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Social Articles
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What Motivates You - Desire or Fear?
By Steve Brunkhorst
Reusable Bags We`ve gone all eco-friendly in our household as concerns about the planet`s welfare have pricked our minds. Instead of using plastic bags when we go to the supermarket we take our own type of Reusable Bags. In the bad old days we would think nothing about cramming our groceries into tons of plastic bags. When we returned home and emptied the bags in the kitchen the chances are they would be thrown away into the bin. Talk about wasteful and this should never have happened because good quality Reusable Bags are much better ideas. The only obstacle we had to get over was to remember to take the bags to the supermarket in the first place. This problem was soon remedied because we decided to leave the bags in the boot of our car ready to be used at the next grocery shop. If only more people could see themselves shopping with these bags there wouldn`t be millions of plastic bags on landfill sites taking ages to rot away. It`s not difficult to reach into the boot of the car to take out Reusable Bags at the local grocery store. Even folks who don`t drive can use these bags as they are easy to carry. I`m glad we have become a little more eco-friendly in our household and have started using the Reusable Bags.
One of my recent clients had spent six years in a job where he felt unappreciated. Although he had the skills and experience to take other work, he was having trouble leaving his current position. While expressing his frustration, he kept saying, "I can`t stand this job!" Desire and the energy it creates affect our intentions and actions. However, it is important to distinguish between desire motivation and fear motivation. We are either moving toward something we want, or, as my client was, away from something we do not want. Fear motivation aims to protect and focuses on avoiding penalties for failure. It leads to feelings of inhibition (e.g., "I can`t") or compulsion (e.g., "I have to."). Desire motivation seeks rewards for success. It leads to volition (e.g., "I can.") and propulsion (e.g., "I want to."). Not initially knowing where he would go next, my client was moving "from" an undesired position, mistakenly motivated by penalties for perceived failure. Of course, he had not failed; his job had failed him. The way we express our feelings will shape our beliefs, intentions, and actions, often without our awareness. My client`s initial affirmation, "I can`t stand this job," was working to keep him there. The mind is unable to focus on the reverse of an idea. It will delete a negative such as "can`t" and move directly to its dominant thought. What he had actually affirmed with strong emotion was, "I stand this job!" Filled with energetic dislike for his job, he had not only been affirming that he would continue to "stand" his job. He had also intensified his unwanted staying power by mixing strong negative emotion with his words. He went on to identify the position and job he wanted. Then he began to create statements focusing on rewards for moving to a satisfying and fulfilling position. Within two months, he had acquired a satisfying position with a new company, and, to his delight, an employer who regularly compliments him on his work. Clearly focus on your desires each day. Ask yourself, "What do I want, exactly?" "What am I moving toward?" Allow your thoughts and words to move you toward your desires with faith in your God-given talents and potential. For additional information about effectively combining positive emotions with desire, see the article, Affirm Your Intentions - Achieve Your Goals at: Remember that most successful achievers focus on the rewards of success. Think of one of your strongest desires and imagine what its attainment will make possible for you. The deepest desires of your heart will produce the energy to carry you forward to success. May the rewards of every success that you desire be yours! 
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