22. about the Motivation forces...

​22.

The link between motivation and change: Push versus Pull Motivation

When we talk about change, we inevitably talk about motivation. But did you know that motivation comes in two forms: push and pull?

When we say these two words we refer to the type of reasons and energy that drives us to make the change - one is pushing us away from what we do not wish, the other is pulling us towards something we desire.

Let us take an example - say, like many at New Year you make a resolution that you wish to be healthier and get in better shape this year.

Push motivation is the drive that comes from external pressures or discomfort. It’s often fueled by the need to escape pain or avoid failure.
If we take our example - push motivation would be that we are worried about our health, fear the consequences of inaction or feel body shame.

Pull motivation is driven by aspirations and future rewards. It is the vision of a better future and the excitement of something we genuinely desire. Again in our example, that would be imagining ourselves in an outfit we love, or being able to do things we could not before and feeling good.

We often consider pull motivation preferable - and it is. It feels nicer and it tends to make change more sustainable. That said, let us not underestimate the explosive power of push motivation - when we have just had it!  I have seen the immense power of push motivation that propels individuals into a whole new better trajectory. Push motivation is a good starter of the journey, gives us the initial push and we need to lean into pull motivators to make the journey sustainable.

You mentioned that we tend to fall off the track sometimes. Why is that?
           Yes. Change is a process. So let us talk about sabotage.