Do you have difficulties motivating yourself for the workout? Well, most people struggle with getting sustained training motivation for the long term. Desire is what gets you started; motivation is what gets you going. In fact, you can't achieve much result with any training program if you don't know how to willingly motivate yourself. So whenever your scheduled workout is up, there's no hesitation or procrastination. You just do it.
Therefore, learning the proper motivation strategy for working out is the key to consistent training. For that, Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP) can help.
NLP and Propulsion System Strategy
NLP is the science of achievement. Its techniques have been used in a wide range of fields: from therapy, personal fulfillment, to athletic performance enhancement interventions. One of the best techniques that came out of NLP is the propulsion system strategy. And here's its premise:
We, human beings, are motivated by two powerful forces: we move toward what we want (pleasure) and away from what we don't want (pain). This is what is known as propulsion system in human personality. Still, we aren't motivated by one force to the exclusion of the other; both forces work together and shape our decisions and outlook on life. We, at the same time, stir towards good feelings and away from dire ones.
What makes this process so powerful is that's so instinctive and unconscious, we're doing it regularly without paying to it much attention. This is how our nervous system was wired up from the factory. Hence the analogy of the carrot and the stick has solid truth to it. Nonetheless, to most people, one force tends to be stronger than the other; here is a quick assessment:
1. Towards Motivation Person
People with a strong motivation drive tend to emphasize and focus more on the bright side and benefits of doing something. If you fall into this category, then you definitely pay more attention to the pleasant feelings you may get from taking action. Words like success, achievement, fulfillment, status are widely used by this type of person.
2. Away From Motivation Person
On the other side, this type of person tend to focus more on the dire consequences of not getting something done; they tend to imagine the worse scenario that could happen, then they use the negative feelings as an incentive to take action. This is what is referred to as the stick approach motivation strategy.
Nonetheless, we are all affected by both forces and the healthiest approach to motivation is to mix both approaches.
An Example of the Strategy
Let me give you an example. When it comes to working out, I tend to move toward achieving better health and improve my performance, and away from gaining weight and feeling sloppy and lazy. What about you?
How to Use the Propulsion System Strategy
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the strategy:
- Choose context where you lack motivation; working out for example.
- Think of the all positive consequences you can enjoy if you do the workout. Imagine fully the experience and feel deeply how it feels to finish the workout.
- Think of the dire consequences that could happen if you skip the workout. All the pain of being out of shape and fat.
- Mentally rehearse the two scenarios, the stick and the carrot, heaven and hell, and get a sense of the forward and away motions.
- Rinse and repeat.
By doing this strategy regularly, you will not only increase your workout motivation and achieve the mental edge you need for training success, you'll doubtless enhance the quality of your life.
