"Most people aren't anywhere near to realizing their creative potential, in part because they're laboring in environments that impede intrinsic motivation." – Teresa Amabile

Have you ever wondered why you find yourself extremely motivated to start a project, but you reach burnout quickly thereafter?

Following my athletic career, I spent years trying to motivate myself to feel that same feeling I felt when I was training to make the Olympic Team. I was always completely baffled when I would reach burnout in what seemed to be such a short period of time after starting a job. I labeled myself a flake and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t find that same drive to succeed in work that I did in sport. It wasn’t until recently, when I began to study the difference between intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, that I realized I was doing it all wrong for the past twenty years. 

Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation drive behavior and an outcome, but let’s take a closer look at the difference between the two.

Intrinsic Motivation: You feel inspired or energized because a task is internally rewarding. You find joy in this task and perform it because you love doing it, or it makes you feel good, regardless of any physical reward from performing such a task.

Extrinsic Motivation: You are inspired to perform a task with the intention of receiving a physical reward or avoiding punishment. The task you are completing doesn’t necessarily bring you joy or satisfaction internally. 

Extrinsic motivation is often times used by employers to motivate their employees (i.e. think bonuses or salary increases). The issue with extrinsic motivation is that once the dopamine rush of receiving the reward has been realized, you are back to square one, looking for the next, sometimes greater, dopamine rush. This is an endless cycle that will eventually lead to burnout.

On the other hand, when you experience intrinsic motivation, you are motivated by the joy and satisfaction of doing what you love to do which is far more sustainable in the long term.

Consider the times that you have been working on a project, and you have felt what psychologists have coined as flow. 

“Flow is a cognitive state where one is completely immersed in an activity—from painting and writing to prayer and surfboarding. It involves intense focus, creative engagement, and the loss of awareness of time and self.” – Psychology Today

When I think of the moments I have experienced flow, it is generally doing things that bring me joy and satisfaction – things that are intrinsically rewarding. 

Question for those of you reading:

How are you currently motivated at your job? Do you experience flow at work, or do you find yourself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, as you attempt to chase the dangling carrot? If the dangling carrot isn’t doing its job anymore, there is no better time than the present to explore a career that aligns with what you are intrinsically motivated to do.

In pursuit of happiness!
Erin