Successfully treating reduced motivation, or avolition, in patients with schizophrenia has a positive effect on other negative symptoms, according to a study published online in Schizophrenia Bulletin.

This study suggests that future drug development should target mechanisms of avolition in particular, said researcher Gregory Strauss, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia, Athens. If that domain is successfully improved, it might be possible to improve all negative symptoms and subsequently reduce functional disability.

Long-Term Antipsychotic Use Linked With Lower Mortality Rates

In 2018, Dr. Strauss and colleagues published a paper in JAMA Psychiatry demonstrating that negative symptoms in schizophrenia are not a singular construct but represent 5 distinct domainsavolition, anhedonia, asociality, blunted affect, and alogia, or reduced speechwith each constituting a separate treatment target.

In a Schizophrenia Bulletin paper published last year, Dr. Strauss was part of a team that ran a network analysis and found negative symptoms do not function in isolation but interact with one another. Successful treatment of avolition, that study suggested, may improve the entire constellation of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

The most recent study involved a network analysis of data from a phase 2b trial in which the compound roluperidone by Minerva Neurosciences significantly reduced negative symptoms. The analysis by Dr. Strauss and colleagues found that avolition was the most central domain for the active treatment group. When the drug improved avolition, the analysis found, all other negative symptoms improved as a result.

Theres a lot of hope that Minervas phase 3 trial will show a similar improvement in negative symptoms, Dr. Strauss said. This could be the first drug that receives an indication for negative symptoms of schizophrenia from the Food and Drug Administration, which is perhaps the biggest need in the field of psychiatry. It would be a monumental benefit to the lives of people with schizophrenia.

A consultant with Minerva Neurosciences, Dr. Strauss codeveloped and validated the key clinical outcome measure used in the phase 2b trial. He was not, however, involved with the development of roluperidone.

Jolynn Tumolo

References

Strauss GP, Zamani Esfahlani F, Sayama H, et al. Network analysis indicates that avolition is the most central domain for the successful treatment of negative symptoms: evidence from the roluperidone randomized clinical trial. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 2020 January 28;[Epub ahead of print].

Mann A. Research offers promise for treating schizophrenia. University of Georgia. Published January 28, 2020. Accessed February 5, 2020.

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Targeting Motivation Could Improve Other Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia - Psych Congress Network

By Bill D. RoebuckFeb. 6, 2020 , 2:00 PM

About 10 years ago, I sat in my office, struggling to muster up the motivation to write an annual progress report for my dean. I enjoy writing grant applications and scientific paperstasks that engage my creativity and further my research. But report writing doesnt come with any reward apart from the momentary satisfaction of crossing something off my to-do list. Like other routine paperwork, I find it hard to get through. So that day, I offered myself a reward: When I finished the report, Id give myself 2 hours to examine slides under the microscopea task Ive always loved but never had much time for as a faculty member.

Working Life is a personal essay series about career issues, challenges, and successes.

Over my 40-year academic career, I have learned that I need to give myself special projects as a reward for completing onerous paperwork. I retired from my faculty position 3 years ago, so thankfully I dont face much paperwork anymore. But I still break out this reward system every so often. Its a strategy I call just for fun.

The strategy was born out of challenges I experienced in grad school. I could handle failed experiments, equipment malfunctions, and other hiccups. Bureaucratic busywork was a bigger hurdle. I usually delayed putting together reports for grant agencies and university administrators until threatening letters arrivedor the deadline was so close that I became gripped with panic. I never felt that paperwork was advancing my science, but rather sapping my energy and time for research.

One of my committee members recognized and understood my difficulties. He asked, If a day is going badly, what might you like to do at workjust for fun? I must have looked confused, because I didnt see how his question was relevant to the problem at hand. Then he told me about his strategy of rewarding himself with a fun project when he completed a task that he didnt particularly enjoy. He advised me to think about doing something similar. I immediately liked the idea, but it took me a few years to fully implement my own system. It also evolved over the course of my career.

As a Ph.D. student, I did not see labwork as a special reward because I already spent most of my time in the lab. So, I devised a different kind of reward: Id let myself attend seminars on topics I was curious about but that lay outside of my immediate field. For example, one day I remember telling myself, If I get this report submitted on time, I am going to that seminar on pathology. I got better at meeting deadlinesand I had some fun in the process.

When I became a faculty member with a lab of my own, my just for fun strategy began to shift. I was at my microscope less and less, and I started to miss it. At the same time, my need for fun rewards multiplied because bureaucratic tasks started to clog up my to-do list.

I give myself special projects as a reward for completing onerous paperwork.

So, as my laboratory grew, I started to jealously guard some small projectssuch as microscope tasks, simple experiments, and data analysesthat I could complete myself. Sometimes I even sought out those projects. For example, a collaborator told me that he was having problems staining liver tumors, so I told him: Send me the slides; I can do that! At that point in my career, my role in research mostly took the form of advising students and technicians. The research didnt feel like my own anymore, and when it was done, I certainly could not say, Look what I discovered! But with the just for fun projects, I had full ownership. I felt as though Id done real science.

Over the course of my career, this strategy helped me complete and move past the parts of my job that I didnt particularly enjoy. The rewards I gave myself provided a way to relax and reminded me why I love being a scientist.

As for that annual report, I spent an uninspiring morning on itbut got it done. Then I hurried over to the microscope, eager to inspect a series of slides that my collaborators had sent a couple weeks earlier.

To others, it may have looked like work. But to me, it was just for fun.

Do you have an interesting career story? Send it toSciCareerEditor@aaas.org.Read thegeneral guidelines here.

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How I motivate myself to complete boring job tasksand have fun in the process - Science Magazine

The San Francisco 49ers allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to complete yet another comeback to secure a win in Super Bowl LIV. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has since caught plenty of flak for his underwhelming performance on the NFLs highest stage.

Garoppolo will undoubtedly continue to revive criticism for not being able to get the job done when it mattered most. According to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, he will use this loss as fuel in the offseason:

If you just look at the stats like that, yeah, it is what it is, Garoppolo said. As an offense, as a team, weve been in that situation multiple times and answered the bell. Its tough that one time you didnt. But thats what people remember, thats the world we live in and you just have to own up to it and be a man about it. It will fuel us in this offseason, fuel me especially in this offseason, to come back better.

It is encouraging to see that Garoppolo has managed to find a silver lining in the crushing 31-20 loss to the Chiefs. Regardless, the question remains about his ability to get this team back to the Super Bowl.

The 49ers made quite the investment to make Garoppolo their franchise quarterback. Although he had gotten off to a promising start, he endured a major setback with a torn ACL in the 2018 campaign. He managed to return for the 2019 NFL season, however, largely served as the weak link of an offense that was carried by it talented rushing attack.

While Garoppolo may already have two Super Bowl rings thanks to his time with the New England Patriots, he still has yet to get one as the lead man in charge. That alone should serve as enough motivation to try and make it back in the near future.

Link:
Jimmy Garoppolo will use fourth quarter of Super Bowl as offseason motivation - ClutchPoints

Science has proven that the power of positive self-talk is real. Studies have shown that self-talk interventions can reduce anxiety and increase self-confidence, self-efficacy, and performance among athletes. Thats why the Microstep of taking a moment to congratulate yourself on your efforts after you finish a workout is so powerful. But positive self-talk can easily be incorporated into other parts of your movement routine, like when youre in need of some extra motivation. The perfect place to start is by picking a positive mantra to have in your toolbox when things get hard, and youre in need of an extra push to make good on your fitness goals.

Check out these positive mantras that have helped members of the Thrive community follow through with their workout routines when theyve needed it most.

Inhale, exhale.

Repeating this phrase does two things: It reminds me to take deeper breaths and recognize that all energy is about circulation. Shallow breathing is often a negative impact of stress. Pulling in more oxygen creates more energy.

Beth Larsen, high performance and happiness coach, New York, NY

Stronger

Ive been doing a lot of mindset work this year, as it was my hardest year ever and required constant resets. One of my coaches told me to come up with a song to play that makes me feel powerful, so I play Stronger by Kanye West. The lyrics help me remember the time I conquered my first 5k, when this song was playing as I crossed the finish line. It always works for me!

Charlese L., virtual assistant, Los Angeles, CA

I do not break promises to myself.

Whenever I think I cannot do something, I counter that thought with the mantra, I do not break promises to myself. This phrase often helps me remember why I started, and why I want to accomplish the goal Ive set. It also gives me a quick self-esteem boost because it serves as a reminder that Im important and worthy.

Alyssa Swantkoski, executive assistant, Denver, CO

You are strong and youve got this.

Those are the two things that I forget first when self-doubt creeps in, so having this mantra is perfect for my replenishment.

Vanessa Leikvoll, corporate wellness, Great Barrington, MA

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4 Motivational Mantras to Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals - Thrive Global

Everyone loves a Cinderella story and this season's may be the Medford Raiders boy's basketball team.

"They love playing basketball," said Medford Head Coach Ryan Brown. "They're willing to build into our entire culture of being relentless and continuing to work hard and just trying to get a little better every practice."

After struggling last season and finishing 10-14, the Raider have completely turned it around this year.

With just five games left in the regular season, the raiders are 14-3. More impressively though, they are a perfect 8-0 in conference play, which puts them atop the Great Northern Conference standings.

"I think we all just finally bought in," said senior Douglas Way. "(We) just do what we need to do to win and get better."

"We know that we've got a target on our back," stated Way's teammate and fellow senior, Justin Sullivan. "Everybody is coming for us and, (we know) how hard we have to work if we want to stay there and want to finish strong like we know we can do."

The last time Medford emerged as the conference champion was in the 2016-2017 season. Which holds a special connection to this year's team.

That's because when those seniors were hoisting the trophy, these seniors were just starting their career as freshman.

For some, it was even more than that. They had brothers on that team.

Which is why they look to the past to inspire the future and motivate in the present.

"We have a bunch of siblings from that group," said Brown. "A lot of these kids saw that group and looked up to them. Now they're always aspiring to be better than them, that's kinda their goal."

And if they could surpass them..

"It's something i've always dreamed of," said Sullivan, whose brother was on that championship team. "I know that everyone else on this team, that's our goal, so if we could do it, that'd just be big it'd be nice to tell our brothers that (we won)."

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Medford's magical season motivated by the past - WAOW

Theformer press secretary of Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyButtigieg: It was 'disgraceful' to hear Trump's attacks on Romney Sanders: I wish other Republicans shared Romney's 'sense of decency' Romney says he expects 'unimaginable' consequences after impeachment vote MOREs (R-Utah) 2012 presidential campaign called his decision to convict President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump discusses coronavirus with China's Xi El Paso Walmart shooting suspect charged under federal hate crime law Buttigieg: It was 'disgraceful' to hear Trump's attacks on Romney MORE on the impeachment charge of abuse of power motivated by bitterness and jealousy.

Rick Gorka, who is now a communications director for the Republican National Committee (RNC), tweeted Wednesday that Trump accomplished what he [Romney] has failed to do multiple times.

I believe Mitt Romney is motivated by bitterness and jealously that @realDonaldTrump accomplished what he has failed to do multiple times. His desire to pander to the chattering class has gotten the best of him...again.

These are the same people that hated Mitt in 2012 and they will hate him again when they are done with him, he added. It is sad to see that Mitt has not learned the lessons from 2012. Now he has betrayed his Party and millions of voters.

Gorkas comments come amid a wave of pushback from the GOP.

The presidents eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., also claimed that Romney was bittertoward the president, and called for him to be expelled from the Senate GOP conference.

Mitt Romney is forever bitter that he will never be POTUS. He was too weak to beat the Democrats then so hes joining them now.

Hes now officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP.

Earlier Wednesday, Ronna Romney McDaniel,chairwoman of theRNC andRomneys niece, said sheand the rest of the GOP committee sides with the president.

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Former Romney campaign spokesman says conviction decision is 'motivated by bitterness and jealousy' | TheHill - The Hill

In 2013, I took up what I considered to be a slackers approach to goal setting. I had been working a steady job in banking for nearly 11 years. I started to get the sense that I was ready to move on. It was a great company with great people, but I was ready for a different industry. I was itching for something less regulated and more creative. In a moment of inspiration, I wrote down a list of what I was looking for. It was radically unspecific.

It included some statements and intentions, with a hunch that Id need a three to five-year timeframe. It was focused on pursuing my purpose, not necessarily a paycheck. Here was that list:

None of those were specific about how to get a job, or exactly what job title or salary I desired. They were centered around how I wanted to live my life. These worked out well for me as Ill explain below, but how is it possible these manifested without focusing on a specific outcome? Theres a psychologist by the name of Steven Hayes who studies how people make goals and who is successful. He found there is a difference between outcome-based goals and values-based goals. Lets take a look at what this typically looks like with some of my clients.

Two Approaches to Goal Setting

Client one might say, I have to get a new job in the next 90 days. They cite a long list of steps and details that they need to have to make it happen. They are usually focusing on achieving a specific salary, job title, or company. This is outcome-based goal setting. Client two might say, I think that maybe my current career is no longer working for me. And Im really interested in exploring some new career options. Ive thought about how I want to spend my day in the future and what my ideal work is going to look like. They imagine forward their ideal day including what types of meetings theyll be taking and decisions theyll be making. While they have a sense of the type of work they want, they remain mentally flexible on how the outcome may transpire. It is important to them to seek alignment of their personal desires and values and that of their prospective company. This is values-based goal setting.

Who do you believe is more successful because they are happier with their decision long-term? According to Hayes, it would be client two who used values-based mindset to set their goals. Its true that the first person might actually reach their goal sooner. They find a job with some legwork, but what they tend to experience is dissatisfaction soon after the new job smell wears off. After the allure of a desired title and salary wear off, they realize they are left with work they dont love. The second person was very specific about their values and how they want to move through life. They werent so much concerned about a timeline, but more so with how they want to feel when they get there. Values-based goal setters, enjoy how they are getting there just as much as the outcome. And, they are happier and more successful as they live out the results of their goals.

How did mine turn out? I did set milestones that helped me keep moving forward, and within that year, I left that company. After much interviewing and declining job offers because they didnt align with my values, I chose to go work for an amazing technology company who strongly valued learning and innovation. Two years after that, I moved on again to work for a bestselling author and keynote speaker to help leaders coach up their teams, drive organizational change and deliver results. Three years in that job prepared me to make my next conscious decision to honor my values and start my own leadership coaching and speaking practice. I get to work with leaders all over the country to help remove what gets in the way of showing up as their most confident selves in life and work. Ultimately, it is living out my final goal of building a foundation for thought leadership and change.

All of this was possible because I paid attention to how I want to feel and what values were important to me. Its a good thing I wasnt fixated on a specific outcome, because my comfort zone would likely have pegged me in a corporate job. As an entrepreneur, If I didnt have certain values to keep me headed toward my True North, it would be easier to lose motivation when my goals dont turn out as planned. Values helped me stay flexible and take some blind leaps of faith and risks along the way.

By This Time Next Year

To put this idea into practice, choose a date in the future. Something very powerful for me is to imagine my life exactly one year in the future, which is why I often title my goal/vision board, By This Time Next Year. Choosing a specific date also works, as in the case of when Im coaching leaders or teams that may have a specific project plan and completion date. But accomplishing what you desire is far more than just picking a date and writing a goal, so much of what has kept me on track is managing my energy and surrounding myself with the right people.

Make four columns with the labels: DATE | FEEL | DO | WHO. Next, ask yourself the following questions.

Continually baby step the dates backward until you arrive at the present day. Half step your actions until you arrive at a doable step forward that feels of progress. This is a great way to beat analysis paralysis and overwhelm because were just reverse engineering until we get to the present. This is taking big leaps starting with your bravest, smallest step.

This feels counterintuitive because we watch other people take what seem to be huge leaps and it seems easy and effortless. But the reality is that much of our meaningful progress forward in life is the result of many small, brave steps in the direction of the life we want to create. It comes from the courage to set healthy boundaries to protect our energy and choose supportive people and habits that will advance, not hinder, our values and goals.

Havent given much thought to what your values might be? Here are some questions: What makes work meaningful to you? What do you want your work to stand for? As your 80-year old self, what will you be telling others you have created? What qualities are non-negotiable to make work fun and enjoyable?

These answers likely wont come overnight. Start noticing what gives you energy and feels effortless. Notice what drains you. Remember, values act as a True North and goals are places you visit along the way.

For more tools to help you rise confidently to your life and career goals (hustle free), I share helpful tip videos every week. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or subscribe!

Originally posted here:
How Defining Values Keeps You Motivated Toward Your Goals - Thrive Global

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No motivation needed for SuperSport ahead of Sundowns clash - SuperSport

Meek Mill and Justin Timberlake dropped their collaborative effort, "Believe," late on Thursday. Just hours before the single's release Mill teased the song on social media, noting it was for "motivational purposes only" ... and, well, he wasn't kidding.

The video, directed by Maxime Quoilin, tells the emotional story of a family split apart after the father sent to prison. The daughter comes to grips and slowly puts her life back together with the help of boxing.

"Follow your dreams not your addictions / How we gon' follow our dreams locked in a prison?," Mill raps, touching on his experience of incarceration. "They tried to swallow me whole, God be my witness / Deprive me outta my dreams, but I'm relentless."

Mill holds up his chains, showing charms with pictures of of Trayvon Martin, and the late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Mill recently paid tribute to the rapper with DJ Khalid, John Legend, Roddy Ricch, among others, at a performance at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Then days after the award show, Mill and Ricch released the track "Letter to Nipsey."

The song approaches its conclusion with Mill and Timberlake trading lines of the notable children's bedtime prayer, "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep," before the music cuts and a woman reads a Bible verse, Luke 21: 25-28 also known as "The Return of the Son of Man."

Watch the video below.

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Meek Mill and Justin Timberlake release motivational single 'Believe' - PhillyVoice.com

To build a cohesive team, you need to carefully select its members, support each other, create incentives and celebrate the wins. Heres how David Parnes and James Harris make it happen at The Agency.

Loyalty is one of the most important aspects when nurturing a strong team. Earning your teams respect and loyalty can take time, but its the foundation for driving team morale and motivating staff to achieve common goals.

We encourage our staff with various incentives, celebrating their accomplishments and our collective wins. It can be a challenging and stressful climate in todays world of luxury real estate.

But through the years, we have been successful, despite the challenges, by supporting one another, working through the challenging days together and, most importantly, making sure we have a little fun in the process.

We have found that building a team with like-minded, experienced individuals who are committed to working toward the same goal is the first step in motivating our team and earning their loyalty and trust.

This allows us to effectively delegate tasks, knowing we can fully trust each team member to follow through and complete the assignment to the best of their ability.

Building a strong culture is also essential, so that your team is proud of the organization they work for, leading to a sense of fulfillment.

Loyal staff will uphold your values and ensure the sustainability of your organization, which is crucial when building a business that lasts. We always urge our staff to share any concerns.

Genuinely caring about all members of your team and their overall happiness in their day-to-day work will help you, as a leader, inspire your team and build a culture that gets each individual excited and fully engaged in their work.

Providing our team with a level of autonomy and leadership within their respective roles has been paramount in creating a sense of ownership and pride for each team member and their work.

We encourage our staff to bring forth ideas, no matter how big or small, enabling them to grow within their role. Collaboration is live and well in our shared office where you can find us constantly bouncing ideas off of one another.

As leaders, we invest in our teams success and always strive to remain plugged in to what is happening at the office.

Our team is intentionally small, so that each person has more control over their respective role and can maintain constant communication with the entire team throughout each transaction.

We have a group text where we are in continuous communication, and we copy all on every email so that we always know whats going on.

The minute you lose touch with your team is when things start to fall apart. Creating a tight-knit group is what has worked well for us from the very beginning. Trust is a key foundation every team must establish to earn their respect and loyalty and give a true sense of ownership.

Developing incentives for our team has been a great way to motivate them to continue to perform at the highest level.

Not only is our staff compensated with salary, but they also make a bonus on each property sale, so their efforts are further rewarded. This financial incentive encourages our team to participate and collaborate on every transaction as they have a personal interest in getting it across the finish line.

We operate as a small family and are invested in each other and the overall success of our team. We spend countless hours together and try to have fun, while encouraging and supporting one another.

As a team, we celebrate each sale. Our social media channels are a platform we use to toast to our teams success alongside our followers and colleagues. We find that its important to support not only our team, but also our colleagues and their efforts. Organizing group bonding activities as often as possible has also helped us stay close.

Each of our staff members takes pride knowing they contributed to closing the deal, which further raises morale and bonds us all together.

James Harris and David Parnes serve as Directors at The Agency and star on Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles. They specialize in high-end residential real estate and investment properties in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

Originally posted here:
How to build a loyal, motivated team - Inman