I’ve been thinking recently about motivation, where it comes from and how I can get more of it. One conclusion I’ve come to is this: motivation is directly linked to stakes. The higher the stakes, the higher your capacity for motivation.
In this blog, I’m exploring how to raise your stakes to boost your motivation and combat overwhelm.
Overwhelm vs motivation
We’re in the middle of a building project and until a couple of weeks ago, we’d been living away from home for almost 4 months. We’re blessed to have family nearby who have looked after us beautifully. But we missed home and were all feeling a little frayed around the edges.
Two days before we were due to move home, I stood in the middle of one of the bedrooms, surrounded by boxes, random items, and general chaos. A thick layer of dust coated everything.
The overwhelm started to kick in. And the trouble is, overwhelm can be paralysing. When I see the vastness of the task ahead, I find it difficult to focus on the next step. Overwhelm can kick in when I’m faced with any large task or goal, whether it’s a writing project, training for a race, or even starting work with a new client.
If you experience overwhelm, where does it show up for you?
Standing in the midst of bedroom chaos, I realised I had something in my back pocket which might help:
Motivation.
We were highly motivated to get our house ready for us to move back in.
Why? Because the stakes were high.
If we didn’t get on with the task at hand, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our goal of moving home that weekend. And that goal was something we all REALLY wanted. Although the overwhelm was high, the stakes were higher.
High stakes = high motivation
I’m a fiction writer, so I know high stakes are vital. I try to put my characters in grave peril as quickly as possible and keep them there throughout the story. Just when things seem to go well for them, I throw in a few more obstacles and raise the stakes again. And again.
The higher the stakes, the better the story, because not only is the character highly motivated, but as readers, we are too. We want the character to achieve their goal because so much is at stake. We care if they succeed or fail.
High stakes = high motivation.
If I’m not careful, overwhelm can derail my motivation, especially when I’m faced with a huge, scary and apparently impossible task or goal.
So, what’s the answer? I don’t think it’s shying away from huge, apparently impossible goals. Because those types of goals are the best kind - they matter and they’re usually worth it.
Instead, I wonder whether one answer might be to raise the stakes.
Image by Alexas_Fotas, via PIxabay
How to raise your stakes
Here are a few of my big, apparently impossible (and scary) goals. Complete my current novel. Run the London Marathon again next year. Write and self-publish a non-fiction memoir-style book. Become an expert in my field. There are more, but those are big and scary enough for now.
The stakes are high for all these things because:
1. I know the feelings of joy and achievement I’ll have.
2. I don’t want to look back with regret, wishing I’d made them happen, and
3. I want to set an example for my kids that we can all do meaningful things, even if they’re hard.
How about you? I encourage you to think of 2 or 3 big, apparently impossible goals and consider what your stakes are for each one. You could begin by asking, ‘What’s at stake if I don’t achieve this?’ and ‘How will I feel when I do?’
Are your stakes high enough to make you really want to achieve your goals? How can you increase them?
Once you have your high stakes, the next step is to translate them into high motivation.
Turning high stakes into high motivation
Here are a few things I’ve found helpful.
1. Create a visual reminder of your goals and stakes. Ask yourself, what’s the best thing that could happen if I achieve my goal and what will this look and feel like? I’ve created a vision board each year for the past few years, which I find helpful for this.
2. Accountability. When I trained for a marathon last year, I had a training plan stuck on the fridge and a couple of friends who ran with me. Both my plan and my friends held me accountable. And crossing off each run with my pink highlighter was hugely satisfying!
3. Create small habits that will support your motivation and your goals. Find a regular habit that’s easy to maintain and feels fun. It could be writing in your journal for 5 minutes, or going for a short walk, or listening to a regular podcast.
4. Celebrate progress. Whilst I find it helpful to have goals, I also need to remind myself that progress is just (if not more) important and something to be celebrated. It’s good practice to reflect on your week, celebrate your progress and check in with your motivation. What helped and what got in your way?
If you find yourself lacking in motivation, especially when faced with a huge goal, you might find it helpful to check in with your stakes. Are they high enough to help motivate you?
And on a final note, great stakes make for the best stories. If your stakes are high, you’ll have an even better story to tell both when you reach your goal and along the way.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and found it helpful! For more weekly inspiration, encouragement and tips on storytelling and content writing for your business, sign up to receive my email newsletter, Story Gems.