You’ve probably heard the saying, “you can’t hit a target you can’t see.” The same applies to goal-setting. You need to be clear about what you want before you can take steps to achieve it. But what motivates you to reach your goals?

In order to be successful, you need to find what makes you tick. What are the values that are important to you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What is your “why?. Figuring out what motivates you is critical to setting and achieving your goals. Once you know your motivating factors, you can use them to inspire yourself and stay on track.

You know what they say: If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. When it comes to motivation, this saying rings true. The busier we are, the more driven we become to succeed.

But what happens when we’re not so busy? Or when we face obstacles in our path? That’s when our internal and external motivators come into play. Internal motivators are our personal desires or wants, while external motivators are the things that drive us to achieve a particular goal or outcome.

Both internal and external motivators are important in achieving success. But which ones should you focus on? And how can you identify them? In this article, we’ll explore both internal and external motivators—what Motivates You to Succeed in life—and show you how to identify which ones work best for you.

Understanding the Different Types of Motivation

Motivation, as you might guess, is when someone is motivated neither intrinsically nor extrinsically; they simply aren’t motivated at all.

There are four main types of motivation:

1. Intrinsic (Internal ) Motivators

They are things that drive you from within. They could be a personal passion, a sense of responsibility or a desire to achieve a specific goal. They give you the push to start something new.

In contrast to external motivation, internal motivation will keep you going even when there’s no apparent reward. Unlike external rewards, which can often be fleeting or superficial, internal motivation is something that comes from within. It’s driven by a desire to do better to feel better and that kind of self-fulfillment is much more rewarding.

This type of motivation can also help boost your confidence and give you a sense of ownership over your progress. At the same time, it can push you out of your comfort zone as you explore new experiences and opportunities that have the potential to help you grow and develop as a person.

Internal motivators are often called “internal drivers”. These internal drivers can be any number of things, including:

Your team – building a great team is a key internal driver for most companies.

Your mission – aligning with your company’s mission and vision is a strong internal driver for many organizations.

Your values – living by your values and beliefs is an important internal driver for many people.

Examples of internal motivations include setting personal challenges, taking on a new hobby, or simply learning something just for the sake of learning it. Internal motivation is all about accomplishing your own goals and objectives for personal satisfaction without having to rely on an external reward or recognition.

2. Extrinsic (External) Motivation

They come from outside of yourself. They can be things like incentives, deadlines or pressure from others. These motivators provide the necessary support and encouragement to see it through.

Examining External Factors That Influence Motivation

When it comes to factors that influence motivation, there are both internal and external forces at play.

External motivators are essentially any external factors that can cause you to take action. This can include praise or recognition from peers or mentors, financial rewards such as a raise or bonus, and even the threat of failure or punishment. Additionally, external motivators can serve as inspiration for you to challenge yourself and strive for more than what you think is possible.

They are a great way to get yourself moving when you find yourself lacking the internal drive. They are usually rewards, usually material things like money, cars, or vacations. The idea is that these rewards will help motivate you to reach your goals.

You decide what’s important to you and find things that reward your progress toward achieving the goals you set. This could be anything from a high-five from a friend to buying yourself a new book or a nice dinner out with friends when you hit a certain benchmark. Everyone is different and so everyone will have different external rewards that feel motivating.

Externally motivating yourself can help create positive habits and behaviors in the long term because as you get rewarded for meeting your goals each time, it becomes easier to keep up the motivation over time. But remember it’s also important not to forget about your internal motivation too.

3. Positive Motivation and Its Benefits

When it comes to getting things done, nothing beats positive motivation. It’s the fuel that helps us achieve our goals, and it comes in many different forms.

One type of positive motivation is called intrinsic motivation. This is when you’re driven by your interests and desires, rather than by external factors like money or fame. Intrinsic motivation is a powerful force because it comes from within. It’s fueled by your passions and dreams, which makes it more sustainable than other types of motivation.

When you’re intrinsically motivated, you’re in control of your destiny. You’re the one setting the goals, and you’re the one who decides how to achieve them. You’re also more likely to stick to your goals because they mean something to you on a personal level.

So if you’re looking for a way to achieve your goals, try using intrinsic motivation as your driving force. It’ll help you stay focused and motivated in the long run.

How to Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a great way to motivate yourself toward achieving your goals. It’s the idea of rewarding yourself for doing something well or achieving something. This could be anything from treating yourself to a nice meal, taking a few days off work, or buying yourself something special.

Not only does it make you feel good, but it’s also a great way to keep yourself motivated to continue reaching your goals. Plus, it helps create healthy habits since you’re being rewarded for doing the right thing. So be sure to reward yourself now and then when you hit a milestone on your way toward achieving your goals.

4. Negative Motivation Tactics and Their Effects

Negative motivation tactics, such as threats and intimidation, are often used in an attempt to get someone to do something. The problem with these tactics, however, is that they often have the opposite effect.

When someone is coerced or threatened into doing something, they’re likely to do it out of fear or anger, rather than because they want to. This means that they’re not going to be very committed to the task at hand, and they’re likely to be less productive as a result.

In addition, when someone feels like they’re being forced into something, they’re likely to rebel against it. This can cause resentment and create a hostile work environment. Worst of all, it can lead to employees quitting their jobs.

What Motivates You to Succeed in Life And How

You know that feeling you get when you achieve something you’ve been working very hard for? It’s an amazing feeling, isn’t it? You’re proud of yourself, and you feel like you can conquer the world.

Well, that’s what passion can do for you. It ignites a fire within you that drives you to achieve more than you ever thought possible. It’s what gets you up in the morning and keeps you going when things get tough.

But first, you need to understand your why. Why are you doing what you’re doing? What is your motivation? Once you know that, then harnessing the power of passion is a lot easier.

1. Identifying Your Core Values

Take a few minutes to think about what’s really important to you in life. What are your core values?

Are you motivated by the desire to provide a better life for your loved ones? Do you strive for excellence and feel a sense of accomplishment when you achieve your goals? Or do you simply want to make a difference in the world and leave your mark on history?

Once you’ve identified your core values, keep them in mind as you work towards your goals. They’ll provide the inspiration and motivation you need to stay the course, even when things get tough. And when you achieve your goals, you’ll know that it was because you were driven by something far greater than yourself.

2. Setting Specific Goals and Creating an Action Plan

Now that you understand the different types of motivation, it’s time to set some specific goals. This is where your action plan comes in.

Your action plan will help you stay focused on what you need to do to achieve your goals. Start by breaking down your goal into smaller steps that you can complete easily. Then, put a timeline on each step so you can measure your progress.

Make sure to include a reward system for yourself as you reach different milestones. This will help keep you motivated along the way. And finally, be sure to update your action plan as needed to reflect your progress.

3. Understanding Your Fears and Limiting Beliefs

You need to understand what’s motivating you to achieve success. More often than not, it’s not something as simple as wanting to be better than everyone else. Its fear that drives us to do better, to be the best we can be. Fear of being mediocre, fear of not being good enough.

But this fear can also hold us back. It can prevent us from taking risks and reaching our goals. That’s where limiting beliefs come in. These are thoughts or ideas that sabotage our progress by keeping us stuck in our comfort zone. They might tell us that we’re not capable of reaching our goals, or that we don’t deserve success.

4. Developing Self-Awareness and Self-Compassion

Part of understanding what motivates you to succeed in life is developing self-awareness and self-compassion. When we are self-aware, we have a greater understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, which helps us make better decisions and set realistic goals.

In order to be successful, it’s important to make time for self-care and reflection. Taking a few moments each day to pause, take a deep breath, and check in with yourself can help you gain clarity on what truly motivates you. It can also help uncover any underlying stressors or emotions that may be affecting your motivation.

Moreover, self-compassion involves being kind and forgiving to yourself when things don’t go as planned or when you feel overwhelmed. Try to embrace the things that bring you joy and focus on your successes instead of your failures; it will help keep your motivation going strong.

5. Harnessing the Power of Positive Thinking

One of the secrets to uncovering what truly motivates you is harnessing the power of positive thinking. When we take a negative attitude, it can be difficult to push ourselves to stay motivated and keep going. However, when you choose to adopt a positive outlook instead, you will have the energy and drive necessary to reach your goals.

It starts with understanding that thoughts and beliefs shape our reality. One of the most important steps in successfully reaching your goals is to focus on the end result that you want. Spend time visualizing yourself achieving them and imagining how great it would feel. This will help create a pathway for the motivation that you need to propel yourself toward success.

But don’t just limit your thinking if there are any doubts or hesitations that come up, acknowledge them but don’t allow them to take control over your thoughts. Make sure you keep your eyes on the prize and use positive thinking as a tool for doing so.

6. Identifying Your Support System

Good support systems are key when it comes to reaching your goals. Whether it’s a friend, family member, mentor, or coach, having someone you trust to inspire and encourage you can make a huge difference in helping you stay on track and achieve success.

Take some time to think about who has been and still is there for you when times get tough. Determine who is always encouraging you, and make sure they know how much their support means to you. Then figure out what kind of people you need around you to reach your goals–people who will push you forward rather than hold you back or bring negative energy into your life.

Finally, communicate clearly with your support system when it comes to setting expectations so that everyone understands each other’s roles. This way, your team can work together to help ensure that any difficulties or obstacles are addressed quickly and efficiently. Your support system should be reliable and understanding, so don’t underestimate the power of leveraging the people Understanding Your Why.

7. Designing a Positive Vision for the Future

When you’re feeling down, it’s often easy to get bogged down in the negative. But what if you could flip that switch and focus on the positive instead? When you have a positive vision for your future, it’s easier to stay motivated and push through tough times.

So how do you create a positive vision for yourself? It’s simpler than you might think. Just take a few minutes to think about what you want in life. What are your dreams and aspirations? What makes you happy? Once you have that figured out, start designing a plan to make them happen.

It’s important to keep your vision front and center at all times. Write it down, put it on your refrigerator, or even tattoo it on your arm (not that we’re recommending the last one). But find a way to constantly remind yourself of why you’re working so hard. When things get tough, the thought of achieving your goals will be all the motivation you need to keep going.

8. Creating Incentives and Rewards

Finding ways to incentivize yourself can be an effective way to give yourself a much-needed boost. Consider setting smaller personal goals, such as completing a certain number of tasks each week or studying for a certain number of hours per day. When you achieve those goals, reward yourself with something that will further fuel your ambition and drive.

This could be anything from a day off from work to something tangible like taking a vacation or buying yourself something you’ve wanted for some time. Just make sure the reward is meaningful, and not something that will set you back in the long run (because, hey, splurging is fun sometimes but it’s important to stay on track).

Additionally, making these incentives visible can further motivate you; try creating a vision board filled with images and ideas of what you want to achieve in life and how these rewards can help get you there.

9. Focusing on Self-Improvement and Growth

Once you’ve identified what ignites your passions, take it a step further and focus on self-improvement and growth. Ask yourself what steps you need to take to reach your goal. What do you need to learn and understand? How can you sharpen your skills in this area? Taking the time to reflect on these questions will help keep you motivated and more focused.

You may also want to seek out someone who’s achieved success in the area that interests you and ask them for advice. Learn as much as you can from them. Having someone there to offer guidance is invaluable, and they can provide knowledge that will help you go even further than before.

Lastly, remain positive and never give up despite any roadblocks or difficulties along the way. Change is a long-term process, so don’t rush it. Keep refining your passions until you finally make the breakthrough it will be worth the effort.

Conclusion

So forget about what you “should” do. Stop thinking about the external factors that are pressuring you and start listening to your internal motivations. What are the things that make you feel happy and fulfilled? What are the things that you’re naturally drawn to?

Once you figure out what truly motivates you, it becomes a lot easier to take the necessary steps to reach your goals. You’ll have more energy and enthusiasm, and you’ll be more likely to stick with your plans for the long haul. So don’t wait any longer. Start exploring what makes you tick and see where it takes you.

References

What Motivates You to Succeed in Life and Keep Moving Forward? (2023) Written by Ashley Elizabeth Resilience Mastery Coach and Motivational Speaker, published in lifehack.org
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU IN LIFE? – LEARN THE KEYS TO WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO SUCCEED IN LIFE By Tony Robbins
The Road To Success Is Paved With Motivation , Ann Holland, PhD, Forbes Coaches Council from Forbes

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What Motivates You to Succeed in Life: Find What Drives You

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