Answer the questions.

1. What do you think of when you hear the word motivation? Are associations
positive or negative? What related words pop into your head?
2. Do you usually feel motivated to do difficult things or do you lack
motivation?
3. What things you know you should do or theoretically would like to do but
don’t have enough motivation for?
4. What are the ways to increase motivation? What ways do you personally
use?
5. What motivates you the most in life?
6. Do you think motivation is discussed more nowadays than in the previous
decades? Why?
7. Do you watch any videos about motivation? Do you trust motivational
speakers and coaches? Was there any advice that helped you in your life?
8. How do you think motivation works and why people often have problems
getting and staying motivated?
2. Read the dialogues. Pay attention to the words in bold. What is their
meaning? Try to guess and explain in your own words.
A. – It’s nice to see you and your spouse here.
– My spouse? I don’t have a spouse, I’m not married, that’s my brother! 

B. – So, have you decided? Are you buying this car?
– To be honest, I don’t know, I’m still hesitating.

C. – Let’s go dance!

– I already told you, I don’t feel like dancing, I feel like just sitting and
listening to the band!

D. – You’re taking so much time choosing the university…

– Well, of course, it will have such an impact on my life!

E. – Why, why did you have to yell at him? Now he’ll break up with you
100%.
– I don’t know… I guess, I let my jealousy take over me.

F. – I think she’s changed.

– Really? She seems to be absolutely the same to me.
– Well, the change is subtle, but there is a change.

G.– How can he be so productive?

– I have no idea. It seems that he’s just wired that way. He’s always been
like that.
 H. – What do you think will happen?
– There’s no way to know, the future is uncertain.

I. – Why do you have a piece of glass on your desk?

– It’s not just a piece of glass, it’s a magnifying glass. I use it when I’m
painting details on my toy figures.

J.– How did you even see what dress the singer was wearing? It was dark.
– What are you talking about? Yes, it was dark, but she was in
the spotlight!

3. Read the information about Mel Robbins. You will watch a video
called “motivation is garbage”. Why do you think it’s called like that,
what can it mean? Do you think she can tell something unusual about
motivation that you haven’t heard?

Mel Robbins is a powerhouse speaker with one of the top 20 TEDx talks in the
world. This former criminal defense attorney turned on-air commentator and
CNN contributor exposes the myth of motivation and explains how to make the
micro-decisions that will launch you into success

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X54GQFS_ouM

4. Did the information in the video surprise you or not? What is the main
idea of the video? According to Mel Robbins what is the classic
understanding of motivation? Does she think motivation is important to
achieve goals and succeed?

5. Watch the video again and answer the questions. Give your opinion
where it makes sense. Was the piece of information new to you, do you
think it’s interesting? Do you trust it? Do you think this information
will be helpful for some people? What about you?

6. 1. What were the most difficult things for Mel to understand about her own
behaviour?
2. Does the host share Mel’s opinion?
3. What, according to Mel, it the biggest lie about motivation?
4. What are the types of things that we have to do to go forward and succeed?
5. Is it easy for human beings to do those things?
6. Does Mel have any idea why it’s like that? Where do her ideas about that
come from?
7. How are our minds designed when it comes to new things? Why?
8. What are some mechanisms that the brain uses to protect us?
9. What, as Mel understood at some point, could change her life dramatically?