Know What You Want. Know What You Don't Want.

One thing I find helpful is that I am very often motivated by what I don't want.

All too often, we get stuck in this pleasure loop of what we want in life and all our goals but, when they are so far away, it is hard to stay on track.

You know what is close though...?

Everything you don't want.

Everything you don't want is usually current and right in front of you.

Like that 10 extra pounds you see in the mirror, or the friends you hang out with that don't get you anywhere, or the cruddy apartment you are living in.

All right there front and center in your life but, we rarely use this as a reason to get off our ass and change.

One thing someone said to me this week was, "people have two motivations, they are either avoiding pain or chasing pleasure." I would say 9 times out of 10 people try to chase pleasure as they work towards a goal.

Yet how useful is it to be in the current moment you are in, look around and ask yourself "is this really what I want?".

I find I do this more often when I am around certain people, or when I am thinking about my life choices.

Sometimes, it can be overused, I understand we all need to chase pleasure as well, but most of the time I think it is overlooked.

So, next time when you are thinking about giving up, ask yourself, "is this really what I want?". Then, just maybe, you'll find that your present pain is enough motivation to keep you on track towards that future pleasure.

LAWS CO