Comments on: The Power of Inspirational Disatisfaction http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/ a tongue-in-cheek quest for understanding... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:00:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jenny http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1109 Jenny Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:37:26 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1109 It's never really mattered to me whether motivation came from inspiration or dissatisfaction. Although I can agree that change is longer lasting when coming from a place of motivation I think it is a mistake to downplay the importance of *any* motivation. Dissatisfaction can and often is the trigger to life-altering change. It’s never really mattered to me whether motivation came from inspiration or dissatisfaction. Although I can agree that change is longer lasting when coming from a place of motivation I think it is a mistake to downplay the importance of *any* motivation. Dissatisfaction can and often is the trigger to life-altering change.

]]> By: Jason http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1070 Jason Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:00:45 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1070 Positive motivation is more effective because it lasts farther from the original stimuli. Negative motivation fades extremely rapidly as the original stimuli recedes. In other words, if you lose weight because your doctor told you you are going to have serious problems if you don't, then your motivation fails as soon as you get to the point where you aren't in that danger zone. If you lose weight because you like the feeling of being lighter, fitter, and healthier, then that motivation can continue even once you are in relatively good shape. I know that wasn't the best of examples, but hopefully I conveyed my point. Positive motivation is more effective because it lasts farther from the original stimuli. Negative motivation fades extremely rapidly as the original stimuli recedes. In other words, if you lose weight because your doctor told you you are going to have serious problems if you don’t, then your motivation fails as soon as you get to the point where you aren’t in that danger zone. If you lose weight because you like the feeling of being lighter, fitter, and healthier, then that motivation can continue even once you are in relatively good shape.

I know that wasn’t the best of examples, but hopefully I conveyed my point.

]]> By: Claire http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1066 Claire Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:57:23 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1066 It's been a while since I've been to visit here (must organise bookmarks and make use of RSS!) - and what a relevant post to come back to! I feel incredibly blessed to live the life I do, but there's certainly a feeling of knowing that there's more - that I can do more. Inspiration is yet to strike at this point, but I am aware at least of what this restlessness signals, and I'm on the lookout for things that really 'light my fire'! In the meantime, gratitude for all that I do have is more than enough to keep me going. :-) It’s been a while since I’ve been to visit here (must organise bookmarks and make use of RSS!) - and what a relevant post to come back to! I feel incredibly blessed to live the life I do, but there’s certainly a feeling of knowing that there’s more - that I can do more.

Inspiration is yet to strike at this point, but I am aware at least of what this restlessness signals, and I’m on the lookout for things that really ‘light my fire’! In the meantime, gratitude for all that I do have is more than enough to keep me going. :-)

]]> By: Pippa http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1065 Pippa Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:19:53 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1065 A very relevant post, Jenny! And obviously it sparks some deep thought in your readers. :) So here's my two cents' worth: I understand inspirational dissatisfaction as that itch you become aware of. And an itch is something very specific you notice, and can scratch. We're not talking a general malaise or dissatisfaction with life here. Realizing that you are unhappy in a certain situation can be a blessing, because it grows your self-awareness ... and with greater self-awareness comes the ability to craft your life till it makes you happy. What I find so very valuable in this post is the gift of perspective: dissatisfaction has a definite and good purpose! To see that discomfort in a positive light instead of negative ... to me that is immensely empowering! Love, Pippa A very relevant post, Jenny! And obviously it sparks some deep thought in your readers. :) So here’s my two cents’ worth:

I understand inspirational dissatisfaction as that itch you become aware of. And an itch is something very specific you notice, and can scratch. We’re not talking a general malaise or dissatisfaction with life here. Realizing that you are unhappy in a certain situation can be a blessing, because it grows your self-awareness … and with greater self-awareness comes the ability to craft your life till it makes you happy.

What I find so very valuable in this post is the gift of perspective: dissatisfaction has a definite and good purpose! To see that discomfort in a positive light instead of negative … to me that is immensely empowering!

Love,
Pippa

]]> By: Liara Covert http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1064 Liara Covert Thu, 04 Oct 2007 07:44:44 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1064 To think about dissatisfaction, and to focus on this subject, may actually do the opposite of what a person seeking satisfaction intends. As a person begins to understand the power of forgivness, this means the person has forgotten what self-acceptance means. To love and appreciate everything about yourself and where you are is to truly understand the power of love. To think about dissatisfaction, and to focus on this subject, may actually do the opposite of what a person seeking satisfaction intends. As a person begins to understand the power of forgivness, this means the person has forgotten what self-acceptance means. To love and appreciate everything about yourself and where you are is to truly understand the power of love.

]]> By: Mark http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1062 Mark Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:34:16 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1062 Jason: I'm not so sure about the greater effectiveness of positive motivation. I know that in the case of social interaction, negative social interaction is more consistently linked with negative effects on well-being. While that isn't directly relevant to motivation, it does show the greater influence of negative emotion. Jason: I’m not so sure about the greater effectiveness of positive motivation. I know that in the case of social interaction, negative social interaction is more consistently linked with negative effects on well-being. While that isn’t directly relevant to motivation, it does show the greater influence of negative emotion.

]]> By: Jason http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1051 Jason Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:41:56 +0000 http://jenny-and-erin.com/2007/10/the-power-of-inspirational-disatisfaction/#comment-1051 I'm going to have to disagree with you on whether or not dissatisfaction "is an easy way in which to identify the gaps between what is and what you want in your life". Dissatisfaction is a general feeling, and is often hard to trace back to its roots. It IS a sign that your current actions are not aligned with your core wants and needs, but that by no means makes it "easy" to identify which gaps are causing the dissatisfaction, especially since you lie to yourself about what's causing it in order to avoid the even greater unhappiness involved in accepting responsibility for your own actions and behaviors (or lack thereof). So dissatisfaction can provide some motivation to change, but negative motivations rarely last. Your best chance of dissatisfaction helping you make real changes is that it prompts you to examine your life to determine what you should change, and having that then prompt you to go after your goals for positive reasons. The "pull" of positive motivation (pulling yourself closer to what you want) is far more effective than the "push" of negative motivation (pushing what you don't want away). I’m going to have to disagree with you on whether or not dissatisfaction “is an easy way in which to identify the gaps between what is and what you want in your life”. Dissatisfaction is a general feeling, and is often hard to trace back to its roots. It IS a sign that your current actions are not aligned with your core wants and needs, but that by no means makes it “easy” to identify which gaps are causing the dissatisfaction, especially since you lie to yourself about what’s causing it in order to avoid the even greater unhappiness involved in accepting responsibility for your own actions and behaviors (or lack thereof).

So dissatisfaction can provide some motivation to change, but negative motivations rarely last. Your best chance of dissatisfaction helping you make real changes is that it prompts you to examine your life to determine what you should change, and having that then prompt you to go after your goals for positive reasons.

The “pull” of positive motivation (pulling yourself closer to what you want) is far more effective than the “push” of negative motivation (pushing what you don’t want away).

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