Motivate Yourself - Use the 'Fear Factor'

posted at 22:07:32
By Flipping Heck!

Posted In
Motivation

I've been wandering around the internet for the past couple of hours looking at various motivational websites - quite a few of which were quite uninspiring (surely if you want to motivate people the design of your site itself should be motivating - or is that just me?!) when I came across a rather interesting quote:

Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You.

Elenor Roosevelt

This got me thinking a bit (note to self: must really stop doing that

).

So what's scaring yourself silly got to do with motivation?

For a start, we fear change. We're happy with the way things are because they're comfortable and a known quantity. We know what is expected of us in the various circles we keep and we know where our limitations are. Because of this, can anyone really say that they are motivated?

Bring fear into it and people can do all sorts of things, a mother can lift a car off of their trapped son, the company's threatening layoffs so we all work harder. Motivation through fear takes many forms.

Harness your fear - make it work for you

You're frightened of being laid off? Harness the fear and learn a new skill

Frightened the "youngsters" in your office are going to overtake you? Use that fear to let your boss know how experience is better than youth

Frightened you're getting too old? Go bungee jumping or skydiving!

Okay, that last one is a bit extreme but you get the picture!

As we saw in my last post on re-engaging people, change brings all sorts of benefits not only to you but those around you.

Make your fear work for you, don't work for your fear.