Achieving a goal requires action. These actions are driven by a set of factors determined by motivation. Motivation is the essence or energy each person needs to take action. Have you ever lacked energy? Where did you find the strength to start again? You’ve certainly found reasons to keep fighting to achieve your goals. Whether it’s someone or something that has prompted you to do so, know that the best motivation is the one you find deep down inside. Yes, that pleasure, that enjoyment that drives you to accomplish your tasks. This is intrinsic motivation. It’s the key to your success.

Money, power, fame: these are all common reasons for pushing ourselves beyond our limits. However, these are only external motivations. As such, they’re no guarantee of success. Sooner or later, you’ll tire of them, because they’re not what you really want. In fact, internal motivation is the best way to live life to the full. Find out what it’s all about in this article.

What is intrinsic motivation?

In the school environment, teachers use grades, exams and tests to encourage or compel learners to take an interest in their lessons. This is what we call extrinsic motivation. But does it really work? Not really. Many students are judged to be bad because they have bad grades, bad results. That’s because they’re not really interested in conventional teaching, despite the imposed system.

The motivation to study cannot come from external reasons. Instead of motivating us, they would only put pressure on us. Only intrinsic motivation can lead us to success. The key to success lies within us, not the other way around. That’s why, in the same system, there are those who are excellent, who win scholarships and are admired by everyone. They do it because they’re motivated by something other than teachers, parents and the system. They thrive on personal conviction. They really know what they want, so nothing and nobody can stop them.

Intrinsic motivation (or internal motivation) is therefore, by definition, that which involves the internal factors stimulating one’s determination, the pleasure of achieving a goal without being corrupted by one’s environment. These internal rewards fuel and reward commitment. The resulting behavior is therefore more assertive.

When you do something just for fun, see how it makes you feel. To realize your dreams, you need to be animated by these feelings. This will help you to cope with the obstacles you encounter.

What factors stimulate intrinsic motivation?

Internal motivation is linked to the individual. Different factors come into play. Some may be more intimate than others, but they are generally as follows.

SELF-ESTEEM
This is the conviction most intimately linked to an individual. The only person you will live with constantly for the rest of your life is yourself. You won’t live with your parents forever. Your partner may leave you after many years together. And the same applies to your friends.

The better your self-image, the better your intrinsic motivation. So it’s vital to have the highest opinion of yourself. Self-esteem is an unshakeable source of motivation that will pull you forward in everything you do. You know what you want and what you’re worth.

CURIOSITY
It’s often said that this is an ugly flaw, but it’s a double-edged sword. Intellectual curiosity has enabled human beings to discover and invent the most useful objects. Indeed, without it, the characters in the story would not have been able to accomplish their feats. Intrinsic motivation is sharpened and stimulated when we want to know something. It’s powerful and can make us act without thinking too hard. Isn’t that the mark of the most ingenious? Taking risks, not thinking too much about the consequences before acting, always makes for the best projects.

THE GIFT OF SELF
The satisfaction of helping others, of being altruistic and useful for someone else’s happiness, is a personal feeling that determines our actions.

DREAMS
This is the driving force behind all our actions. When you know what you want to do, it becomes your intrinsic motivation. In other words, it gives meaning to your existence. It’s a vital internal motivation that pushes and pulls you forward every day.

External factors that can be considered a source of internal motivation

CONTROL OVER YOURSELF AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT
This is an important quality if we are to avoid succumbing to vices with devastating consequences in our lives. Self-control is an important source of motivation to help us stay on track. The more control you have over yourself, your feelings and your behaviors, the more it develops your intrinsic motivation and enables you to stay focused on your objectives without becoming scattered.

COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION
These factors can also be external, but when they are internal, they are more conclusive. Accomplishments, positive affirmations, being recognized by others as the most competent, being better than others – these are all factors that give pleasure and boost self-esteem. Internal motivation increases tenfold.

THE CHALLENGE
When we have well-defined goals, we are more motivated. We give our best. It’s intrinsic motivation that drives us to win these self-imposed personal challenges.

The power of internal motivation

Whether internal or external, motivations are triggers for action and behavior. One or the other pulls and pushes us to achieve a given goal. But extrinsic motivation linked to external factors is only effective in the short term. When you let a reward guide you, for example, as soon as you get it, the pressure disappears. Your enthusiasm or persistence drops. In short, external motivation is a superficial desire, whereas intrinsic motivation is a deep-rooted aspiration. This is a trap to be avoided.

Let’s take an example: in companies, employers set up challenges to reward the best salesperson. During the defined period, salespeople make enormous efforts to become the best. Once the challenge has been met, sales plummet and they return to their daily routine, because there’s nothing left at stake. This is the reality of extrinsic motivation.

On the other hand, results are very different when motivation is based on external bonuses or rewards. Yes, with intrinsic motivation, everything is long-term, and behaviors are positive and committed. Actions are carried out with a growing desire to do more. There’s more stamina and perseverance. Creativity, good performance and productivity are increased. The people they have are not content with the little, because their motivation comes from them and not from the proposals and gains offered by others. The result is more action, more results and more success in the short and long term.

INTRINSIC MOTIVATION: THE KEY TO FINDING YOUR WAY
From an early age, most people don’t know what to do with their lives. How many of us haven’t asked ourselves: what’s the meaning of my life? What is my mission on this earth? What am I going to do with my life? These are questions that many of us are still unable to answer as adults. That’s why most of them don’t excel at what they do.

The secret to solving all this? Intrinsic motivation. Once you have it, nothing can stop you. It’s important that you understand that the desire to do something has to come from you, not from someone else or from external parameters. If you can apply this principle to your life, it will smile upon you. From that moment on, you’ll never experience life in the same way again.

What to remember?

As a general rule, internal motivation is considered the best stimulus for achieving long-term goals. If an individual has strong intrinsic motivation, he or she can accomplish what needs to be done with pleasure and much more rigor.

Whether in the school system, in the workplace or in the education we give our children every day, we need to change our approach. Personal convictions are a more powerful source of determination. Consequently, we must always try to help our children, subordinates or learners to find personal reasons for doing what we ask of them. They must do it according to their deepest aspirations. That way, they do it for their own pleasure. Intrinsic motivation is undoubtedly the key to a successful life.

But unfortunately, a person can’t constantly motivate themselves in this way in every situation. So it’s up to you to find what works best for you.