You may not believe it, but I do my best to read all listener emails and comments.

One such listener asked me about motivation,

and I thought if she had these questions,

it was probably representative of my audience.

So today, we're going to talk about what motivation is and some tips on how to get or stay motivated.

Welcome back to Savvy Psychologist. I'm your host Dr. Monica Johnson.

Every week on this show, I'll help you face life challenges

with evidence-based approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

Motivation as defined by psychological research is a complex multifaceted concept that refers to the processes that initiate, guide, and maintain goal-oriented behaviors.

It involves the biological, emotional, social, and cognitive forces that activate behavior.

You can break down motivation into two main camps,

intrinsic or internal motivation,

and extrinsic or external motivation.

Intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity for its own sake,

for the pleasure and satisfaction derived from the activity itself.

It is self-driven and does not necessarily depend on external rewards. Some characteristics of intrinsic motivation include self-determination.

With self-determination, individuals feel a sense of choice and autonomy in their actions.

Enjoyment and interest.

Activities are pursued because they are inherently enjoyable or interesting.

Personal growth and fulfillment.

There's often a focus on personal growth, learning, and fulfillment with internal motivation.

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