Two Types of Motivation: Which One Do YOU Use?

6 Comments so far

1. Srinivas Rao on June 25, 2009 12:43 pm

   Definitely an interesting concept to explore. We all have a bit of both depending on the circumstances. I like the moving towards motivation because it seems much more positive.

2. Steve on June 25, 2009 2:51 pm

   Hi Srini,

   I guess it really depends on what you’re doing. If a building is on fire and you had to get out of it as quickly as possible, I’m sure a moving away from strategy would come in handy ;)

   I find that I use a moving away from strategy in some cases. Take waking up in the morning as an example. If I’m in my soft bed I may not feel like getting out of bed - no amount of visualizing is going to get me up :-)

   So what I do is picture some of the scenarios and consequences of not getting out of bed so that I can get things moving and build momentum; once I’ve got momentum and movement it gets easier to transition into a moving towards strategy.

3. Sandra Hendricks on December 2, 2009 2:25 pm

   Hi Steve,

   I have known for some time now that we are motivated from within, and I understand that our thinking is what creates the energy to take action.

   I see where you are coming with the moving away strategy, but I have learned that when I use that one(we all use both), I am left unfulfilled in the achievement. Basically when I manage to create and avoid what I don’t want to happen I feel relieved by the accomplishment, rather than rewarded.

   As much as I can I try to utilize the moving toward approach, because it has a lasting fulfillment that moving away doesn’t have for me.

   Thanks for the video! It certainly gave me something to contemplate. And I learned more about myself from listening to it.

   Sandra

4. Steve on December 2, 2009 2:26 pm

   Your welcome Sandra,

   Steve

5. Greg Fry on July 21, 2010 7:25 am

   I’ve done some work on this, and I think the first thing is to find out what character deficiencies are mental road blocks for motivation, and where they come from.

   I know in my case, growing up my biggest problem, in my fathers eye, was that I wasn’t perfect. So when I was constantly barraged on my misgivings and not patted on the back for my achievements, subconsciously my brain said why bother starting anything at all.

   Learning to overcome that was the start of self motivation. Having said that I liked your concept of moving toward it has very positive overtones.

6. Steve on July 21, 2010 1:40 pm

   Hey Greg,

   It’s unfortunate, but many of us have been treated the same way from our parents. They didn’t acknowledge us and give us something exciting and juicy to “move-towards”… they taught us to get our ass-moving by punishing us (I used to get spanked with the wooden stick!)

   And that strategy didn’t turn out to be the best strategy (for me), but I don’t blame my parents for it because they were doing their best with what they had…