Motivation is the universal driving force of the world. It is present in every living being. This is true regardless of whether that being is human or not. An example is, a cat hunt for food, a cat will try and escape a cage, and a cat will also be picky about what food they want to eat. Does that not mean that similarly to us, an animal may also live for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
I would argue however, that motivation is more complicated in humans. We have far more options, far more possibilities in life, and that leads to us being unsure of what to do. Well of course we must first meet the all-encompassing motive of simply staying alive, but most people are able to do that. From then on out we have to make choices. Should we pursue love? Perhaps a better job for more money is needed? Could I find a hobby I'm passionate about to pass my time with?
We are motivated by a variety of things. The common origins behind our motives though, are often the same. We act for life, for prestige, for wealth, and for love. Despite our different ways of achieving this, through sports, jobs, gambling, gaming, etc, these origins remain constant. No matter who you are, from the most intelligent mind of our age, to the poorest pauper upon our streets, we're not so different, you and I.
But as there are things such as desire that motivate us, there are also things that cause us to be unmotivated. One such feeling is that you are doing something simply because someone else wants you to, even if you were originally interested. A good example is if a child enjoyed piano, and then their parents found out about it and forced them to practice a lot, as well as take piano lessons. From there, the child may slowly feel that they are no longer acting on their own will, but rather playing merely to satisfy the expectations of others. The expectations of others can actually be an incredibly unmotivating thing. No matter who it is for, whether it be friends, family, a lover, or someone else, feeling like your own actions are not dictated by your will, but by someone else's, is a terribly unmotivating feeling. Of course, that also depends on your situation, as one may genuinely enjoy something enough that they don't care that others are pushing them to do more, or one may love doing something because they get a lot of support for doing it. There are, of course, other examples, but for the intended length of this piece, I shall not continue along this train of thought.
Dealing with motivation is difficult, as everyone is motivated in similar and different ways. In the end, it is up to each individual to find out how to motivate themselves, and what they believe is worth being motivated for.