We at Endurance Athletics believe a strong mind is just as important as a strong body. So how do you fuel a strong mind? This post looks at intrinsic motivation.
Have you ever had a dream? Of course you did; we all have. Bring it to mind. If you’ve dropped that dream completely or left it on a dusty shelf, it’s time to bring it back and review it with a new lens.
How not to fuel your mind
Our society is obsessed with external (or extrinsic) motivation. Money has become the focal point of our time (for obvious reasons). The second biggest motivator is the approval of others.
So when you think of a dream, the natural questions that arise are probably: “Can I make a living off of this?” and “What if people disapprove, or no one cares at all?” And those lead to: “Is it even worth my time?”
This preference to external motivators is the death of lofty dreams for our generation.
The beauty of this problem is that it’s an issue within our own perspective. Which means you can change it.
What is intrinsic motivation?
An article from Healthline (link below) gave the best definition: Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any obvious external rewards. You do it because it’s enjoyable and interesting, rather than because of an outside incentive or pressure to do it.
Along with satisfying psychological needs like competence and autonomy, Healthline wrote that intrinsic motivation also involves seeking out and engaging in activities that we find challenging, interesting, and internally rewarding without the prospect of any external reward.
When was the last time you did something simply because you enjoyed doing it? If you removed money and status as motivators for your current priority, what would you do? How would you spend your time? What projects would you undertake? What topics would you study?
Using intrinsic motivation as a tool
What I’ve laid out here is more than an abstract concept. Use it as a tool to reevaluate your life. If your priorities are entirely focused on external motivations like money or status, you’re probably hurting for a change. Craving something that you’re passionate about. Something that has no value outside of the joy that it brings you.
Return to the dreams you’ve carried for years and review them through a different lens. Drop the money-only mentality and find time (even one hour per week) to dedicate to a dream. Rid your brain of the imagined disapproval from others; it’s a figment of your imagination anyway.
One dream brought to life and more to come
Intrinsic motivation brought to life a passion project that I put off for years because of fears – fears based in external motivation. In fact, the extended version of this post first ran on that passion project. For details on my own journey, check that out here.
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Additional information:
How to Pick Up Healthy Motivation Techniques
The Power of Intrinsic Motivation: A free 45-minute Webinar by Lime-Ade
Morgan is a part-time writer, a designer for the news company Gannett, and founder of Better Self Blog. Things she’s obsessed with include: her two kids, her hubby/soulmate, fantasy novels, Ted Talks, making lists, and overthinking. Pronouns: she/her.
Thanks for another great post! Intrinsic motivation carries you so much farther than all the extrinsic motivators ever can. For me personally, cycling, running, and studying Japanese are all because I want to. I do those things in my free time because I enjoy doing them and am fueled by passion. Sure, they have other benefits that come with them, but I would never be able to stick to doing those things on a regular basis if I didn’t love them. You’re so right about people needing to spend time working on things just because they want to. That’s where real happiness is found.