Pain vs Pleasure Motivation

Everything we do requires some level of motivation, even simple things like going for a dump. In this instance, you go to the toilet because you are motivated not to shit your pants!

Many people would like to do something more with their lives, yet very few realise these aspirations. The majority sit around dreaming of the good life, and only a very small minority ever achieve it. If all other circumstances are equal, why is this number so low?

If we take out of the equation such things as family commitments, lack of specialised knowledge and financial circumstances, we are left with just one cause; motivation.

The first three causes are just excuses and can be overcome without much difficulty, whereas the latter is not always so straightforward.

When you serve in the Armed Forces you learn how to work and play hard, but you also master the fine art of loafing when you can get away with it.

If you continue to loaf in Civvy Street, you will end up doing something for a living that bores you senseless.

It would seem civvy side; most are content to stay as they are, rather than getting off their arse to attain something more. That is unless there is the threat of some level of physical or emotional pain. This is often referred to as “towards or away motivation”.

Knowing this is a valuable nugget of information if you want to gain some leverage on yourself and realise your goals; whatever they are.

By deliberately setting up circumstances to cause you to suffer if you don’t take action, you, too, can find yourself achieving any ambition.

Public Pressure as Leverage

“No Guts, 2 Tins”

During my Naval Service the above quote could provoke anyone to pretty much do anything.

So you could use this kind of motivation to finish a project, achieve a goal, or get out of your comfort zone.

Simply get a friend or family member to “bet you” that you won’t complete whatever it is you set out to attain.

Not wanting to look like a failure can be enough incentive to persevere, but not for everyone…

If you are fortunate enough to be one of the few people who are driven by reward, then all you need to do is promise yourself something pleasurable at the successful completion of a task. This could be anything from a new CD to an exotic holiday; or just a couple of pints down the local!

Seeing how most people are motivated away from pain, try this: announce on a forum (such as this one) what your goal is and its timeframe.

Then also state what your penalty is; should you fail in your task. Let your imagination run wild for the forfeit, just providing it is something that you really, really don’t want to do. Giving a large sum of money to a complete stranger, visiting the in-laws, or going shopping at Tesco in a mankini are just three examples. Saying that, I know a few Veterans who would do the latter one just for the crack, but you get the idea!

The Power of the First Step

Don’t Know Where To Start?

If you are working on a large, time-consuming, and laborious project, the cause of procrastination can come from a feeling of being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.

To quote Lao Tzu: “A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.”

If you remember this pearl of wisdom and “the 7 P’s” (prior planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance; for those who didn’t know); you should never feel overwhelmed again.

Breaking large tasks down into smaller manageable ones not only makes it easier to get started but also gives you the feeling of success on a regular basis.

Remember now, a time when you had a mammoth of a day ahead of you, but you still managed to get everything done.

How good did the sense of accomplishment make you feel?

The Ego loves self-satisfaction, so feed it often and it won’t nag you!

Recognising Progress

Whatever you do, DO look behind you!

The final temptation to sit down and do “Sweet F.A.”, I want to share a solution to overcoming is for when you feel like you aren’t getting any closer to your goal.

If you keep looking at the horizon, it appears you are not getting anywhere; and this can cause people to give up.

However, in this example, reality is very different when you look back and see how far you have travelled.

It is important in any enterprise, to regularly acknowledge your progress to keep your motivation at its peak. Look how far you’ve come since you began the undertaking, and although there may still be a long way to go, you will be less inclined to give up.

If you apply the tips I’ve shared in this article to any objective, there is no reason for you not to be successful; other than not really being that bothered about its achievement in the first place.

It simply boils down to this: “Are you a dreamer or an achiever?”

Please Note: I wrote this article many years ago, but as it’s still relevant, I have repurposed it for my blog.

If this rattled your brain in a good way, follow me on Facebook — it’s not enlightenment, but it’s a step up from doomscrolling.