"You can motivate by fear. And you can motivate by reward. But both of these methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation."- Homer Rice
Motivation refers to an inner feeling, strong desire, goal or expectation about something. You may not have the necessary level of inner drive to cross the gap between what you actually have and what you want. Self- motivation is what gears you to work to achieve your desire and bridge this gap.
“It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it” –Somerset Maugham
Self-motivation is not something which you can buy. Self-motivation is a form of self-encouragement. You tell yourself that you have the capacity to perform still better and surge ahead. This keeps you pushing further until you reach your goal. You can motivate yourself even in very difficult situations. You may not be aware of any rewards or gains when you first start to move up but you continue working at it. Your inner strength says that you can accomplish your goal, so you work on it. This inner strength is your willpower - the guiding force behind your self motivation. This willpower is the strength of your ego, aided by some form of self-discipline. It forms an essential part of your health, happiness and success. As your achievements increase, you are happier and contented.
Why or how do you become motivated? Research indicates that youngsters in challenging environments develop greater self-motivation than most of those who have an easier environment:
§  They learn from role models.
§  They plan their future goals and
§  They work determinedly to achieve them
§  They overcome all hurdles in life to reach their final goal
§  They maneuver their way through various barriers through well planned techniques which they have had to learn
§  They use (often limited) available resources wisely
Self-motivation is a combination of willpower, goals and ability to keep trying to attain the highest level and never being satisfied until you reach your goal.