Internal vs External Motivation: Which one is better?
Motivation- we want more of it. We question; What will get me motivated to earn more money? Why can’t I get up off the couch and do something productive? Sound familiar? We all have those days.
Very often we look for motivation from some external source or power. We have thoughts of fruitful achievements and doing wonderful things for ourselves and others, but the drive to begin a project or to initiate change is just not there.
Yes, external factors can be effective in certain circumstances such as getting recognition, more money and social rewards, those are all motivating, but not for everything we want to achieve.
What about the internal factors that we have to consider and think about to motivate us to greatness? They might be a little more challenging because we have to consider our sense of purpose, what makes us happy and what satisfies us personally.
Both internal motivation and external motivating factors have their place in our lives, and I don’t believe one is better than the other, it’s just a matter of finding a balance like everything else in life. There are differences in the two approaches.
Internal or what is often called intrinsic motivation might be long lasting, promote consistency, and foster personal satisfaction for most individuals and on the flip side it can be hard to sustain when you experience overwhelming stress or physical exhaustion.
External motivation (extrinsic) can be beneficial for short term goals or those jobs we don’t find enjoyable. It might give us the kick we need to get started but it may not provide the lasting behavioral change we want.
Uniting them both might be the delicate balance to explore when you find yourself in a struggle with yourself. But whether you seek external or internal motivation it will take self-exploration, tuning into your personal values, rewarding yourself for your victories and setting goals in small manageable steps. For external motivation you might start with setting a goal date, identify rewards for reinforcement in accomplishing your tasks. For internal motivation you might connect with what you find enjoyable brings self-fulfillment or meaning to your life.