Right type of motivation? Maybe you hadn’t thought about it before but there are basically two types of motivation that you choose between when you are trying to achieve a goal: ‘toward motivation’ and ‘away-from motivation’. These underpin your actions, guide your decisions, and sculpt your aspirations, each in unique ways.
‘Toward motivation’ can be likened to a personal compass, constantly guiding you in the direction of your desires. As someone predominantly driven by toward motivation, you’re in constant pursuit of positive outcomes—be it success, satisfaction, or fulfillment. Imagine being an athlete propelled by this motivation—you don’t just study to pass, you immerse in learning because the prospect of doing really well in your that exam is profoundly enticing.
Conversely, ‘away-from motivation’ functions more like an inbuilt alarm system, incessantly alerting you to dodge undesirable outcomes. If this motivation style resonates with you, you’re focused on circumventing negatives, such as failure or disappointment. In the student context, you’d grind through studying, not necessarily for the joy of knowledge, but out of fear of academic failure.
It’s important to note that neither of these motivation styles is superior—they simply offer different approaches, each with unique strengths and potential downsides.
While away-from motivation can indeed be powerful, especially when avoiding immediate danger, it’s a double-edged sword. The constant vigilance and focus on potential threats can be emotionally draining in the long term, as you find yourself in a continuous cycle of negative thought patterns about the looming danger.
On the other hand, toward motivation might not be as effective in catalyzing a quick flight response from harmful situations, but its advantage lies in the pursuit of longer-term goals. As you envision and aspire towards success, you inevitably immerse yourself in positive thoughts about future accomplishments, which boosts your overall emotional well-being.
Therefore, the key to effective motivation lies in understanding these contrasting styles and skillfully deploying them as needed. If you’re dealing with a high-stakes, time-sensitive situation, your away-from motivation can provide the necessary push. However, when planning for the long haul, like nurturing a career, it’s healthier and more productive to tap into your toward motivation and bask in the positive anticipation of your envisioned success.
In essence, toward and away-from motivations, when balanced, serve as the engines and brakes in your drive towards personal growth and accomplishment. Learning to harness both can elevate your journey towards attaining success, whilst maintaining your emotional equilibrium.
If you are having difficulty working towards your goals and you would like some help with this, let’s have a chat about how I can probably help you let go of this issue quite quickly.
#selfdoubt #worry #stress #anxiety #selfconfidence #overwhelm #procrastination
