I am currently reading a book called Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink. This book talks about the difference between intrinsic motivation (personally rewarding) and extrinsic motivation (physical reward). Most people would think that receiving a physical reward like money or candy would make them more willing to accomplish. Through reading this book I have learned that being personally motivated can move me so much further in life than other things.
The author explains and shows multiple experiments that prove this common thought wrong. When people receive a physical reward for something they do, they begin to think of it as a job, a task that just needs to be checked off. While when they are personally motivated to accomplish the task they have that personal desire and want to do it the best they can.
Continually having that intrinsic motivation can be challenging. Especially when we need those physical rewards to pay rent and buy food. But if you can have that personal motivation in as many things as you can, your life can become so much more rewarding for you.
That old saying about dragging a horse to water came to mind. That horse definitely needs to have a little motivation to get there but if it doesn't what can we do? I think we all get a little more motivation at the beginning of the year with goals and about two months later....yeah, we know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book! I'll have to add it to my list. The author's ideas make so much sense. If I'm doing something that I want to do for myself or can personally apply to myself, then my enjoyment from it and my willingness to do it will both increase. Having a good motivation for something can bring more happiness into a person's life.
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