Exploring our sources of motivation 🔎
Internal motivation is how we feel integrated, authentic, and embodied
Hello! This week we’re talking about motivation
We all have external and internal sources of motivation.Â
Internal motivation is defined as doing a task for yourself and by yourself without outside pressure. For example: Eating certain foods because they taste and feel good. In general, we want to do things that feel internally motivated. This is another way of saying we want to be integrated, authentic, and embodied.
External motivation is defined as doing a task because an external force is involved, and you do it because you want to be rewarded or avoid punishment. For example: Not eating certain foods because you’re afraid they will make you gain weight. While external motivation is commonly how we start new things, it can lead us astray, particularly when it comes to weight, eating, and exercise. It’s not that we can’t use external motivation—just that we want to be aware of when we are.
This weekend, consider the different ways you feel motivated to do things, specifically eating and exercising in a certain way. Now consider whether your motivations are coming from external rules and expectations or if you’re driven by internal glimmers of desire and wanting. In some cases, it might be both. There are no wrong answers; just consider how you feel about each one.
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