Discover how intrinsic motivation fuels authentic success, prevents burnout, and supports high-performance without the pressure or the grind.
I first discovered what it felt like to be fuelled by a powerful, intrinsic drive when I co-founded my first business, Thrivalist. It was unlike anything I had experienced in my corporate career - passion, purpose, and momentum all moving in the same direction. I wasn’t chasing money, praise or external validation. I was simply doing something that mattered deeply to me.
At the time, my business partner Jen and I had reached about a year into our sobriety journeys. We’d both navigated early sobriety alone, full of shame and disempowerment, and surrounded by a culture that seemed to revolve around alcohol. But what we discovered changed everything: sobriety wasn’t boring or bleak. It was freeing. Expansive. A doorway to becoming our most honest and aligned selves with no masks, no numbing and no pretending.
We wanted to share it. And we knew we had to build something that would help other women experience the same freedom.
In July 2020, at the height of COVID-19 and rising drinking rates among women, we launched the first 8-Week Thrivalist Sobriety Course. What followed was a four-year journey of supporting thousands of women across the world to change their relationship with alcohol. We built a global community, a thriving membership and a mission that still lives on through the lives we touched.
And throughout that time, I had never felt more alive.
That chapter of my life taught me what true intrinsic motivation feels like. I woke at 4 a.m. to work before my kids were up. I devoured research on psychology, behavioural change, burnout, addiction and recovery. I felt energised, not depleted.
When we are aligned with our purpose, success stops being a struggle. This is what sustainable high performance looks like. Not the pressure-filled grind, but meaningful momentum built from within.
Intrinsic motivation is the internal drive to do something because it feels fulfilling or aligned. It is not about rewards, praise or external pressure. It is about meaning.
This kind of motivation:
At Balanced Elite, we work with leaders and teams to reconnect with this kind of motivation because we know it creates workplaces where performance and wellbeing thrive side by side.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or disconnected, here are five ways to come back to what drives you.
Ask yourself:
You don’t need to overhaul your life to find purpose. It might look like showing up differently in your current role, starting a passion project, mentoring others or simply creating space for what fulfils you. You can get started with our Find Your Fire Micro Course.
Are you pursuing something because it genuinely matters to you or because you think you should? When your goals reflect your values and strengths, motivation comes more naturally. How might you shift your goals to be more aligned with your authenticity?
Instead of focusing on results like recognition, income or status, shift your attention to progress, learning and mastery. When the process is rewarding, you’re more likely to stay motivated.
Spend time in environments and communities that uplift you. Connect with people who are living in alignment. Protect your energy from spaces and people that pull you away from your values.
Intrinsic motivation is not about pushing through fatigue. It’s about working in a way that aligns with your energy and needs. Rest, prioritise self-care, create balanced supportive rhythms and protect what gives you strength.
The real secret to success is not forcing yourself to keep going. It’s aligning your energy with what matters. When your motivation is rooted in authenticity, it becomes a source of power, not pressure.
I experienced this firsthand while building Thrivalist. My purpose and my motivation were in sync, and that gave me the energy to create something impactful. Now, through Balanced Elite, I help leaders and organisations unlock that same alignment so performance, wellbeing and leadership can thrive together.
Book a free discovery call to explore how Balanced Elite can support your team or organisation to build a culture where success and sustainability go hand in hand.
If you're feeling depleted, unmotivated or unsure of your direction, this is your sign to reconnect.
Download the free BRAVE™ Burnout Prevention Kickstart and learn how to reset your energy, boundaries and sense of purpose using the BRAVE™ framework:
Boundaries, Rest, Authenticity, Vitality and Empathy.
This guide is your starting point for building intrinsic motivation and protecting your wellbeing from the inside out.
Whether you’re curious about coaching, workshops, retreats, or workplace wellbeing programs, this no-pressure call is a chance to connect, ask questions, and see if Balanced Elite is the right fit.
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