Intrinsic Motivation is Key

How many of you wonder why your tank runs empty and you forfeit certain behaviors when times get hard?

A long time ago I mistakenly believed that money, recognition, and a perfect body were the keys to a joyful life. I thought if I could just make enough money to be rich, publish enough research articles to get recognized, and shape my body according to the current trends, I would be on top of the world. The truth is none of those things can compete with what it feels like to have your inner-curiosity guide you or your deep desire to change a field for the better.

Chasing all of those external rewards led to burn-out and a deep apathy for my life. The desire to wake up for the sake of enjoying my day and appreciating the moments waned fast and hard leaving me with air when I tried to grasp onto something more meaningful. Yes, money is necessary to live life on your terms, but it is more of a relationship than it is a paper object we all seem to bend over backwards for. So what did I learn from all of this? (Besides the fact that I cannot bend over backwards)

When we are externally motivated the thing we want most exists outside of us and it can be really hard to use it as fuel when hardship knocks at your door. The reasoning behind it isn’t as powerful as the why that comes from within you. Here’s one example of how I know that intrinsic…