What Motivates You?

Extrinsic Motivators

To motivate means to provide with, or affect as, a motive or motives; to incite or impel. Supposedly, if we have the right motives and know how to take the appropriate actions, we will be motivated. Outside sources like motivational speakers, audio­tapes, videotapes, and books are all jam-packed with outstanding and powerful life changing ideas. We may instantly feel that we can do it all with re­newed enthusiasm and optimism about our lives. But in a few days, we go right back to the same attitudes, behavioral patterns, and results.

Fear Motivation

When you consider the word motivation, it is the combination of two words, motive, and action. If the motive to take action comes from a personal fear, it can make us move in a certain direction. If there is a big enough threat to the quality of our life, we will take immediate action to avoid loss. Unfortunately, nature has an easy come, easy go balance sheet. Fear motivation may work for a while, but we humans are very adaptable creatures. We can adjust to the worst of circumstances. Besides being stressful, at best, fear motivation is temporary. After all, people can adjust to being terminally ill. If we can adjust to certain death, how much fear motivation can be permanent? Once we adjust mentally to the potential loss, we no longer take action to avoid it. The motives for the action stop, so the action itself stops. Ultimately progress ceases to move forward.

Incentive Motivation

With incentive motivation, it’s the carrot on the end of a stick in front of a donkey pulling a cart. This works if the carrot is big enough, the stick is short enough, the cart is light enough, and the donkey is hungry enough. Change any of these vari­ables, however, and incentive motivation stops. When it does work, the donkey must eventually get the carrot. Then a bigger carrot, a shorter stick, or a lighter cart may be necessary before the process works again. As a motivational technique, incentive motivation is both tricky and temporary.

Intrinsic Motivation

Unlike extrinsic motivation, which relies on external incentives, intrinsic motivation is often fueled by internal factors like personal interest or passion, a sense of purpose, curiosity, and the desire for mastery. Things like autonomy, where you feel in control of your actions, and competence, where you feel capable and effective, also play a big role. Plus, meaningful goals and personal values can definitely keep that motivation going.

Research suggests that intrinsic motivation leads to greater persistence, creativity, and overall well-being. It plays a crucial role in learning, personal development, and long-term success.

The Many Dimensions of Motivation