Posted by MC on Nov 4, 2009
Enacting change is 90% motivation and 10% capability. People focus on what they “can’t do” or “don’t want” rather than focus on what they DO WANT. Focusing on what you do want will help you commit to your goal and will provide motivation and fuel you to achieve your goals!
An example plan for people that are driven by emotional pain…
(Step 1) “I don’t want to be fat”, should be changed to “I WANT to be fit”. Words are instantaneously interpreted and subconsciously charged with energy. Words can inspire us to create action, or paralyze us into inaction. The words “don’t want” shift our focus to negative feelings/energy and have a huge impact on our mindset. Using negative words and imagery sets up and most often predicts failure. Creating positive energy is extremely crucial to success.
(Step 2) For many people, pain is the dominant force in their mind. For these folks pain is so bitter they will do damn near anything to avoid the feeling of pain, even at the expense of pleasure. This group should use the energy their pain avoidance creates to motivate and propel them towards their desired outcome.
So it would go like this…
I have fully committed to the mantra “I WANT to be fit”.
I avoid pain at all costs.
I feel pain when I am NOT working towards being fit.
Therefore to avoid pain I MUST work towards the goal of being fit.
Use positive wording to set and commit to a goal. Then use pain as the motivation that drives you to the finish line.
An example plan for people that are driven by emotional pleasure…
(Step 1) This step is the same in both pain AND pleasure motivated individuals.
(Step 2) For most people, pleasure is the dominant force in their mind. For these folks pleasure is so enticing they will give up damn near everything to secure the high pleasure brings, even if it’s temporary and will lead to great pain. Gamblers and addicts fall into this group. This group actively seeks pleasure and should harness that power to motivate and propel them towards their desired outcome.
So it would go like this…
I have fully committed to the mantra “I WANT to be fit”.
Pleasure motivates me more than anything, even pain.
I feel pleasure when I am working towards being fit.
Therefore to gain pleasure I MUST work towards the goal of being fit.
Use positive wording to set and commit to a goal. Then use pleasure as the motivation that drives you to the finish line.
So you see, it’s first about setting up positivity and truly committing to a goal. From there it’s about finding what really drives you, (pain or pleasure) and linking that emotion to the goal. That link then provides motivation and sends you on your way to success. This is a method of re-programming your mind and using what supplies you the highest motivation as a catalyst not relying on will power alone which never works.
