[ak217]

I love the introspection and positive attitude in this post.

One thing I would add is that intrinsic motivation seems to be framed and activated very differently depending on one's personality. I find myself performing best when I'm on the edge of failure, trying to catch up to the high performers, and when recalling past times when I overcame failure or adversity. Comparing myself to the group described as demotivating in the post is the best motivator for me. And then there are little tweaks to one's environment (for me it's coffee, exercise, occasional travel, specific movies and music) that I find end up making an enormous difference in motivation, focus, and overall mental state. I suspect this has a lot to do with personal physiology and the environment in which you grew up.

With that caveat, the post is incredibly thoughtful and helpful, and I really enjoyed reading it.