So if you would have told Kaitlynn Harrell that motivation would be something she struggled with in her professional social work practice, she would have rolled her eyes. I have always been a go-getter! Someone that loved getting ahead on assignments and enjoyed working hard to achieve a goal. The truth is, I struggle big time with motivation now.
In Goleman’s article, he describes the importance of motivation in contributing to emotional intelligence. It means taking initiative, being optimistic, and working your butt off to achieve a goal. As social workers, it is imperative that we know what motivates us in order to be successful.
Well, I am incredibly motivated to help others and make the world a better place. However, I’m not at the same time. I often overload myself with so many tasks and projects that I spiral and sometimes can’t even complete one. As someone that has both anxiety and depression, I find it difficult to harness the passion that I have and use it to achieve success.
My goal is to improve in this area of my life. I need to cut back a little bit and only take on what I know I can handle. I also need to make sure I’m well-rested, eating quality foods, and finding time to relax. Basically, I need to incorporate self care into my life. I plan on taking better care of myself so that I can show up to work or my placement ready to help others! If my motivation isn’t there, what good am I to the clients I am supposed to be empowering? According to Stanley, Manthorpe, and White of the British Journal of Social Work, many social workers personally face depression (2007). Taking care of ourselves and knowing what we need can help us to prepare for working with clients and being leaders.
Stanley, N., Manthorpe, J., & White, M. (2006, July 13). Depression in the Profession: Social Workers’ Experiences and Perceptions. Retrieved August 01, 2020, from https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article-abstract/37/2/281/1705336