Felon’s Alphabet: M is for motivation

What moves you to move? What gives you the fuel you need to get something done? Are you inspired by forces from within, or are you stimulated by forces that exist outside of you?

“M” is for motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic.

There are differences in what moves different individuals. Upon discovering whether you are intrinsically motivated versus extrinsically motivated, you can then know how to move.

Intrinsically motivated individuals are motivated from within while extrinsically motivated individuals are motivated by outside sources. It is objectively better to be intrinsically motivated than it is to be extrinsically motivated.

Whereas extrinsically motivated people require the input of outside forces to be in play before they are willing and able to do what clearly requires doing, intrinsically motivated people are self-governed by their own internal dialogue and use their own inner voice as a guide.

Folks who are extrinsically motivated are easily swayed by external forces like reward, pay, positive affirmations, and even peer pressure. These extrinsically motivated people may not demonstrate initiative without such outside influences.

Without these outside influences exerting themselves onto the individual they may not do good things, but even worse, they might not abstain from doing bad things either.

That means the course of these people’s lives can be altered by outside influences. And at some point in our rehabilitative journey, it is vital that we move intrinsically towards doing the right thing even if no one is watching.

There is no value in rehabilitative efforts that result from extrinsically motivating factors. While the pursuit of freedom is to be commended, wouldn’t it be even more laudable for the pursuit to be for rehabilitation instead? There are many who pursue freedom and not rehabilitation. That just results in free people and not rehabilitated people.

Intrinsically motivated people will do the right thing even when no one is watching. Their inner compass will not allow them to betray themselves. They see themselves as their own police, judge, and jury. They are not trying to cultivate impression management to “look good” for board; they are cultivating inner change that endures. Emotional Intelligence is an excellent self-help group that would aid in developing this skillset.

For these people, it is simple. They desired change. They sought it out. They acquired it. And now they will do everything within their power to maintain that status quo.

For extrinsically motivated people, lapsing back into criminality could be as simple as being seduced by peer pressure, criminal thinking or the acquisition of easy money. Easy money is oftentimes the extrinsic motivator for a lot of people who fall back into their old ways.

An intrinsically motivated person would be indifferent to the allure of easy money. Their inner moral compass would not allow them to resort back to criminality just to make easy money.

Be firm and steadfast in your values and your convictions for you are only as good as the beliefs and values you espouse. Both prison and the world at large are replete with good and bad influences. Inure yourself to outside forces and develop your intrinsic motivation.

Ultimately, it behooves you to be a person motivated by intrinsic forces because your future may very well depend on it.