Motivation Wallpaper And More To Keep You Pumped

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. - Lou Holtz

Being motivated makes any load easier to bear. That is true whether the "load" referred to is your responsibilities at work; taking care of your home and family, or just simply rolling out of bed in the morning to face whatever the new day has in store for you. The great news is that you can find that much-needed motivation in a multiplicity of places - wallpaper, quotes, positive thinking, phone apps, your social circle and much more. You just need to know where to look!

Understanding the types of motivation and knowing how each affects you is a good place to start. Once we have looked at those, we will share some awesome ways in which you can get the motivation you need to take you through each day.

What is Motivation?

Put simply, motivation is any reason you have for doing something. The "reason" can be a need or desire you have, or a goal you are seeking to fulfill. Our reasons may not always be clear, even to us, but they are always there. The "something" is usually an action we take but it can also be the decision to do nothing in a particular circumstance.

Words which often get linked to motivation include:

Incentive - A tangible or intangible reward

Enthusiasm - An eagerness to accomplish a set goal

Inspiration - Sometimes used interchangeably with motivation, especially in cases where we are speaking of doing something creative

The things which motivate you can be placed into one of two categories, namely, intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation comes from within. It is what drives you to do something simply for the joy of it. Examples include taking pride in learning a new skill and the sense of satisfaction which comes from completing a lengthy or intricate task.

Intrinsic motivation is said to drive our creativity, the urge to explore new possibilities and the ability to "think outside the box." It is credited with keeping us more focused on completion of a task than external rewards are able to do. It is also said to work best for us when we are tackling long-term goals.

Extrinsic Motivation

When our actions are driven by any kind of external reward, then we are experiencing extrinsic motivation. It can take many forms, including monetary payment, praise, an award, acceptance by someone or a group, good grades and fame. Extrinsic motivation can also be in the form of a punishment we are trying to avoid. For example, the punishment of having to pay a fine or go to jail motivates us to not break the law.

Extrinsic motivation is very important when it comes to getting us to do things we might not enjoy or get any sense of inner fulfillment from. One example is working at a job you don't particularly like because the salary (your source of motivation) helps you to pay your bills (your desired end result).

The Relationship Between Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation

• Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation can work in tandem with each other. One good example is loving your job AND getting paid to do it so you can cover your bills.
• Extrinsic motivation can stimulate intrinsic motivation as in situations where an external reward, such as a promotion at work, is the initial reason you perform an activity, such as learning a new skill. You may come to enjoy what you are doing so much that you make the decision to pursue the skill area even more, although getting any higher qualifications will have no bearing on future advancement at work.
• Sometimes, the presence of external rewards for an activity you already genuinely enjoy doing can lead to what is called the overjustification effect. It is an interesting phenomenon in which extrinsic motivation gradually lowers intrinsic motivation and leads to loss of interest in performing an activity.

Can Intrinsic Motivation Come from Others?

Strictly speaking, the answer to that question is "No." It has been shown, however, that we feel good about ourselves when we help others and when we receive genuine praise and encouragement from others. This inward happiness, in turn, motivates us to continue doing well.

You can increase the amount of good feedback you get from others in several ways. These include surrounding yourself with a supportive social circle and choosing to volunteer your time and energy to helping others in need.

In the same way, as your intrinsic motivation can be driven by others, you can decide to be a source of motivation to others. A few words of encouragement or simply "saying it with a smile," might be all someone else needs to make their day. You can also share your sources of inspiration with others - sharing the link to this article, for example, or posting a motivational quote on your social media page for others to see.

Motivation Images and Quotes for Making Your Wallpaper

Everyday reminders to stay optimistic, more relaxed and in the flow of things can be a wonderful way to direct your thoughts. And we all know by now how much the quality of your thinking and how you manage your thoughts can affect your mood, perhaps even your whole life.

Putting positive reminders on your desktop as wallpaper is a great way to keep thoughts most important to you top-of-mind. This will help to increase the level of intrinsic motivation you feel and your eagerness to go out and get things done.

Below is a downloadable selection of beautiful, inspiring motivation wallpapers, also images with which you can create your wallpaper. You can choose to print these for eye-catching motivation posters, suitable for office, home, or your motivation board. They are good for every space where you need more light to shine for a brighter outlook on life.

Simply looking at motivational pictures can make you feel less stressed and more focused on your goals. Consider creating your own by downloading some of these images and quotes to make motivation pics, posters, wallpaper and more!

Motivation Images for Download

Motivation Quotes

• Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out. - John Wooden
• If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. - Jim Rohn
• Stop chasing the money and start chasing the passion. - Tony Hsieh
• Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill
• It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. - Charles Darwin
• Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. - Eleanor Roosevelt
• The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success. - Bruce Feirstein
• Hard work brings its luck. - Anon
• Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not the absence of fear. - Mark Twain
• Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down. - Charles F. Kettering
• You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. - Steve Jobs
• Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. - Jim Ryun
• You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. - Margaret Thatcher
• Success is just a war of attrition. Sure, there's an element of talent you should probably possess. But if you stick around long enough, eventually something is going to happen. - Dax Shepard

If you need motivation icons and more, search sites like Flaticon or Shutterstock for free or paid-for download options. Also, check out BrainyQuote for more inspirational sayings from a wide variety of famous persons, past and present.

In this day and age, few of us are ever very far from our smartphones or tablets. You can put yours to use helping to keep you motivated by downloading one (or more) of the many motivation apps which are available for both iOS and Android devices. A quick search will reveal apps designed to help you start your day; or for those among us who are easily distracted, there are also apps meant to help you focus so you can accomplish tasks on time.

When Motivating Yourself Fails

If feelings of demotivation and depression are persistent and often occur, decide to find help. You can do so in the privacy and comfort of your own home with BetterHelp, where we will match you to a therapist most suitable to your needs. The path to success is usually not an easy or problem-free one, and you will need others on your way.