I'm in my 40's now, and I am a lot more determined than I was in my teens and 20's. One thing that has had a lasting impact on me was spending time with people

I'm in my 40's now, and I am a lot more determined than I was in my teens and 20's. One thing that has had a lasting impact on me was spending time with people less well-off than me. I didn't seek these experiences out; I just noticed that people around me had less resources than I do, sometimes starkly so. I think of these people when I am deciding whether to get something done, or read another reddit thread. There is a myth in the US that people who are less well off must be lazy. In fact, the people who have it the hardest tend to work the hardest. Having spent time around those people, I feel self-conscious even in my own home when I'm not working hard. That, and find the work that makes you satisfied. Happiness is important, but long-term satisfaction is much more deeply fulfilling. If you enjoy your work, and you find it important, motivation will probably be easier to come by.