I’ve been fortunate to have some great teachers. Fr. Thomas Keating, monk and author is one - he often said “motivation is everything”. How so? Here’s one meaning of his assertion. The same action can originate for two totally different reasons. For instance, two people might donate money to a charity - one to receive something in return, “a favor” or alternatively, to support the charity sans expectation of anything in return, a pure gift. Same behavior, different motivations.
Or, take the time Fr. Keating called me just as I was about to see my dentist for a tooth extraction. I told him my situation and asked if I could call him back. He said “of course, you poor man”. Saying “you poor man” to someone, if taken literally might seem negative, and even derogatory, insulting or stating a deficiency. However, with him I felt it was originating from compassion and was intended to console - “motivation is everything” in-deed.