Self-motivation

10. SELF-MOTIVATION

What is self-motivation?

Self-motivation is the force that constantly pushes us to go on. It’s our internal drive to achieve, produce, develop, and keep moving forward. It’s the ability to take opportunities and show commitment when facing different activities and challenges in our daily lives.

However, the real motivations that drive us to do things are often very different, and it is interesting to understand what’s behind our will or even the lack thereof.

For example, when we work on something we don’t really like but are instead motivated by the money we receive for this work, this is called “extrinsic” motivation. This is not based on the satisfaction of performing a chain of actions that comprise our efforts but rather on a reward that is only indirectly related to it: as if it were a byproduct.

On the other hand, “intrinsic” motivation is the impulse we feel that comes from within ourselves to perform an activity, rather than an external reward we might reap from doing so. In this case, we feel pleasure and satisfaction in the process of engaging in the activity and not only upon its completion—such as when playing a sport we truly enjoy.

In conclusion, self-motivation is a forceful energy that can help us fulfill our goals and objectives in life, improve our resilience in facing difficulties, and challenge ourselves. However, it is also interesting to reflect on our true motivations to understand why we do what we do in order to set clear and realistic goals in accordance with our real motivations and will.

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Why is self-motivation important?

Self-motivation can help you push yourself to meet your goals, helps widen your perspective, and allows you to see things differently with a higher degree of approachability. Thus, you can in turn categorise your goals more efficiently when you learn to reflect on your actions. When you’re ready to quit or just don’t know where to start, your self-motivation is what pushes you to forge ahead.

Moreover, self-motivation is a key component of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the measure of one’s ability to recognise and manage his or her own emotions and those of other people. Self-motivation’s relevance to emotional intelligence highlights its role within our ability to understand ourselves, relate to others, and succeed in reaching our goals.

Therefore, self-motivation involves the following components:

Achievement and goal orientation Commitment to established objectives Initiative/willingness to act Optimism/positive outlook

As American president Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

How can you develop self-motivation?

Given the benefits of self-motivation explained above, your next question might revolve around if you can become more self-motivated.

The answer is a definite “yes.” Here are some related tips:

Set realistic goals

Take an appropriate level of risk

Constantly seek feedback to learn how to improve

Engage in your passions

Stay committed to personal and/or organisational goals and go the extra mile to achieve them

Continue learning and acquiring knowledge Spend time with motivated, enthusiastic, and supportive people

Cultivate a positive mindset and build your optimism and resilience

Identify and work on your strengths and weaknesses

Avoid procrastination and work on your time management skills

Get help when you need it, and be willing to help others succeed (Skills You Need)

Maintain the ability to address setbacks and continue to pursue your goals despite obstacles

Use difficulties as an impetus; obstacles or problems that come our way can make us feel bad and weaken us, or they can help us become stronger and move forward (it’s up to us!)