Are You Only Intrinsically Motivated To Go To Work?

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Are You Only Intrinsically Motivated To Go To Work?

Aren't most people like that?

(Too bad there is no poll.)

[opinion=mine]

Some people derive their greatest joy from being engaged in their occupations, with the joy being their sole motivation.

Some people derive no such joy, and go to work only to meet living expenses, with the ability to meet expenses being their sole motivation.

Somewhere in-between these two extremes may be where most of us exist -- we derive some joy from our work, and some joy from from staying out of poverty, with both "joys" motivating us to go to work.

[/opinion]

I've always hated work and the way it infringes on my time. Even though I think, compared to a lot of people, I've been able to hold down fairly privileged jobs that many would barely consider working at all. It's the time and the obligation and people looking over my shoulder that I hate, not the work itself. I'm freelance now which means I can at least work when I choose, to a point, but I still get a knee-jerk negative reaction when I get a commission. I should be happy about it, but I never am.

I do it for the money, which is why I've only ever earned the bare minimum necessary to maintain a basic standard of living.

I'm motivated to go to work by my need to be independent.

I didn't want to live with my mother forever----so I went out and got jobs.

I am extrinsically motivated by the need for money and that’s it. I would love a career that I am intrinsically motivated by, but all work I’ve done so far has been soul-crushing and burns me out faster than a birthday candle.

It appears to me that a lot more people hate their jobs, than love their jobs

Not everyone has the same ideal job

Maybe the more someone likes their job, the more intrinsically motivated they will be

However many factors come into play. For example, different personalities

Ok..intrinsic means 'something other than money motivates you'. Extrinsic means you feel forced to go to work because you're a 'wage slave'.

Did have a second part time job that was largely intrinsic in motivation. But my main day job is mostly extrinsic.

It does seem that a lot of NTs can motivate themselves to endure going to work even if they don't like it, because they know they need the money so they stick it out without their emotions getting in the way too much.

With me, I have to like my job, otherwise I'll suffer with anxiety and depression and panic attacks every day. I like my current job so I find it easier to get out of bed each morning and go to work and do my job. I didn't like my previous job for a number of reasons, so it made me miserable and the struggle of getting out of bed and going to work was so mentally exhausting. I kept contemplating whether to leave or not, but I was frightened of having no money and the job centre being insensitive because of walking out of a job.

I'm so glad and thankful that the job I really wanted actually came up and I was hired. Only it happened at a bad time - when my mum was ill. But I had to take it, despite my darling mum being extremely important to me. It was a hard decision.