Empower 2026 brought together 1,000+ nonprofit professionals to explore how human purpose and AI intersect, delivering ...

By Dr. Mercy DeSouzaIn an era where reputations can be damaged in a single news cycle and public trust is increasingly fragile, most organizations are searching for what truly sustains performance.

Self-determination theory offered a new model of what a human being is. Behaviorists said motivation comes from outside, while SDT argued that the deepest motivation is intrinsic.

Most self-help advice on coping with negative emotions makes it almost impossible to act in your long-term best interests.