The Importance of Intrinsic Motivation in Finding Happiness

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Extrinsic motivators, such as rewards or external incentives, can actually decrease satisfaction, hinder learning, and lead to less motivation. On the other hand, intrinsic motivators, such as experiencing joy and the satisfaction of teaching or doing something for its own sake, are more valuable and should be prioritized. To find happiness, it is important to constantly ensure that you are driven by intrinsic motivation. One way to assess this is by asking yourself if you would do the work for free. If the answer is yes, it indicates a strong intrinsic motivation.

Shane's guest on this episode of the show is New York Times bestselling author Neil Pasricha, who returns for his second appearance on The Knowledge Project. We discuss the importance of gratitude and how simple acts can change the way you feel, where confidence comes from, the specific routines and habits you can use to counter anxiety, the recipe for building resilience, and so much more. Pasricha is the author of seven books which collectively have sold over 2 million copies and spent over 200 weeks on bestseller lists, including The Happiness Equation and Two-Minute Mornings. His first TED talk, “The 3 A’s of Awesome,” is ranked as one of the 10 Most Inspiring of all time, and he also hosts a podcast called 3 Books, where he uncovers the 1,000 most formative books in the world. Neil previously appeared on Episode 72 of the The Knowledge Project, one of the show’s most downloaded conversations to date. His new book, Our Book of Awesome, will be released Dec. 6.

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