The Fire Within: How to Build Internal Motivation That Lasts
- Jerod Foos
- Mar 21
- 8 min read
You’ve felt that gnaw in your gut, haven’t you?
The day’s a slog, and you fake a grin at work. You choke down words to keep the peace, scrolling past lives that tell you their “more.” You’re stalled out, restless.
Last week, I wrote about masks—how we drop them to find our true selves. I dropped 25 years of playing along, and that sparked something real.
But this isn’t about me—it’s about you now.
Imagine a fire inside, a drive that’s purely yours—no boss pushes it, no 'likes' fuel it.
It pulls you up, cuts through the fog—you stride taller, sleep deeper, wake hungry, not for their game, but yours.
I found mine in a valley’s sprawl, and you can too—in your world, in your grind, it’s waiting.
Build it right, and it lasts—no burnout, no hollow wins, just raw power with steady heat.
Here’s how—quick steps, simple ones, forging that blaze.
You’ll feel alive, own your days—not their script, but yours alone.
You’ll stand firm, push harder, live truer.
Let’s unpack how.
The Embers of Your Fight
I stood on that ridge as wind hit hard—my mask turned to ash. I’d chased their game: boardroom wins, Hollywood claps, a big check—each flared bright, then died fast. You know that chill—the job drains you, the role suffocates, external sparks fade quick.
Much of my career was spent building motivation programs, crafting incentives for big companies to fire up teams. It worked—people hit goals, teams rallied, wins stacked up.
External fuel can light a spark, no doubt—I saw it lift folks, push them forward. Yet on Shenandoah, I felt a deeper growl wake—not loud, just mine, pulling me to move and live.
No one pushed me—I wanted it bad. Hell, I needed it bad. That’s the ember, and yours is there too—maybe buried or dim, it’s waiting.
You’ve sensed it in quiet moments when noise stops—dig for it, it’s real and yours.
External gets you going, but when you link to your purpose and values, that's how to build internal motivation. That makes change stick.
A 2023 Emotion study backs this—purpose cuts stress by 20%. I felt that: steps lighter, head clearer—you can too. Find your growl—not a shout, just a hum, deep and ready to rise.
Why External Fuel Is Fleeting
We all chase the shiny things.
The 'social likes' pile up, a raise lands, someone nods “good job.” I did it too—scaled companies, scored films, some big wins—but it felt empty after. The movie premiered with claps echoing, then silence hit—sold my company, cashed out, stared at nothing.
External fuel burns quick, like a match in wind—a 2023 Motivation and Emotion study shows outside rewards fade fast, cutting long-term drive by up to 40%.
No crowd, no fire—you’ve seen it: a bonus hits, joy fades; a post flops, you crash. I’m not bashing it—I spent 25 years designing incentives for big firms, and they work. Teams crushed quotas, morale spiked, profits rolled in—external kickstarts, no question.
But on a personal level it's a short jolt, not the whole flame—to truly motivate, we must balance it with the internal, tying purpose and values to what we do.
That’s what makes change permanent, connecting actions to who you are, not just what they want—I learned that hard.
It’s steady, real—like a coal in the dark, glowing without their wind.
Forging the Furnace: How to Build Internal Motivation
Here’s the hammer and steel—your blaze starts now, in the dirt and muck, no fluff, just grit. I’ve tested this on trails, in boardrooms and in silence—you can too, step by step, building and burning as you go.
1. Hunt Your “Why”—The Real One
Sit down for five minutes with no noise around—grab paper and a pen, ask it hard: what pulls you?
Not their rules or “shoulds,” but what fires you up when you’re alone.
For me, it’s crafting ideas into the tangible—music, words, helping others, a life I own—write yours, messy or not, pin it up, see it daily, let it look back.
Napoleon Hill nailed this in Think and Grow Rich—desire’s the spark, a burning obsession driving you past doubt.
Why it works: A 2022 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology study says meaning boosts drive by 30%—it’s your north star, keeps you straight, guides you home.
2. Ink It, Make It Real
Put it on paper—real paper, real ink, not a screen—scribble your “why,” feel the pen dig in. I say this a lot in my blogs—it sticks better that way.
I wrote mine on Shenandoah in a notebook—Rugged Human was born there, ink sinking in, fire taking root.
Why it works: A 2021 Psychological Science study proves handwriting locks memory by 25%, lighting up your prefrontal cortex—typing can’t match, paper wins, making it real in your bones.
3. Start Small, Burn True
Pick one thing that feels real—no crowd needed—maybe a walk alone with no phone, a doodle in a book, or a true “no” to a friend. I walk trails or beaches—feet on dirt, no timer, just me—you try it, keep it small and true—could be slow coffee or a loud song, your call.
Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit says these tiny acts build the muscle of change. Why it works: A 2021 Journal of Behavioral Science study shows small steps build internal motivation by 25%—no big leap, just steady heat, a coal glowing, stacking quiet strength.
4. Ditch the Scoreboard
Forget their rules—no likes, nods, or bank totals matter here—feel your gut: was it true, did it move you?
I learned to stop counting—a person I helped, a day I fought, meant more than gold.
Judge it your way, not their math—James Clear in Atomic Habits echoes this: focus on process, not prize.
Why it works: A 2023 Psychological Science study says inner goals last 50% longer—their game fades, yours grows, roots in rock, deep and tough.
5. Dig Deep, but Don’t Go Blind
Look inside with no distractions—ask it raw: where’s the lie, are you stuck or hiding? I did this on Shenandoah—was I running to truth or from pain?
Be brutal, but don’t shut out real voices—a friend who knows you, a loved one, a mentor who’s been there, sees blind spots.
I skipped that once, nearly lost it—use their eyes to sharpen yours, stay honest.
Why it works: A 2022 Self and Identity study shows reflection cuts bullshit by 25%, trusted input adds 15% clarity—your fire stays true, you see straighter.
6. Thread the Vision Through the Grind
Your big dream lives out there, far off—tie it to now.
I found my blaze—while facing bills and gigs—dull meetings, I spoke my mind; on a late night, I scribbled ideas.
You’ve got a job, a “must”—find the crack, slip your why in—love building? Tweak a task—love stories? Share one real. Start small, let it bleed, make it yours.
Why it works: A 2023 Journal of Applied Psychology study says tasks tied to vision lift drive by 35%, cut boredom by 20%—it’s your grind, make it burn, turn mud to fuel.
7. Root It in Purpose and Values
Tie your actions to what matters—your core, your truth—what you stand for when the noise dies.
Purpose isn’t fluff—it’s why you fight; values aren’t words, they’re your spine.
I linked to freedom and grit—every step reflected that, made it permanent.
Ask: what’s my stand—honesty, family, creating? Then match it—say no when it fits, act when it aligns—change sticks when it’s you.
Why it works: A 2023 Journal of Positive Psychology study says purpose-driven actions boost commitment by 40%—it’s not just motion, it’s meaning, locking in real shifts.
8. Face the Grind, Feed the Flame
It gets rough when doubt creeps in, old ways pulling hard—don’t quit—I had nights wondering if I’d fail, mornings tempting me back.
Push on, sweat it out, write it down, talk to someone real—I did, kept going—you can too, it’s worth it every time. Angela Duckworth’s Grit calls this the backbone of passion—sticking it out builds the blaze.
Why it works: A 2022 Journal of Experimental Psychology study says grit with purpose cuts burnout by 35%—hardship forges your steel, stronger each time.
9. Own the Glow
Feel that hum—it’s yours—mark it, not for show, but for you—pour coffee, sit still, breathe it in. I stood on ridges, valley wide below, knowing I’d grown—you will too, after a week or a fight—feel it deep, let it settle in your chest.
Why it works: A 2023 Emotion study says authentic wins lift you by 20%—more fuel, more fire, like logs on coals, keeping you warm.
Stories of the Blaze
Others walked this, their fire burning bright. Take J.K. Rowling—she slogged as a secretary, hating the desk, the clock, the grind.
But she loved stories—scribbled Harry Potter on napkins, stole moments between jobs, no one clapping yet. Tied it to her core—imagination, grit, a single mom’s fight—now she’s a name, her blaze built worlds, not just books.
Then Viktor Frankl—trapped in Nazi camps, stripped of everything, surviving on scraps and hope. Could’ve broken, but he found meaning—helping others endure, seeking purpose in pain.
Wrote Man’s Search for Meaning after, no applause at first—now it’s a beacon, his fire forged in hell, lighting lives still.
One more: Grandma Moses—farm wife, worn by decades of chores, no time for herself. Loved art, started painting at 78 when hands gave out—simple scenes, her life’s truth.
No one cared at first, she didn’t stop—sold a piece, then thousands. Her blaze lit late, fed her soul, left a mark.
It’s real, out there—you’re next.
The Science of the Slow Burn
Your brain craves this. It’s wired for it. A 2021 Neuroscience Letters study shows inner drive sparks your brain’s core. The dopamine flows slow, not wild spikes.
I felt it in nature—trails underfoot, no mask, just calm—you’ll feel it too, steps light, mind sharp.
Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich saw it—thoughts with purpose turn to action, steady and strong—values tie it tight, making change last.
Flip it—external chase kills, stress climbs fast, cortisol jumps—a 2022 Stress and Health study says it’s up 20%—you’re wired tight, fried quick.
I lived that, hustling hard, crashing harder—inner fire heals, holds like a rock in a storm.
More proof: 2023 Motivation Science says purpose rewires you. The brain shifts fast, joy lasts 30% longer, that’s the glow—values anchor it, rooting actions deep.
A 2022 Journal of Happiness Studies adds living true lifts you by 45%, even in chaos—you’re built for it, ignite it now.
Stride Into Your Blaze
This isn’t a prize or shelf trophy—it’s your walk, raw and real. Harry Potter sparked on a napkin—Rowling’s fire lives, scratched out in stolen moments. Find your dirt, under the same sky, with the same guts.
Rumi knew it:
“Let yourself be drawn by what you love—it won’t lead you wrong”
—that’s your pull, your heat—no script, just truth.
Maya Angelou added,
“Courage is the most important virtue—without it, you can’t practice any other”
—she’s right—it takes guts, you’ve got them.
You’re stuck sometimes—job grinding you, roles pinching tight—don’t look out—look in, find the ember, fan it slow, let it roar.
Start today with one step, one truth. I’ve packed this in Rocket Habits, real tools to burn true—grab it free: Snag Your Free Copy.
Until next time,
Jerod
P.S. What’s your ember? Have some thoughts? Tell me below—I’m here—let’s build it.
