Be Self Driven

 

The theoretical term for being self driven is being Intrinsically Motivated. What is the theory behind Intrinsic Motivation?

Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any obvious external rewards. You do it because it’s enjoyable and interesting, rather than because of an outside incentive or pressure to do it, such as a reward or deadline.

An example of intrinsic motivation would be reading a book because you enjoy reading and have an interest in the story or subject, rather than reading because you have to write a report on it to pass a class.

The most recognized theory of intrinsic motivation was first based on people’s needs and drives. Hunger, thirst, and sex are biological needs that we’re driven to pursue in order to live and be healthy.

Just like these biological needs, people also have psychological needs that must be satisfied in order to develop and thrive. These include the need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.

Along with satisfying these underlying psychological needs, intrinsic motivation also involves seeking out and engaging in activities that we find challenging, interesting, and internally rewarding without the prospect of any external reward.

There is a French saying the translation of which goes like this. 

"An Artist is Never Poor!" The implied meaning of this saying is, the creative process experienced by an artist while working on his creation is so very enjoyable and enriching that he does not need an external financial reward to be rich!

Converting everything that we do into an enjoyable and exhilarating experience makes us perpetually motivated and engaged. This is the only way to be eternally self driven and it is the only path to success.