Motto-goals describe a desired mind-set and provide a person with a guiding principle of how to approach a personal goal or obligation (e.g., with the inner strength of a bear I am forging ahead). We propose that motto-goals can be conceptionalized as individually created metaphors and that the figurative, metaphorical language and the characteristics of the formation process make them effective in changing the perception of unpleasant personal obligations as more inherently enjoyable and raise vitality levels. To test whether a newly devised minimalistic motto-goal intervention can make goal striving more attractive (stronger anticipation of activity related incentives) and energize goal-oriented action (increase vitality) in relation to an unpleasant obligation, two experimental studies were conducted. In Study 1 the motto-goal condition led to stronger anticipation of activity related incentives and vitality compared to a distraction task. The effect on vitality was partially mediated by a change in feelings of autonomy. Study 2 replicated the effects compared to a placebo intervention and further found motto-goals to be specifically effective in increasing the anticipation of activity related incentives as opposed to outcome related incentives. The results support that applying motto-goals built with a newly developed minimalist motto-goal intervention can influence the subjective experience of individuals faced with a previously unpleasant obligation.

座右铭描述了理想的思维定势，并为一个人提供了如何实现个人目标或义务的指导原则（例如，凭借我正在向前迈进的熊的内在力量）。我们建议，座右铭可以被概念化为单独创建的隐喻，并且比喻性，隐喻性的语言和形成过程的特征使其可以有效地改变人们对不愉快的个人义务的理解，使之更加固有地令人愉悦并提高了生命力。为了测试新设计的简约的座右铭目标干预措施是否可以使目标实现更具吸引力（对与活动相关的激励措施的期望更高）并激发与不愉快义务相关的面向目标的行动（增强活力），进行了两项实验研究。在研究1中，与分心任务相比，座右铭目标条件导致对与活动相关的激励和活力的期望更高。对活力的影响部分地由自主感觉的改变来介导。研究2复制了与安慰剂干预措施相比的效果，并进一步发现座右铭在提高与活动相关的激励措施的预期方面特别有效，与结果相关的激励措施相反。结果表明，采用由新近开发的极简主义座右铭干预措施建立的座右铭可能会影响那些以前承担过不愉快义务的个人的主观体验。研究2复制了与安慰剂干预措施相比的效果，并进一步发现座右铭在提高与活动相关的激励措施的预期方面特别有效，与结果相关的激励措施相反。结果表明，采用由新近开发的极简主义座右铭干预措施建立的座右铭可能会影响那些以前承担过不愉快义务的个人的主观体验。研究2复制了与安慰剂干预措施相比的效果，并进一步发现座右铭在提高与活动相关的激励措施的预期方面特别有效，与结果相关的激励措施相反。结果表明，采用由新近开发的极简主义座右铭干预措施建立的座右铭可能会影响那些以前承担过不愉快义务的个人的主观体验。