What motivates you--an introduction
Most experts advocate that people are motivated by either pain or pleasure. Pain motivates them to run AWAY and pleasure motivates them to move TOWARD. This is true, and these two things certainly would make any list of great motivators, but there are plenty of other things that cause people to get up in the morning, work their job, spend money and engage in various activities in the course of a day.
By no means is this a complete list, but here are some of the major motivators in life. Over the coming days (and weeks if need be), I will try and provide more details on these eight things.
1. Fear
2. Guilt
3. Anger
4. Pain
5. Desire
6. Greed
7. Adoration
8. Love
What finally helps those of us who at one time in our lives smoked, to kick the habit? For some it was guilt, for others it was fear and for some it was simply the desire to cease engaging in a disgusting habit. In my case, it took one trip to a cardiologist who scared me so much I quit a 25 year long addiction cold turkey. Fear is a mighty motivator and specifically the fear of pain/death (known as self preservation) enables people to do whatever is needed to stay alive.
Unfortunately, many people spend a lifetime doing what they do (both good and bad) due to feeling guilty about something. Guilt is a powerful motivator, but like fear, a bad one. Just because you let someone down and feel guilty about it does not justify selling all your belongings and spending your life a hermit. However much guilt demands action to make amends, those actions will never appease the guilt monster.
Anger, along with bitterness and wrath all stem from the desire for revenge. This huge motivator always is wrong and always ends up making matters worse and not better. The desire to hurt someone for what they have done to you or a loved one may be natural, but if actually carried out, it is almost always illegal and always a SIN.
The great negative motivators of pain, guilt, anger and fear are not to be dismissed as second class citizens. They are indeed what motivates the vast majority of people to do what they do in this life. Those motivated by these things are not pleasant people and are usually tormented by demons intent on their destruction. Albeit, those motivated by these things are truly HIGHLY motivated and many times dangerous to themselves and others.
On the other side of the coin are the motivators which draw upon DESIRE. The desire for recognition and worship is a great motivator, especially for those intent on attaining positions of power and influence in any realm. The dream of sitting on the throne being adored by the multitudes is alluring and highly desirous for many who have no problems with self esteem.
Of course what motivates many millions of people is the DESIRE for bigger, better, more and more. Never being content with what one has breeds the lust for more and more in every realm. Whether dealing with money, things or sex; the DESIRE for more than what is needed (GREED) motivates people to work outrageous hours at a profession they hate, lie, cheat, steal and otherwise do unscrupulous, reprehensible and stupid things.
That leaves the one and only pure motivator, and that is LOVE. When the reason for doing what one does is only for the benefit of another; that is love. Only when a person is willing to put his personal fears, guilt, anger, cravings for adoration and things and demands on hold are they are able to think about being motivated by love. Love does not mix with any other motivator and stands alone as the one and only good, pure and honest reason for doing anything.
Of course there are individual situations that come up in a day which demand adrenaline rushes to overcome the obstacle (a growling bear will not respond to love). But, in the big scheme of things, we are to seek to rid ourselves of all reasons for our decisions and actions so that we can honestly answer the most important question of our lives the way God desires. When asked WHY we did it, our answer needs to be LOVE and nothing less.
 Creative Commons: Public Domain
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 828 (archive)
Blog Comments: 1357
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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