I first felt what it was like to be fueled by an unstoppable, burning desire when I co-founded my first business, Thrivalist. It was an incredible feeling—passionate, driven, and deeply purposeful. It wasn’t about external rewards or validation. It was something more powerful. Something intrinsic.
My ex-business partner, Jen, and I had both reached about 12 months into our sobriety journeys. We had each experienced early sobriety alone, feeling ashamed and disempowered, navigating a world that seemed to revolve around drinking (this was 2019 not 2025!) But during these 12 months we stumbled upon a secret—sobriety wasn’t a life sentence of boredom, reserved for people who couldn’t drink. It was exhilarating. It was freeing. It was a door opening into a new world of finally becoming our true selves, with no masks, no numbing, no hiding. It was so much more than just not drinking. We wanted to scream it from the rooftops. And we knew we had to launch something to help other women who were struggling with their drinking.
It was the beginning of COVID-19, and drinking rates had soared. Nearly 1 in 4 women was experiencing an alcohol use disorder. The need was urgent and at that time there was nothing really like it available for Australian women. In July 2020, we launched our first 8-Week Signature Sobriety Course. That was the start of a nearly four-year journey of supporting thousands of women around the world in changing their relationship with alcohol. We had women from many different countries signing up to join the Membership program. And I still get messages almost every week from a past Thrivalist member thanking me for helping them to change their life.
And during that time, I had never felt more alive.
The feeling of working on something so deeply aligned with my purpose was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I woke up easily at 4 a.m. to work before my kids woke up. I devoured every self-development and sobriety book I could find. I became obsessed with medical research, psychology white papers, and—most of all—supporting the women who needed us. I was driven by a deep desire to make a difference, to help these women build wonderful lives in sobriety so they could break the cycle for their own children.
This was intrinsic motivation in its purest form. And it gave me access to an energy source that was almost effortless and seemingly limitless.
What Is Intrinsic Motivation and Why It Matters
Intrinsic motivation is the internal drive to pursue something because it feels meaningful, fulfilling, or exciting—not because of external rewards like money, status, or praise. It’s when we do something for the love of it, not for validation.
This type of motivation fuels high performance, resilience, and creativity, making success feel effortless rather than forced. When we align with what genuinely excites and fulfills us, we naturally operate at our best.
How Intrinsic Motivation Fuels Performance:
Drives Sustainable Success – Motivation rooted in passion, curiosity, and purpose leads to higher performance without reliance on external validation.
Enhances Focus & Productivity – Keeps you committed and engaged, making even challenging tasks feel meaningful.
Strengthens Resilience – When driven by what truly matters, setbacks become lessons rather than roadblocks.
Aligns with Authenticity – The more you connect with your values and strengths, the more naturally motivation flows—no forcing, no pretending.
Reduces Burnout – Pursuing goals that align with who you are creates energy rather than depleting it.
How to Cultivate More Intrinsic Motivation
If you’ve ever felt stuck, uninspired, or like you’re forcing yourself toward goals that don’t truly excite you, it might be time to reconnect with what drives you from within. Here’s how:
1. Find Your ‘Why’ or calling
Ask yourself: What truly matters to me?
What impact do I want to make?
What lights me up, even when no one is watching?
When your goals are tied to something deeply meaningful, motivation flows naturally. And here’s the important part—you don’t have to quit your job to follow your calling. Purpose isn’t always about making a drastic change; it’s about integrating more of what lights you up into your existing life. Whether it’s through passion projects, volunteering, mentoring, or shifting how you show up in your current role, there are countless ways to align with your purpose right where you are.
2. Align Your Goals with Your Authentic Self
Are you chasing something because you want it, or because you think you should?
Do your goals feel aligned with your strengths, passions, and values?
When you’re trying to force yourself into something that isn’t truly you, motivation will always feel like a struggle.
3. Shift from Outcome-Based Thinking to Growth-Based Thinking
Instead of focusing on external rewards (money, recognition), focus on learning, mastery, and the journey itself.
What skills do you want to develop?
How can you make the process enjoyable?
When we enjoy what we’re doing, motivation is natural.
4. Surround Yourself with Inspiration
Be in spaces and communities that energise and inspire you.
Follow people who are doing what excites you.
Spend time with those who believe in your vision and remind you of your ‘why or calling.’
5. Honour Your Energy and Wellbeing
Intrinsic motivation isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about working with your natural rhythms.
Rest when you need to.
Create an environment that supports focus and creativity.
Fuel yourself with things that bring you joy and meaning.
Intrinsic Motivation + Authenticity = Sustainable Success
The magic happens when we align our motivation with our authentic selves. When we pursue work, goals, and lives that feel deeply true to who we are, motivation stops being a struggle—it becomes momentum.
I learned this firsthand with Thrivalist. My passion, my purpose, and my motivation were all deeply aligned, and that alignment gave me the energy to build something extraordinary.
If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself: Am I chasing the right thing? Or is it time to realign with what truly drives me?
Because when you find what fuels you from the inside out, there’s no limit to what you can create.
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