Motivational Imperative
A lecture I gave recently
I was invited to give a lecture recently. The topic I chose was the subject of this book by author David Barron, aka Dantalion Jones, and Henry Bono, MTS.
Some notes, to summarise.
Gene Roddenberry came up with the term motivational imperative for the TV series “Earth Final Conflict.”
In the first few seasons, the Taelons - an alien race - had arrived on Earth and transformed the planet with access to advanced technologies.
Some of their Janissaries, recruits called Protectors, were given access to Taelon-built semi-organic weapons, but they were implanted with motivational imperatives to never turn those weapons on the Taelons, and even to obey their masters without question.
David Barron, writing as “Dantalion Jones,” wondered whether or not he could create such a driving imperative for real.
The result is this book, Motivational Imperative.
From the blurb on AbeBooks:-
There are people who are comfortable and satisfied with their present station in life, and the circumstances that surround them. There are also others who–knowing that their lives are short–are frantic, even desperate, to live fuller, more intense and accomplished lives. Motivational Imperative speaks directly to this second, self-selecting group of people. It describes in specific detail how to gather together all of the various energies and drives of one's life, and focus them with effective, concentrated intent upon his or her single most meaningful goal.
How valuable would it be to clearly know, with detail and precision, exactly what your most meaningful, blissful and joyous destination in life is? There is some combination of what you want to do, be, and have that represents the fulfillment of your life's work, were you to achieve it. This goal or destination is entirely unique for every person, and most people only live with a vague idea of what it is that they long to achieve. Even then, many only aim as high as their current level of courage permits.
As David Barron himself states …
For several years I’ve been thinking about what I call a “Motivational Imperative” (MI) which is a single positive idea or concept that a person is motivated to fulfil.
When you are driven by a powerful Motivational Imperative amazing things begin to happen. You have more energy, a stronger sense of focus, fear and anxiety no longer concern you. Even the things the used to bother you become manageable and even trivial.
A Motivational Imperative becomes a single driving force that make you accomplish things you once thought were out of reach ...
… It took a few years to incubate but the formula has finally been laid out for you in this book. The question I asked was how can I intentionally build a Motivational Imperative in myself? And how can I make it so that it is reproducible in others?
How Do You Begin?
The book begins with the following definition.
A Motivational Imperative is a central, governing statement of intent for one's life. It brings into alignment the conscious and subconscious minds for the purpose of creating one's greatest possible fulfilment, one's destiny, one's ultimate concern. In other words, a Motivational Imperative is as the two words describe. It is a well-designed, powerful, and focused statement of "motive" behind one's movement through life. Therefore, it influences and impacts every aspect of life, and magnetizes one towards his or her intended destiny. This idea is somewhat related to the similar, but less potent, concept of a "life mission statement." After going through the process of creating one for yourself you may find it to be a living, breathing, and evolving statement of purpose that serves you as might a bright flashlight pointed towards your desired future help you reach it.
At its simplest, you must imagine a universe where you are working to achieve your greatest potential. This can be wrapped up in a Vision, which you can turn into a statement of intent - one which you can install within you through a process of guided meditations which only you can devise.
You know how best to get past your own cynicism and self-censorship. There are any number of techniques to train your mind, most notably (and most effectively) hypnosis, but you know how best to let your unconscious mind soak up this Motivational Imperative of yours and get it running like the finely-tuned new car engine it is.
Your MI works on five levels, each more refined than the ones below it. The whole forms a pyramid of Influence:-
At the lowest levels are your behaviours: the things you do, consciously and unconsciously. Many of these activities are done without thinking, with our minds on remote pilot.
Above these are your emotions, the things you are feeling, which influence your actions. You don’t like booze? Don’t go to the pub. Somebody’s music makes you feel sad? Don’t put that song on. Somebody else’s music turns you on? Put that song on in private, as a guilty pleasure, and feel as much guilt as enjoyment.
The next level above is formed from our beliefs - that which we think are true, often about ourselves. Examples - “I don’t believe in hypnosis: it’s demonic.” “I’m afraid to try meditation to address my phobia. What if it’s too strong for the meditation?”
At the next level, the penultimate layer, are your values, what you hold dear. Examples include dignity, respect, the approval of one’s peers, the desire to stand out, or intelligence.
The highest level is your core identity. This is who you are, if you stripped away everything else.
A Motivational Imperative, when installed, reaches all the way to the top, where it begins to provide Inspiration. The layers of your Pyramid of Influence become Inspired, and each layer spreads Inspiration down through the lower layers - an Inspired Identity gives rise to Inspired Values: Inspired Values bring about Inspired Beliefs.
And Inspired Beliefs give rise to Inspired Feelings, which lead to Inspired Actions and Behaviours, and you show the world your Motivational Imperative through your actions, and the goals you strive towards.
This can lead to changes with the people you know and love. An MI is a powerful tool, literally life-changing. Those who knew the old you may be frightened by the changes in you. You can be more driven in your mindset, and that fire in your eyes can put off those who claim to love you.
But life is far, far too short to be lived on autopilot. With a Motivational Imperative, you can begin to elevate the standard of your life to embrace an Inspired goal, and drive yourself on a personal journey towards a future which thrills you. You can bring others along with you, if you like; but once installed, there is little that others can do to put out that fire you’re kindling.