We’ve all said it at some point. “I’m just not feeling motivated today.” Or, “I’ll start that project when I feel more motivated.”
But that sentiment comes from a common misconception that motivation is just a feeling—like enthusiasm—some sort of mysterious energy that comes and goes on a whim, like an unreliable muse. Some days you have it; some days you don’t. 🤷🏻♂️
This belief leads people to dismiss motivation as completely unpredictable and instead prioritize more noble things like discipline. You may have even heard pithy quotes like, “Discipline trumps motivation,” or “Motivation is a feeling. Discipline is a habit.”
Here’s the thing. Discipline is incredibly important to cultivate, but statements like these stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of what motivation really is. And it keeps us paralyzed. Stuck. Unable to move forward on the things that we genuinely want to accomplish.
The Truth About Motivation
Contrary to popular belief, our deepest motivations are not fleeting emotions. Rather, they are enduring, ever-present forces that shape our actions and decisions. Motivational science tells us that these core drivers are always available to us, ready to be tapped into when we need them most.
Dr. David McClelland, a pioneer in motivation research, identified that people are driven by three primary motivators: achievement, affiliation, and power. His research showed that these motivations remain stable throughout a person’s life, influencing their behavior and decision-making processes consistently over time.
Edward Deci and Richard Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory suggests that humans have innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. These needs drive our behavior and, when satisfied, result in deeper self-motivation and improved mental health.
These theories, among others, propose that our core motivations are not just fleeting feelings, but rather stable, intrinsic drivers of our behavior. And we can tap into them anytime we like.
The Power of Understanding Your Motivations
So, if our motivations are always there, why do we sometimes struggle to feel ‘motivated’? Because we’ve never been taught how to identify and lean into these powerful internal drivers.
Think of your motivations as a powerful engine inside you. The engine is always running, but if you don’t know how to engage the gears, you won’t go anywhere. The key is not to wait around for motivation to strike, but to learn how to tap into it consistently.
Dr. Angela Duckworth, known for her research on grit, emphasizes the importance of aligning our actions with our inner motivations. She says, “The most successful people in life are those who find a way to harmonize their daily habits with their deepest values and interests.” Or, put another way—their deepest motivations.
That alignment with your innate, ‘motivational DNA’ is crucial. Because when our actions resonate with our core motivations, we’re more likely to persist in the face of challenges and find greater fulfillment in the things we pursue.
Myth: Discipline Trumps Motivation
Okay, let’s address the myth that “discipline is better than motivation”. Again, discipline is incredibly valuable, but pitting it against motivation creates a false dichotomy. In reality, understanding and leveraging your intrinsic motivations can actually enhance your discipline.
Dr. Daniel Pink, in his book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, argues that true motivation comes from autonomy, mastery, and purpose. And those things don’t come and go; they’re baked into who we are.
When we align our actions with these intrinsic motivators, discipline, focus, and even getting into that ‘flow’ state become natural outcomes, rather than a constant struggle.
Have you ever lost track of time while engrossed in an activity you love? That’s your intrinsic motivations at work. Now, imagine harnessing that same energy for other areas of your life. That’s the power of understanding and tapping into your core motivations.
If you’re feeling unmotivated, chances are you’re operating out of your lowest motivations — the ones that drain your energy and lead to burnout. The key is learning to reframe the activity so that it draws from your strongest motivations instead — the ones that light you up and give you energy.
Imagine you’re a manager who dreads monthly team meetings because they’re a tedious task that drains your energy. It’s possible you’re only conducting the meetings because they’re required of you, and the motivation to Meet Requirements is one of your lowest motivations. Instead, you could reframe the meeting as an opportunity to inspire and guide your team towards achieving ambitious goals, tapping into your higher motivations to Make an Impact and Realize the Vision.
Or maybe you’re a writer who procrastinates on starting a new project, seeing it as a solitary, isolating task that draws on your low motivation to Gain Ownership. Instead, you might reframe the project as a chance to collaborate with peers to brainstorm, invite their feedback, and create content that will help others, which engages your higher motivations to Collaborate and Meet Needs.
(BTW, those are just a few examples of the 32 motivations that are identified by MCode researchers over the past 60 years.)
Discovering Your Motivational Code
At this point, you’re probably wondering, “Okay, Shawn, how do I identify and tap into my core motivations?”
That’s where the Motivation Code assessment comes in!
Unlike other personality assessments, MCode starts by asking you to identify four stories from your life — key moments when you felt completely in the zone, hitting on all cylinders, fully engaged, and deeply fulfilled.
Then, it asks a series of questions about each of those stories, to determine the specific factors in each experience that made you feel most satisfied.
Based on your responses, the assessment then leverages 60+ years of science and data on high performance and motivation, along with insights from millions of shared stories from people just like you to reveal your MCode — the exact combination of 32 specific motivations that drive you.
When you understand your MCode, you’ll have insights into:
- What activities truly energize you.
- Why certain tasks feel effortless while others drain you.
- How to align your goals with your intrinsic motivations.
- Ways to tap into your motivation when you feel stuck.
When you understand your motivational pattern, you have a blueprint for structuring your life and work in a way that is naturally energizing — rather than draining.
You’ll have levers you can pull anytime you’re feeling “unmotivated”.
Putting It Into Practice
Understanding your motivations is just the first step. The real magic happens when you apply this knowledge to your daily life. Here are a few ways to start:
- Identify tasks that energize you and incorporate more of these into your routine.
- Reframe challenging tasks so that they align with your core motivations.
- Set goals that resonate with your intrinsic drivers, instead of doing things that drain your energy and leave you feeling depleted at the end of the day.
The key takeaway here is that motivation isn’t about waiting for a feeling to strike. It’s about understanding the ever-present forces that drive you and learning to engage them intentionally, anytime you like.
What’s your Motivation Code?
Motivation isn’t a fickle muse that abandons you when you need it most. It’s a constant force, waiting for you to recognize and embrace it. When you understand your unique motivational pattern, you can tap into this powerful force consistently, turning what once felt like a struggle into a source of energy and fulfillment.
So I’d like to invite you to visit MotivationCode.com to take the MCode assessment and then let me know when you’ve done so! I would love to hear about your results and talk about how to put them into action in your life right away.
Remember, your deepest motivations are always there. It’s time to discover them and let them guide you towards a more motivated, fulfilling life!