For those who want happiness but don't know their purpose

Purpose is f*cking overrated.

Everyone glorifies purpose. After all, how can you become good at anything if you don't know your purpose (and therefore, don't like what you're doing)?

What they don't realize: enjoying what you do is not based entirely on purpose, but on intrinsic motivation.

And intrinsic motivation consists of 5 different subtypes.

The good news: you can use all of them to boost your personal and professional development (like I did).

Today, we’ll take a look at how you'll unlock happiness and success even without knowing your purpose.

Let's dive in!

Purpose is just one of 5 intrinsic motivation types

There are two major categories of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic.

Ok, you've probably heard this before. But did you know that there are 5 subtypes of intrinsic motivation? The higher you score on each type, the more motivated you'll become.

This means you can still achieve huge motivation (and performance) without relying on purpose at all.

The five subtypes of intrinsic motivation (and how to leverage them)

In the following, I will explain each of the five motivators to you. I will also provide you with some tools on how to assess and increase the level of each of them. Lastly, I'll give you my "Motivation to Mastery" framework so that you can leverage all of them.

Purpose

Purpose is the sense of contributing to something larger than oneself.

It is often linked to a broader mission or set of values. By providing a sense of direction and meaning, it guides one's actions and decisions. Your purpose can change throughout the years - you don't have to stick with one forever.

How can you leverage it?

You probably have an immediate feeling of how much purpose you feel in your life.

If you don't, start by determining your core values and long-term goals. Then, align your daily actions to match to them. This is a long process, and it always starts with yourself first.

Purpose is also the least actionable motivator, so let's focus on the rest now.

Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something.

It fuels exploration and discovery, often leading to unexpected insights and innovations. A fascination with new ideas and experiences drives it.

How can you leverage it?

Curiosity is very straightforward (and hence, actionable).

When I ask you "What are you interested in?", a few things will come to mind immediately. If I ask you the same question tomorrow, a few other things might jump at you again. That's why it makes sense to create a list and gather interests to leverage your curiosity.

Collect all your interests on an ongoing basis and then set some time aside to explore these topics.

Autotelicity

You don't play guitar to finish the song, but because you enjoy playing.

That is the definition of an autotelic experience. It is an activity that is inherently rewarding, done for its own sake rather than for some external reward. It often involves a state of flow, where you are fully immersed and enjoying the activity.

How can you leverage it?

Reflect on activities that make you lose track of time and bring you intrinsic joy. Maybe you also found some of them through exploring your curiosity (see above). Next, increase autotelicity by prioritizing these activities.

Create the conditions that facilitate flow and minimize distractions.

Autonomy

Autonomy is the feeling of having control over your actions and decisions.

It allows for self-direction and independence and fosters a sense of ownership and personal responsibility. If you cannot act independently on any topic, you'll likely feel less motivated to do it in the first place.

How can you leverage it?

Evaluate your level of autonomy by considering how much control you have over your work and personal life decisions. Then, enhance autonomy by identifying areas where you can make more choices. It can also be helpful to set boundaries that support your independence.

Autonomy can be found in the biggest and smallest decisions, so be creative.

Mastery

Mastery is the drive to improve skills and knowledge.

Pursuing mastery means striving for proficiency and expertise in a particular area. It involves setting challenging goals and persistently working towards achieving them. As opposed to autotelicity (where you act for its own sake), you are focused on achieving an outcome.

How can you leverage it?

The pursuit of mastery isn't always a driving motivator right from the start. It is something that will develop with growing skill and effort. If you invest hours into an activity, you'll eventually develop the desire for mastery over time. That is when you should start setting specific, measurable and motivating goals and seek regular feedback.

Mastery will develop over time - and become one of the most powerful motivators to you.

Stay seeking.

Philipp