If you tell me something is impossible, everything within me wants to prove you wrong.
Something inside me fills with energy and motivation and pushes me to prove your wrong no matter what. Honestly, it’s not exactly my most flattering trait. It’s definitely gotten me into trouble more than once.
But it’s useful to know that challenge does seem to ignite something within.
That impossible-sounding task that’s been sitting untouched for weeks? After a challenge, it starts to feel inevitable once my brain moves it from the “chore” category into the “dare” category.
That’s Compete in action (one of the 4 Cs of Motivation).
Here are a few strategies for how you can practically put this into action:
Race the clock. Set a 15 minute timer and see how much you can do within the time limit. How many emails can you reply to? How much mail can you sort? The timer can help you turn “you must work on this” into “bet you can’t beat this.” That sounds much more enticing.
Compete with your own high score. Yesterday you wrote 200 words, answered four emails, or sorted one drawer of paperwork. Today’s opponent is that number. Track your work and give yourself points if it helps. Our brains can be surprisingly willing to work for made-up points!
Keep a “Impossible Things” list. Write down those tasks that feel impossible, in those words. Then treat it as a challenge, provoking you into taking them on.
One thing to keep in mind: challenge has a sweet spot.
If the challenge is too easy, it quickly becomes boring. Too hard and it deflates and demotivates you. That sweet spot is challenge that is big enough to be interesting to your brain but not so hard that it feels impossible.
The task itself usually isn’t the problem. The problem is that it doesn’t give our brain anything to push against. So build something to push against.
This week’s worksheet: Pick Your Opponent. Find the kind of competing that fires you up.
