8 July 2025
Why Intrinsic Motivation is Important for Your Energy
Not all motivations are the same!
Motivation is a force that drives us to action, but not all motivations feel the same or work the same way. We can be motivated by external factors such as rewards, punishment or social pressure, or by internal drivers such as personal growth, passion and curiosity.
The image distinguishes between having to and wanting to.
Must comes from controlled motivation, such as external pressure (e.g. expectations from others) or internal pressure (e.g. guilt or pride). This type of motivation can bring stress and obligation.
On the other side is want, which comes from autonomous motivation. This includes personal meaning and passion, where the drive comes from one's own interest, pleasure and relevance. This feels voluntary and gives a sense of psychological freedom.
By understanding where our motivation comes from, we can make more conscious choices and strive for a healthy balance between obligations and intrinsic satisfaction!
Invitation to reflect
Take the time to reflect on your motivations at regular intervals over the coming week. What type of motivation drives you? Do you feel a difference in the energy you experience? What mood goes with this?
It is said that about 80% of your activities are driven by intrinsic motivation to still have your batteries charged at the end of the day, despite all the efforts you have made. It is therefore worthwhile to develop more self-knowledge about which activities intrinsically motivate you – or in other words: which activities give you energy. After all, this means that you spend most of your time on tasks that give you pleasure, satisfaction and personal relevance.
The remaining 20% can consist of extrinsically motivated tasks (such as obligations or external expectations), but if this share becomes too large, it can lead to stress and loss of energy.
By reflecting more consciously on your sources of motivation, you can better steer towards a healthy balance and sustainable energy management.
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