The need for achievement is a learned psychological need—the desire to reach a standard of excellence or experience success. Experiencing achievement regularly is essential to wellbeing and is a core element of the PERMA model (A – Achievement).
Achievement can come from work tasks, hobbies, or learning new skills. We experience it whenever we reach a goal. To sustain motivation, it helps to break long-term goals into smaller steps.
We should avoid goals that are too easy or too difficult. Achievement motivation is highest when tasks are moderately challenging—challenging enough to engage us, but attainable enough to avoid discouragement.
Small steps may feel insignificant, but they enable meaningful progress. As Lao Tzu said:
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
If you’d like to explore this topic further, contact us at pravaformula@pravaformula.hr.
Sources
Beck, R. (2003). Motivacija: teorija i načela. Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap.
Reeve, J. (2010). Razumijevanje motivacije i emocija. Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap.
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