Effective Self-Motivation Despite the Inner Pig Dog
For many of us, it is part of daily business: the struggle with that unspeakable inner resistance that needs to be overcome whenever we have set ourselves a goal. The one that prevents us from tackling urgent tasks on time, writing reports, and finally doing more sports. What kind of force is it that often stops us from implementing our plans? Of course: the inner pig dog!
The inner pig dog - a character profile of self-motivation
"Inner pig dog? That doesn't exist!" you might object. Of course not: it is a metaphor for our inner resistances and our tendency to avoid tasks and procrastinate. A very sympathetic metaphor, however, as it allows us to humorously look at a part of our personality that most people don't particularly like.
Upon closer inspection, the goals of the pig dog are not that bad. Even though its attacks initially have a negative impact: in many cases, the inner pig dog wants to protect us from overwhelm and overexertion! It wants to prevent us from harmfully exceeding our own limits and potentially leading us into burnout, for example. It wants us to be well! Unfortunately, it sometimes goes a bit overboard. Therefore, it is necessary to set boundaries for it.
Living with the Pig Dog
As mentioned, the pig dog is a part of our personality. But that also means: we cannot run away from it! Many try to lock up their inner pig dog with iron discipline. However, this usually results in the pig dog becoming an underground fighter - and its sabotage acts then become even more unexpected and intense. Since we cannot let the saboteur take control (as that would eventually lead to anarchy), we must learn to live with it.
The Art of Self-Motivation Tailored to the Pig Dog
What actually motivates tens of thousands of tennis players, surfers, mountaineers, musicians, etc., to invest time and money to pursue their hobbies with high motivation? "Well, they just enjoy it," you might say. Correct! But what exactly creates this enjoyment? This question has long occupied motivation psychologists, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of the book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience," seems to have found a convincing and initially surprising model. According to him, one of the key factors for enjoying something is the challenge. However, there is another crucial factor: this specific challenge must correspond with one's own abilities.
What does this mean? Three scenarios, simplified here as "mathematical equations," are conceivable:
- Challenge > Abilities = Overwhelm = Frustration and Stress.
- Challenge < Abilities = Underwhelm = Boredom
- Challenge = Abilities = Enjoyment of the task = FLOW
As a tennis or golf player, you would probably have the most fun playing with someone who is roughly as good as you, perhaps slightly better, so that one of you wins at different times. If you were significantly worse, it would likely frustrate you in the long run, and if you were significantly better, boredom would be inevitable. Because: Overwhelm and underwhelm are the biggest motivation killers.
So, the formula is: Avoid underwhelm, seek new challenges repeatedly, but do not overwhelm yourself in the process!
Strategic Tools for Your Pig Dog
Strategies and pig dogs are usually at odds - but it cannot be avoided entirely. The following 5 steps involve the pig dog and are therefore "pig dog-proof."
Step 1: Make a clear decision!
The success of your endeavor depends on a clear decision. To make a decision that withstands your saboteur's attacks, harness the power of the WWW principle:
What Why Where. When the pig dog knows exactly why you are doing something, it has less ground for attack.
Step 2: Set clear goals!
Above all: Set goals where you feel the sense of achievability from the start - in doubt, lower the bar slightly at the beginning.
Step 3: Start - preferably right away - with the concrete execution!
The advantage: This gives you a small head start over your pig dog and temporarily avoids its objections and concerns.
Step 4: Monitor the interim results!
The best plan is useless without control. On one hand, you gain orientation on where you stand with your endeavor. On the other hand, your motivation increases when you become aware of your partial successes.
Step 5: Reward yourself for your success!
Do not cheat yourself out of the reward, your pig dog would resent that.
For more information on self-motivation and Marco Freiherr von Münchhausen, visit:
https://www.speakers-excellence.de/redner/dr-marco-freiherr-von-muenchhausen.html
