How To Get Motivated For Anything: The Carrot And The Stick

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Any and every emotion starts with the same thing: A carrot or a stick.

Either you need the carrot dangling in front of your face or you need the stick poking you in the back, but ideally you have a little bit of both.

When you are hungry it is the discomfort of being hungry and looking forward to a full stomach or a tasty meal that pushes you to get food.

When you need to go to the bathroom it’s the feeling of relief or the pressure in your bladder that get you motivated.

And when you chase your goals it is the dream of a brighter tomorrow or the pain of yesterday that pushes you to work harder.

Use this principle on anything and you will be able to find a motivation.

How strong this motivation is depends on how far you zone in on the feelings that you create, positive or negative.

Let’s take exercising as an example.

The stick can be anything from the discomfort you feel being stared at in public to the disappointment of seeing that number on the scale or the fear of the doctor’s prognosis should you keep staying unhealthy.

It can be the lethargic feeling you feel waking up every morning or your inability to play with your kids for as long…