To live happily, motivation needs to be internal.
Yes, it “works” to be motivated through carrots and sticks. Suffer now, to get external approval. Suffer now, to avoid pain and punishment.
External motivation may “work” to “get you” to do something, but life will suck!
Because you’ll be doings you hate.
If you hate eating healthy food, hate going to the gym, or you hate your job, you’ll be filling your life doings things you hate.
You’ll be watching the clock and waiting for the end of that activity.
But internal motivation is:
A) Voluntary. Self-driven. Intentional.
B) Seeing through the connection between present effort, immediate benefit, AND future benefit.
I am energized by hard, purposeful work. I foster the flow state. I build momentum. I build confidence and self-esteem. I eat well and move my body because I feel better in the near-term.
AND I reap future benefits.
Doing things because you “have to,” “should,” or “supposed to,” all suck.
(This is the product of the schooled mind.)
How much of your few decades on this planet will be spent through exciting choice, vs. obligatory necessity?
Will you do what makes you come alive?
For to come ALIVE is the fullest expression of motivation.
