Do you ever wake up to face a seemingly endless list of things to get done, with no drive to do any of them?

Your problem may be an over-busy life that has you fatigued and overwhelmed. Or perhaps you are required to keep up with demands imposed by others which bring you little sense of reward.

Another explanation may be that you don’t understand fully what motivates you to move toward the goals and tasks before you. There is insufficient reinforcement for you to keep setting goals, applying energy to them, and persevering until you have accomplished them.

This can lead to a sense of futility and a depressed mood.

Motivation is an aspect of behavioral psychology that has been well-examined in the literature because of its importance to human functioning, productivity, creativity, and thriving.

Theories of motivation start with three broad categories; intrinsic, extrinsic, and transcendent.

Intrinsic motivation comes from within, bringing a sense of personal satisfaction.
Extrinsic motivation is external, exemplified by monetary reward or praise from others, or power over others.
Transcendent motivation involves contributing to a higher cause or purpose, for the betterment of others, or making the world a better place.

A short fable by Ricardo Semler illustrates these distinctions:

Three stonecutters were asked about their jobs. The........

© Psychology Today