How External Motivation Can Be Converted To Internal Motivation

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Converting external motivation to internal motivation


In a previous post, I asserted that motivation is the key ingredient in mojo and that it can be internal or external. I have been asked how external motivation can be converted to internal motivation. Some people are lucky enough that conversion can happen. The question is if you have insufficient internal motivators, can you convert external motivators so that you make up for the deficit. Unfortunately, conversion happens to varying extents and isn’t predictable nor can it be forced. You are more likely to be successful by finding additional external motivators.

Sometimes conversion just happens. Sometimes it will not happen. Sometimes you get a little conversion. You are more likely to be successful by finding additional external motivators if variety, friends and rivals are not enough. Look for additional friends and/or rivals to help your motivation. Its okay to have more than one of each at a time. This is not like being in a marriage. Also, try increasing the types or amounts of variety in your activities. For example, suppose you are trying to get motivated to exercise. You might try different numbers of repetitions, or different speeds, or different exercises entirely. There is almost always more than one way to exercise a given muscle.

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