Do we need to be intrinsically or extrinsically motivated? This is a personal question that came to mind after reading comments and posts from people following the viral "motivational rice" created by one of the self-made motivational and influencer speakers on the internet in the Philippines. While I understand the speaker's objectives and why the rice was called "motivational," I cannot condone selling rice at five times the price of normal rice in a low-cost restaurant. However, the concept of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is clear. Is it fair?
What keeps you motivated? Some people might say that their family is the reason they wake up excited in the morning to hustle. Others might say it's their personal dreams, like traveling or enjoying good food. We all have our own personal preferences for what motivates us.
Some people draw motivation from past experiences where they don't want to repeat the mistakes they've made in the past. They strive to work harder and better to achieve their goals.
What is intrinsic motivation? This is the kind of motivation that drives you to do things that you truly enjoy. Personally, I am intrinsically motivated to write this blog post because I know it gives me satisfaction to complete and put my thoughts into words. I am also extrinsically motivated because I know there might be rewards, whether monetary or the fulfillment of seeing my post published.
We cannot do things simply because we want to. Our motivation is what drives us. Sometimes intrinsic motivation isn't enough, and we need extrinsic motivation to be more cheerful and driven in achieving our goals.
The reward will always come next, but ideally, it should fuel us to do more and make an even better project. It should motivate us for the next project to do better.
For those who are confused about the "motivational rice," it's named after the idea that the price of rice, five times the normal price, can be a motivation. As someone who can't afford to pay 100 pesos for a cup of rice, I need to work even harder to be able to afford ten cups of rice someday. However, instead of motivating people, the comments flooded with hateful disagreement from social media users.
While I understand the idea behind it, I cannot argue that it was a business venture. The intention was clear, as it was a business-side agenda. You work hard to afford the motivational rice, and the businessman reaps what you've sowed. They are selling motivation, and that's where I disagree.
Being motivated might be hard, and staying focused might not be easy for everyone. However, whether intrinsically or extrinsically motivated, finding happiness in what you're doing is what inspires you to continue doing it. This is what excites me as I see how others find their own motivation. Some keep it to themselves because they know that not everyone can understand what motivates them, while others express it in ways that inspire others as well.
Remember, your own motivation will bring you closer to your goals, whether intrinsic or extrinsic.