As a trainer and practitioner of Motivational Interviewing, I hear this a lot when I introduce myself and ask what brings someone to my office.
Of course, I also hear, “I’m here because (mom, probation officer, principal, boyfriend…. fill in the blank….) wants me to get motivated.”
To want to be motivated, even to want-to-want to be motivated, is an important step to doing something new, and that is what Motivational Interviewing (MI) is all about. But it might not be exactly what you think.
I usually clarify that I’m not a motivational speaker, and that MI isn’t going to transform one’s personality into some kind of Eager Beaver. At its most basic and elegant, Motivational Interviewing is a way to have a conversation about change.
Everyone is oriented toward some aspect of change. If they weren’t they wouldn’t be at my office.
I see my job as doing the following:
I look forward to all conversations that lead to change. The conversations likely won’t be loud, dramatic barn-burning speeches. Instead, they will likely honor the specialness of what appears to be mundane and pull forth what is effective and powerful in moving you forward.
Sources:
Miller, W.R. and Rollnick, S. Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change, 3rd Edition. New York: Guilford, 2013.