9 CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION AND 6 TIPS TO OVERCOME THEM!

INTRODUCTION

Consequences of negative motivation! 

• Do you find yourself doing things that you are not proud of?
• Are you having regrets about not having the energy to do meaningful things?
• Are you wondering how to overcome that state? 
• Do you want to take back control?

You landed just right! 

Here, you will discover: 

• What is negative motivation 
• What are the main consequences of negative motivation
• 9 powerful tips to overcome the repercussions of negative motivation.

If this has piqued your curiosity, I invite you to keep reading! 

WHAT IS MOTIVATION?

Motivation is an emotion that drives us to engage in specific behaviors and pushes us toward the ones that bring us the most pleasure. Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter involved in motivation. From a neurochemical standpoint, dopamine constitutes the activator of motivation, the main driving force. 

WHAT IS NEGATIVE MOTIVATION?

By negative motivation, I refer to being motivated towards detrimental action: behaviors that negatively affect our health, relationships, goals, and overall life quality. 

We all find ourselves motivated towards things misaligned with our goals and perceived desires. These behaviors provide short-term pleasure but come with a trade-off, long-lasting negative life consequences. We fall into this trap when our brain cannot make the reasonable conscious decision of saying no to these behaviors and redirect motivation towards the beneficial ones. 

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION

When we become motivated towards the wrong things, we force ourselves to face the problems that arise. Here is a list of some of these problems:

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION: ADDICTION

We tend to engage in addictive type behaviors of all kinds:

• Eating unhealthy foods
• Porn
• Gambling 
• Video games 
• Binge-watching unmeaningful things

These behaviors can have massive consequences on our health, relationships, professional career, and ability to build the life we desire. 

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES 

Let’s face it: 

• It is effortless to get motivated and eat highly palatable, processed, and unhealthy foods. 
• And much harder to commit to putting in the effort and time to eat healthy food. 

Unfortunately, this has massive consequences for your health, well-being, and life quality! Low-quality, nutrient-deficient foods lead you, undoubtedly, to develop nutrient deficiencies. If you are eating this kind of food daily, chances are you will develop one or many of these symptoms: 

• Chronic fatigue.
• Low energy. 
• Getting sick easily.  
• Low motivation.
• Brain fog.
• Lack of focus.
• Etc.

In addition to the deficiencies, because they contain high amounts of sugar, they create blood glucose dysregulation in the system creating inflammation, hormone imbalances (mainly insulin), and weakening of your immune system. 

LETHARGY AND A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE

With low energy due to unhealthy foods, you will stay hooked to the easy and common alternatives: changing, putting in extra effort, and eating healthy does seem almost impossible isn’t it? 

The same applies to exercise! 

Why would you spend extra energy when you do not have any in the first place? In this context, the easiest option is to become a couch potato distracted by the latest TV show, barely having the energy to walk to the fridge!

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION: DISTRACTION

Our focus shifts away from what truly matters, diverting our attention towards less important or counterproductive pursuits. As a result, we waste our time and energy on not meaningful things. We invest significant time and effort into endeavors that do not align with our desired values or long-term goals, resulting in a depletion of resources that could be utilized elsewhere.

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION: LACK OF FULFILLMENT 

Pursuing the wrong objectives leads to feeling empty and dissatisfied. As this happens, we fail to derive true meaning or purpose from our actions. 

In addition, we tend to regret disappointing actions, and over time we realize the wasted opportunities and that our motivations were misguided. By fixating on the wrong things, we may overlook or dismiss valuable opportunities that could have propelled us toward more meaningful achievements.

STAGNATION OR REGRESSION IN LIFE

Motivating ourselves towards the wrong things can hinder personal growth and development, preventing us from reaching our full potential. It can lead to increased stress, burnout, and a decline in overall well-being, as we are not engaging in activities that truly nourish and support our mental and emotional health.

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION: RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS

Our misplaced motivations may cause tension and strain in our relationships, as our priorities and actions may clash with those of our loved ones or colleagues. It is especially true when our motivation is hijacked toward addiction. 

LOSS OF DIRECTION IN LIFE

When we channel our motivation into the wrong areas, it becomes easy to lose sight of our true passions and goals, leaving us feeling lost and lacking a clear path forward.

SHORT-TERM PLEASURE AT THE EXPENSE OF LONG-TERM FULFILLMENT

You know when you express a short-term pleasure, and 2 minutes later, you regret it? Pursuing easy-to-get pleasurable things often fails to bring long-lasting joy and contentment. It leaves us unfulfilled, dissatisfied with our lives, and constantly looking for the next short-term dopamine hit! 

6 TIPS TO OVERCOME THESE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE MOTIVATION

The only way to take back control over this motivation system is to put awareness on your core beliefs and change the ones subconsciously overriding your decisions, motivating you towards the wrong things, and hijacking your entire system. 

I want you to understand that, for most people, core beliefs and subconscious conditioning create their default state of being. This is particularly true as they are distracted and always focus on external things. To overcome the challenge of being motivated towards the wrong things and control back your life, here is a list of solutions:

INCREASE AWARENESS IN YOUR LIFE

The key to any change is awareness! 

The idea here is to increase your awareness in your life to understand yourself better and identify the behaviors you need to change. You can increase your awareness through different practices: 

1. Self-reflection and introspection: reflect on your values, passions, and long-term goals. Understand what truly matters to you and what aligns with your authentic self. 
2. Practice mindfulness meditation: cultivate your conscious ability to observe your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. 
3. Journaling: write down a summary of your day and recognize the behaviors you should avoid and the ones you need to focus more on. 

Include these practices in your daily life and stick with them for a month. You will be positively surprised by how they affected your life. 

SET PRIORITIES AND RESPECT THEM

Set clear, meaningful goals that reflect your true aspirations. Prioritize these goals based on their importance and relevance to your vision of a fulfilling life. The main areas that need to be optimized and prioritized in your life are: 

1. Health (including sleep, nutrition, fitness, stress).
2. Family/relationships. 
3. Career. 
4. Finances.  

PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH

Prioritize self-care to maintain overall well-being. Take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It contributes to clarity of purpose and the ability to make aligned choices.

By prioritizing health and well-being, you can gradually create more motivation and shift it towards the right things in life. In turn, it will lead to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven existence.

SEEK POSITIVE INFLUENCE

Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and support your journey toward the right things. Seek guidance from mentors or role models who can provide valuable insights and encouragement. Seek knowledge and expand horizons: Educate yourself about different possibilities and paths in life. Explore new areas of interest, acquire new skills, and expand your knowledge base to broaden your perspective and uncover more aligned motivations. Seek support and accountability: Share your aspirations with trusted friends, family, or a mentor who can provide guidance and hold you accountable. Having someone to support and challenge you can help you stay on the right path.

REGULAR EVALUATION AND COURSE CORRECTION

Periodically assess your actions and motivations to align them with your values and goals. Be open to adjusting your course if you realize you are going off track. Learn from setbacks and mistakes: Embrace setbacks and mistakes as learning opportunities. Understand that it’s natural to experience detours, but use them as valuable lessons to adjust your motivations and actions.

SET A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Your environment is the key to your success! 

Create a supportive environment around you that motivates you toward your goals and makes your actions easier to implement. In addition, eliminate or minimize as much as possible negative influences from people who do not share the same values as yours or even from social media. Instead, build a space that fosters growth and progress.

CONCLUSION

I hope you better understand how your motivation system could work against your desired goals and how to control back your life. It is crucial to regularly assess our motivations and ensure they align with our values, aspirations, and genuine desires to avoid these potential pitfalls and strive for a more fulfilling and purposeful life. 

Understand the consequences of negative motivation and review your life to see if you have fallen into this trap. If so, no worries! You hold the power to change your reality and create the life you truly desire. 

Apply the tips mentioned here and be optimistic… 

Your life will transform! 

Believe in yourself! 

Make it happen!