You Can Enjoy Hard Things — Maria Montessori
When we believe we can do hard things and have faith in our abilities and the support around us, when we know we can handle failure, then fear and insecurity are kept in check. An amazing thing happens: We relish taking on new challenges.
Why does this feel so good? The answer lies in the components of intrinsic motivation: choice, challenge, curiosity, and collaboration. Choice is key, so that the goal is personally meaningful and we feel a sense of autonomy in pursuing the task. We are motivated by challenge when attaining the goal is possible but not necessarily certain—which presents the challenge—and we are able to register feedback about our progress. Curiosity breeds motivation when something grabs the individual’s attention and stimulates the person to want to learn more. Collaboration motivates us with its inherent satisfaction of helping others or contributing to a team. When these elements are in play, we feel a sense of motivation to take on the challenge, and the work becomes an interesting journey rather than a chore.