october 30th | journal 7
My motivations often sit in tension with each other. My intrinsic motivations rooted in curiosity, and a commitment to meaningful work. However, my extrinsic motivations tied to performance adn institutional expectations. Intrinsically, I'm driven by the desire to understand how design, culture, and lived experience intersect. I also feel intrinsically motivated to help and care for others but at work. This motivation feels steady and deeply rooted it's about purpose rather than productivity. When I'm guided by intrinsic motivations, my work feels fluid, grounded, and alive. I'm more open to exploration and to methods that prioritize care, storytelling, and relationality. Extrinsic motivations, however, shift more dramatically depending on context. In academic environments, these often stem from grades, feedback, or external validation. In organizational settings, they become tied to recognition, competition, deadlines, or meeting expectations. I notice that when extrinsic pressures dominate, my work becomes more rigid. I focus on outcomes rather than process, and sometimes I lose connection to the deeper "why" behind what I'm doing.