I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.
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Intrinsic motivation is when doing an activity is rewarding in and of itself. A child wants to be on a basketball team because he or she loves to play basketball, or he or she is fascinated with the idea of learning the game. The reward is internal versus extrinsic motivation, which is when you do something to receive an award or avoid punishment. For example, a child wanting to make the basketball team to be popular is an example of extrinsic motivation; the popularity is the award.
Here are a few more examples:
Most people don’t go to work because they love going to their job (intrinsic). They go because they receive money for it (extrinsic). A child does chores to receive an allowance or to avoid punishment (extrinsic).
Do you love the idea of starting a practice because the challenge excites you (intrinsic)? Or do you like the idea of starting a practice because the potential financial reward (extrinsic) is intriguing enough for you to do it?
Do you genuinely enjoy spending time with your partner (intrinsic), or are you in it for the primary reward of financial security, companionship, and the opportunity to have children (extrinsic)? Do you stay with your partner for love (intrinsic), or because the consequences of leaving would be too difficult (extrinsic)?
Do you struggle to accomplish anything without deadlines (extrinsic), or do you love the feeling of getting your work done and can’t stop yourself from doing it as soon as possible (intrinsic)?
We all have intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Because intrinsic motivation relies directly on how you honestly feel about something, this type of motivation is a more effective way of creating long-term happiness. If you want to develop more intrinsic motivation in your day-to-day life, these three techniques will help:
1. Make a list of the things you love to do
If your doctor tells you that you need to do more exercise, you can do many different exercise types. You could play tennis, run, swim, lift weights, or play soccer. If one of those activities is very enjoyable to you, it only makes sense to choose that activity. Whenever you need to do something, consider the most enjoyable way to accomplish it. When you can find something you enjoy, it will be hard to stop yourself from doing it.
2. Learn how to reward yourself
A reward can be as simple as pumping your fist in the air and congratulating yourself. Avoid using an external reward system, if possible. Imagine that you want to do 25 pushups each morning. After completing your pushups, you jump up in the air and tell yourself how awesome you are. In time, that simple reward can make pushups enjoyable and attractive. This is also how habits can be created.
3. Understand why you are doing something
Even the smallest of tasks can be linked to a greater purpose. Playing piano scales might seem mundane, but if you believe they are an integral part of learning to master the piano, they seem a lot more meaningful. Most people can’t fathom why a millionaire or billionaire would continue to work. That’s because most people work only to make money. Take the money away, and they quickly stop going to work. Give them enough money that they don’t need to work anymore, and they’ll quit. However, the billionaire becomes a billionaire because he or she loves building and creating. Their primary motivation is intrinsic; the money is secondary. That’s why they never stop working.
Intrinsic motivation will keep you coming back for more. Extrinsic motivation is less reliable. When the external reward vanishes or becomes less enticing, you’ll stop repeating that behavior. Find things you love to do and do them. Use your natural interests to your advantage, and greater happiness will be the result.
Need help surrounding yourself with positive people? Check out this article about mastermind groups.
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I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Follow me on social media @DrHassanRehab.
