What is Motivation?
Motivation can be viewed as fuel used to get from one place to another.
Types of Motivation – Internal vs External
Motivation can come in various forms, but typically you can distinguish between internal and external motivation. In general, internal motivation comes from within; therefore, it is an experience you truly enjoy as opposed to an experience motivated by an outside force. The outside force may be financial or academic in nature.
There can be many instances where you find yourself primarily motivated by either internal or external factors. Understanding these factors can allow you to better reflect on the areas of your life where you are primarily driven by the positive and negative aspects of motivation. Motivation (both external and internal) plays a significant role for students. However, there will be days when you feel very motivated and other days when you feel unmotivated. With that said, the following pages provide you with tools to help increase your motivation and to gather some knowledge on motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is inherent, as it drives the direction of an individual’s behavior and self-determination. Self-determination is important in the development of beings to become more effective and refined in their reflection of ongoing experiences . When students experience the inherent satisfaction of the activity itself, they will show intrinsically motivated behavior. If students are doing the activity in order to attain some reward, such as grades or social recognition, they are extrinsically motivated. Students’ motivated behaviors pertaining to choice, effort and persistence in academic tasks correspond directly with their level of intrinsic motivation .
Numerous studies have examined the effects of intrinsic motivation, including the adaptive consequences for individuals such as exposing them to novel situations and developing their diverse competencies to cope with unforeseen circumstances . In addition, intrinsic motivation is the propensity for individuals to learn about new subjects and to differentiate their interests, thereby fostering a sense of purpose and meaning . Recent empirical findings have shown that intrinsic motivation is a key factor in academic achievement and pursuit of interest , thus fostering learning and growth.
Motivation and Mindset are NOT The Same Thing
Stop for a second and think about the last time you were motivated.
It probably was not that long ago. It may have been that you were motivated by FEAR. The fear of having a heart attack crept in because you saw someone else have one, therefore you started eating healthier and working out. But it did not last.
Maybe you were motivated by ACCOMPLISHMENT…the thought of being recognized. You found out there was a college showcase coming up in two weeks and you were all of the sudden motivated to train hard, get to sleep early, and eat cleaner than Tom Brady. But after the showcase, you went back to the old you.
Maybe you were motivated by the words of a coach or speaker. He or she did a “RAH RAH” type speech or presentation, got you all fired up, and you went out ready to change the world. 24 hours later, that motivation died off…
The question is, WHY?!?
Motivation and Mindset are not the same, and only a change in Mindset will result in lasting change and improvement.
Motivation is feeling like you’re ready to move forward, getting yourself hyped up to take action.
We all know that motivation is an unreliable path for accomplishing our goals.
Mindset is holding a set of beliefs, particularly about ourselves. Having the right mindset can fuel discipline. Having the wrong mindset can paralyze you.
Check your mindset daily by looking at your actions. They will tell you if your mindset needs a tune-up.
Ask yourself:
1. Do my actions reflect the best course of action for success? If not…
2. What are the actions I need to take to achieve my goals?
3. What are the beliefs that stand in the way of these actions?
3. What do I need to believe to take consistent action in the direction of my goals?
Why Mindset Trumps Motivation
Mindset is more important than motivation because motivation is a fleeting emotion, while mindset is a lasting framework of beliefs that determines how you respond to challenges and failures. Motivation is the spark that gets you started, but mindset is the engine that keeps you moving when the excitement fades. Here is why mindset holds more power, along with real-life examples.
Motivation Is Short-Lived, but Mindsets are Long-Lasting: The feelings that impact motivation can change from day-to-day depending on how much energy we have or whether we “feel good.” On the other hand, Mindset is developed over time, through intention, and has a permanent effect on your perception and beliefs about what is possible.
Mindset Determines How You Respond to Obstacles: A “Growth” mindset views obstacles as learning experiences, while a fixed mindset views them as reasons for quitting. Therefore, when you reach an obstacle and all of your past experiences have been based on motivation, you will probably stop moving towards success.
Mindset Results in Discipline: Because a mindset has been developed through intention and represents how you see yourself consistently, it provides you with discipline to take the actions you need to take to achieve your goals regardless of whether you “feel” like it or not.
Mindset Creates Reality (Confirmation Bias): The way you perceive the world around you and what you see will all depend on your mindset. Therefore, your mindset is a filter for you to see evidence that supports your belief system, and it allows you to focus on progress, rather than obstacles to your progress.
Real-Life Examples
1. The Fitness Journey: Motivation vs. Discipline
- Motivated Person: Joins a gym on January 1st, full of energy. By February, after not seeing immediate results, they stop going because the motivation has worn off.
- Mindset-Driven Person: Understands that health is a long-term goal. They don’t look forward to waking up at 5 am, but their “growth mindset” (e.g., “I am someone who takes care of their body”) leads to discipline. They show up even when they feel lazy, seeing exercise as a routine rather than an optional fun activity.
2. Entrepreneurship and Failure
- Fixed Mindset (Low Motivation): An entrepreneur launches a product, but it fails to gain traction. They think, “I’m not cut out for this,” and give up, believing their ability is fixed.
- Growth Mindset (High Mindset): An entrepreneur launches a product, and it fails. They view this as data—a lesson on what customers don’t want. They tweak the strategy, improve their skills, and try again, driven by the belief that they can learn and grow from the experience.
3. Learning a New Skill (e.g., Singing or Coding)
- Example from Dr. Jacob Towery: Dissatisfied with his singing, he took lessons for nine months. He did not have innate talent (fixed mindset limitation), but his mindset allowed him to view singing as a “cultivable skill.” His singing became “remarkably less terrible,” proving that effort and mindset triumph over innate ability.
4. The Daily Grind vs. Dream Job
- Bob: Hates his job and struggles daily. He relies on the hope that he’ll find a better job soon to feel motivated.
- Pat: Also dislikes the job but has a growth mindset. Pat decides to make the job better for themselves and coworkers, focuses on developing new skills in that environment, and stays consistent despite the daily struggles.
5. Long-Term Education (The “Why”)
- Example from a Netball Player: After a 12-month injury rehab, the player felt unmotivated to return to the sport. However, they uncovered their “Why”—childhood memories of playing with their mother. This deeper emotional mindset helped them overcome the fear of re-injury and put in the work required for rehab.
