Motivation is that drive that pushes us to fight for a goal that excites us, no matter how hard it is to reach it. When we are motivated, working every day becomes easier; on the contrary, when fatigue sets in and obstacles appear along the way, staying consistent becomes more difficult. In this post, we will discuss the types of motivation, which ones we should pursue, and how to maintain them.
Keep reading if you also need that extra boost of energy for your daily routine!
We could define motivation as the spark that ignites a set of actions leading to the achievement of a goal we deeply desire. Motivation is the force that drives us to move forward during challenging moments and compels us to get back on track when we stray off course — but this is not always easy. Depending on the complexity of our goals, motivation can fluctuate, sometimes even leading us to give up.
What to do when motivation disappears? Can that spark be reignited? The answer is yes — but first, it’s necessary to understand how the different types of motivation work and how to find them.
Motivation doesn’t always come from the same source, and depending on where it comes from, we talk about different types of motivation.
Broadly speaking, motivation can be divided into two main types: extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. The former comes from external factors, such as rewards. The latter stems from internal factors within each person, such as the desire for self-improvement or personal growth. Both are equally valid, but intrinsic motivation feels more satisfying and tends to last longer over time.
Let’s take a closer look at the other types of motivation below — stay tuned and start developing the one that best fits your personality.
Positive motivation starts from one’s own initiative and is maintained by the pleasant reward (of any kind, internal or external) that results from the action performed.
This refers to the process by which a person takes action to prevent something negative from happening. It could be to avoid external punishment or unpleasant feelings such as frustration, fear, or sadness.
This type of motivation has a strong sense of commitment — for example, the dedication an athlete has to their performance or a player to their team. It arises when one action directly triggers a reaction.
We could say that daily motivation is the most productive and the one that helps us feel our best day by day. It involves feeling that we overcome new, small challenges every day, which keeps us active and alert.
This arises when we compare ourselves to others and want to be the best in any field. Competitiveness doesn’t have to be bad, as long as we know how to manage it and it doesn’t end up affecting our mental health or limiting others’ freedom.
This type of motivation also stems from the desire to improve oneself, aiming to progress in a field and reach new goals.
If you’re tired, learn to rest, not to quit.
You’ve probably heard this phrase more than once, and although it’s almost a mantra, it carries deep meaning. Sometimes we think motivation appears out of nowhere and will always be there, and mistakenly, when it fades, we assume our goal wasn’t worth it. But that’s just a form of self-deception that only leads us to give up and fail over and over again.
It’s normal to have motivation peaks, tired days, or periods when other problems affect us. It’s also normal for motivation to disappear — but when that happens, you should consider two things: how far you’ve already come and the reward that awaits.
When motivation doesn’t exist, let obligation persist.
This is another key phrase to repeat whenever you feel like giving up. If you want to reach a goal, you won’t always be able to rely on motivation, but you can rely on discipline and willpower. You’ll see how good it feels to fulfill your duties!
Aside from inspirational quotes, here are some very practical tips:
We hope this post has helped you better understand how motivation works. Don’t forget to read our other posts for more content on professional development and self-improvement!
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