Motivation
Part 1
What is motivation?
Have you ever wanted to do or accomplish something? Have you ever wondered what is it that gets you to act. That feeling that comes over you that tells you this is something that must be done in order to reach a higher level of success. That feeling, that driving force, is called motivation. .
Motivation is the instinct of a person that helps them achieve his/her motives or goals. Motivation guides us to take action. It is the main “driver” that gets you to act on your wants and needs. A person who gets motivated puts all his energies into achieving the goals or motives in pursuit of meaning, purpose and a life worth living. This is basically answering the question… Why we do what we do!
Types of motivation (reasons why we do what we do)
There are two main types of motivation; intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. What is the difference.
Intrinsic motivation (pulls you to do something)
Intrinsic motivation comes from within. It is based on the internal instincts of a person. A person who is intrinsically motivated works hard to gain experience and the satisfaction of pushing through and they don’t care about the physical reward. Their reasons why pull them towards their particular goals or outcome. This type of motivation is considerably most sustainable. It pulls you because you believe that this is the right course of action.
Examples; enjoyment, purpose, growth, passion, curiosity, self-expression, fun, gaining experience, mastery
Extrinsic motivation (pushes you to do something)
Extrinsic motivation comes from external motivating factors. A person who is externally motivated works hard because they know they will get something out of it like a reward, promotion, or a benefit. Their external reasons push them to obtain the goal or outcome. This type of motivation is good for short term but is not sustainable in the long run. Motivation can easily just vanish as soon as people hit their goals.
Examples; trophies, money, compensation, praise, social recognition, avoiding punishment, compliance,
Final words
Motivation is important for achieving goals in life. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators are great way to keep a person on track but, when it comes to sustainability, intrinsic motivation will keep the individual motivated when things get tough and when the external environment changes.
Finding your reasons can be difficulty but you need to take a real honest look at your life and see what your values are. What will you stand for, what does your life mean, and what are you going to do to change it for the better?
Stay positive and surround yourself with positive people. We all have the ability to act to reach a higher level of self. Don’t wait, look inside and find your reasons. We are all meant for something more!
Good luck and thanks for reading.
To learn more about motivation and why it’s so hard to stay motivated click Motivation Part-2.
