Sample Solution

Motivation is a complex concept that can be difficult to define. It is generally understood as an inner drive or force that causes us to take action and pursue goals. People are motivated by different things, but some common motivators include achievement, recognition, financial rewards, challenge, belongingness, security, and the desire for knowledge or growth. For example, some people are motivated by extrinsic factors such as money or status while others may be more intrinsically motivated—that is they find satisfaction in learning something new or pursuing a personal goal regardless of any external reward (Verywellmind).

Personally I believe I am both externally and internally motivated. On one hand I feel like I am driven by external motivating factors such as recognition from peers and achieving success in my career goals. On the other hand though I also feel intrinsically motivated when it comes to my education; each new class that I take provides me with a sense of accomplishment which serves to motivate me even more. As Maslow famously pointed out in his Hierarchy of Needs theory humans need both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in order to live fulfilling lives (Owens & Eubanks-Carter).

In most cases however people are often primarily driven either externally or internally depending on their individual needs and desires. For example if someone’s primary need is monetary gain then they would likely be largely driven by external motivations while someone who values internal fulfillment might focus more on reaching personal goals without regard for any external rewards (Kahneman & Kreuger). Even within the same person we can see variability in what drives them at various points of time; sometimes we may have short term goals driven primarily by the promise of an immediate reward whereas our long term aspirations could arise from a combination of intrinsic motivation mixed with potential future gains (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi). Ultimately everyone has their own unique motivators so it’s important not to get too caught up comparing ourselves with others but instead focus on recognizing our own driving forces which will ultimately lead us towards success regardless of whether they are derived from within ourselves or come from outside sources.