Two Sources of Motivation: The Key to Long-Term Persistence in Art and Blogging

Hello! This is The Wild Palette by MM.

"I was so motivated when I started, but then my motivation fizzled out halfway through."

Have you ever had that experience?

As I continue to paint acrylic paintings and share my work on this blog (and on Etsy, Redbubble, etc.), I often find myself wondering, "How can I maintain this motivation?"

Did you know that there are actually two main types of motivation?

Knowing the difference between these two types and using them wisely is the key to sustaining your perseverance and producing high-quality output.

Today, drawing on my own creative experience, I'd like to share these two types of motivation and some specific tips for sustaining your daily creative activities!

Important to Know: The Two Main Sources of Motivation

As defined by Google, motivation is the willingness to take action toward a goal.

Depending on where that motivation comes from, it can be divided into the following two types.

1. Intrinsic Motivation

This is the inner energy that sustains us the longest and strongest.

💡 Characteristics: The activity itself is the goal, and motivation arises even without external reward.

Keywords: Interest, curiosity, pure enjoyment, fulfillment, striving for mastery.

Specific examples:

• I enjoy painting acrylics so much that I suddenly realize hours have passed.

• I enjoy challenging myself with difficult color combinations and the sense of accomplishment I get when I succeed.

• Even without being asked to do so, I study because I want to learn more and improve.

🎨 My Activities and Intrinsic Motivation: This intrinsic motivation is the driving force behind my continued art practice. Even if my work doesn't sell, the spirit of exploration to try new colors and methods of expression, and the joy of creation that comes from producing original works like [Gate of Boundary], are what motivate me to keep picking up my paintbrush.

2. Extrinsic Motivation

This type of motivation is driven by external stimuli or rewards.

💡 Characteristics: Driven by the outcome of an activity.

Keywords: Reward, recognition (likes), deadlines, avoiding penalties, and a desire for approval.

Examples:

• Creating for the profits (reward) received when your work sells on Etsy or Redbubble.

• Posting to blogs and social media to receive positive comments and likes (recognition) from readers and followers.

• Focusing on work to meet a deadline for an exhibition.

⚖️ Effective Uses of Extrinsic Motivation: Extrinsic motivation is extremely effective when you want to achieve great results in a short period of time or as a booster when your intrinsic motivation is waning. However, motivation can easily wane when rewards and recognition are removed, so it's vital to use them in conjunction with intrinsic motivation.

Three Secrets to Maintaining Long-Term Motivation

Our motivation doesn't last long on its own. The key to persistence is keeping your intrinsic flame burning while appropriately using extrinsic boosters.

Secret 1: Don't turn pure intrinsic joy into a duty (Increase Persistence)

Intrinsic joy is the fuel that powers your activities. To prevent this fuel from dwindling, you need to find ways to avoid turning your activities into a "duty" or "quota."

• Rediscover a sense of playfulness: From time to time, try out art supplies or unusual color combinations, without the intention of selling or exhibiting them, just out of curiosity. Try something new!

• Let go of perfectionism: It's okay if your work or articles aren't 100% perfect. Focusing on the progress you make today will help you feel more fulfilled.

💡 Tip: It was this pure joy that got me hooked on acrylic painting. Set aside time to simply focus on the act of mixing colors and moving your brush, without overthinking it.

Secret 2: Design an achievable extrinsic reward (Short-Term Boost)

Extrinsic motivation can temporarily reignite your efforts when your intrinsic motivation wanes.

• Break it down into small steps: Instead of setting a goal like "complete a huge piece of art," set goals you can achieve in the short term, like "upload a blog post this week" or "take new photos for my Etsy work."

• Set a specific reward: When you achieve your goal, set a small reward for yourself. Something that makes you think, "I'm going to work hard for this reward!" is effective, like buying your favorite art supplies or eating a delicious dessert.

💡 Tip: I sometimes consciously use extrinsic rewards when completing tasks that tend to feel like a chore, like managing my Bluethumb Art profile or updating my sales platform.

Secret 3: Eliminate Motivation Swings with Routines (The Power of Habit Formation)

By creating a routine where you act based on a set plan, rather than waiting for motivation to strike, you eliminate motivation swings.

• Link it to "actions" rather than "time": Instead of "doing it at a certain time every day," link it to existing behaviors and make it a habit, such as "just 15 minutes after breakfast" or "first 5 minutes after turning on my computer to think about content for [my website: thewildpalettebymm.com]."

• Start with minimal actions: Determine your bare minimum. On days when a task is too difficult, prioritize staying on track by lowering the bar as much as possible, such as "just coming up with a title" or "jotting down one pin idea."

Summary: Mastering Two Powers to Keep Your Activities Going

What did you think?

To maintain long-term effort in any endeavor, it's important to balance two driving forces: "intrinsic motivation (fun)" and "extrinsic motivation (rewards and recognition)."

• Intrinsic motivation is the core that sustains you through difficult times and reminds you of the pure joy of the activity itself.

• Use extrinsic motivation effectively as a short-term boost toward achieving your goals or as a reward when you feel tired.

Start with what you can do today!

Instead of striving for perfection, why not take a step today, such as "try doing something you enjoy for 15 minutes" or "set a small reward"?

By understanding your own 'source of motivation' and mastering these two forces, you too can make any goal you pursue more fulfilling and sustainable.

Thank you for reading! Don't forget to follow for more tips, and visit my gallery!