Jackson Institute for Global Affairs

Courage in Theory & Practice

Roz Savage

Motivation & Purpose

–Dolly Parton

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

Benefits of Motivation & Purpose

❖ Wellbeing❖ Internal locus of control❖ Enhanced critical thinking❖ Life satisfaction❖ Engagement in work and/or community❖ Integrity❖ Mastery❖ Less depression and other negative effects❖ Resilience to trauma

Questions❖ Can I do this task? (self-efficacy)❖ Do I want to do this task? (emotional)❖ Why would I want to do this task? (cognitive -

values, purpose)❖ Is this choice likely to arise again? (identity)❖ What is the meaning of undertaking this task?

(worldview, significance, self-transcendence)

Conflicting Choices

PATIENCERELIEFvs

FUTURE SELFPRESENT SELFvs

PRO-SOCIALSELFISHvs

COLD SELF-CONTROLHOT IMPULSEvs

TASK-ORIENTEDEGO-ORIENTEDvs

Viktor Frankl

“Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.”

Self-Determination Theory

RELATEDNESS

COMPETENCE

INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

AUTONOMY

>

IDENTITY CONFORMITY

VALUES COMPROMISE

PURPOSE RISK AVOIDANCE

MOTIVATION FEAR

COURAGE

SELF-DETERMINATION

ACTION

CHOICE

Why We Work (Barry Schwartz)

❖ (Clue: it’s not for the money)❖ Flow state (at least part of the time)❖ Stretch outside the comfort zone❖ Autonomy and discretion❖ Mastery and expertise❖ Social engagement❖ Meaning and significance

Calling = The Thing You Can’t Not Do

(Amy Wrzesnieswki, Yale SOM)

–Leah Zaccaria

“Be yourself. Quit being the person people think you’re supposed to

be. Find a way to dig deep into your courageous self to be

who you are. Whatever that means as far as exploring your

emotions, your identity, your profession, find one version of you that you are always and everywhere.”

Life Purpose - Be Yourself

Discussion: Life Purpose

❖ I want to help X (people, cause, or thing)❖ To do Y (have better lives in some way)❖ By doing/providing/being Z (what is the action?)❖ What job title would you put on your business

card?

–Tony Robbins

“I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece.”

JFK GLBL252 Courage Award

❖ Courageous individuals “who do what is right, rather than what is expedient”

❖ Week 4: Sally Yates, Acting Attorney General, who wasn’t “convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.”

❖ And got fired.