What Motivates You?

As I sat here this morning, staring at a blank page with nary an idea, I was reminded that fear can be its own motivator. The very thought of not being able to come up with something to write about actually gave me an idea of something to consider...which got me thinking about what motivates me on a daily basis.

 

Most writers will agree that a blank page, no ideas and a deadline is a special kind of terror. When I'm writing, I usually get my best ideas away from the blank page -- or screen, in this case. Whether I'm out walking, in the shower, knitting or doing something else, those times when I'm actively engaged elsewhere is when the perfect lead will strike me or the best way to organize a piece will appear. Fear -- that pressure of "gotta do it right now" -- tends to make me freeze.

 

I'm thinking about fear, too, as it relates to maintaining weight loss. If you're a regular reader, you know that I don't keep a scale in my house. There's too much potential for an obsession with numbers to develop. However, I do have a doctor's appointment coming up in two weeks, which coincides with the one-year anniversary of the end of my Weight-Loss Diary column with Shape, and I find myself feeling a bit of fear. What if the doctor's scale says my weight is way up?

 

It's a little bit irrational -- all of my clothes still fit. But still I find myself a bit nervous about stepping into that office.

 

That spark of fear might be just what I need to boost my workout and healthy eating efforts during the next two weeks. But what will motivate me after that? In the end, for me, fear-based action never amounts to lasting change.

 

As I come to the end of my first year after weight loss, it's good to reflect on the reasons behind the healthy changes I've made and the reasons why I want to keep going with this lifestyle. I do know this, though -- it can't be about fear.

 

 

Comments

[Sagan]

I like this. I think you've got a good point that we rely on our fears to get us through things. But we can't live our lives like that- that's not really living! We need to focus on the things that are really important and are worth living for, and use those as motivations to reach our goals. And ultimately, through that, we will find success.

[Alyssa]

Completely agree that we cannot live our lives based on fear. (I did that for a looooong time, and it's NOT fun, lol!)
I also agree with Sagan: we have to figure out what is most important to us and live according to that.