

I explain. If I like painting, but until now I have dedicated few hours to it and have not completed higher studies in the matter, but I consider the idea of ​​leaving my job to make a living from my paintings, I will surely fail and end up bankrupt. In this way, I will feel bad and I will surely not try to carry out other projects that excite me. This is precisely the other side of illusion, disillusionment, which, far from stimulating growth, makes us conservative.

Which does not mean that I am excited and motivated to continue improving, but I will be aware that “my life is not about it” and I will not prioritize it over other more important activities that will require my time… Do you see where I want to go? arrive? It is important to find goals that excite us, but that are achievable and not a source of continuous frustration.so that the consequences of trying to achieve it are positive and the illusion increases, instead of becoming smaller.

Images courtesy of Marc Olivier Jodoin, Aleksandr Ledogorov and Crak Tibbs.

You might be interested…