Quote:
Originally Posted by Shamou  If you reflect on life a little... see how precious and fleeting it is... you won't want to miss out on anything... that should at least be a first step... if it does not work... set your pants on fire... then, you'll be motivated...  
. |
I laughed when I saw your post! While delivered with humor it is so true. Ernie Larson in his book
Stage Two Recovery describes a conversion experience as someone who comes to understand that he/she is about to loose something he/she is unwilling to loose if the person does not choose to change and from that place of loss and pain becomes willing to take positive action.
So, if my pants are on fire I would be having a conversion experience and be very motivated to put out the fire. I would be motivated to do whatever I needed to prevent the pants from being on fire again. I would be motivated to seek medical help for any burns, etc, etc.
<Grin>
I Have needed the pain and fear in my life to create enough motivation to make changes. At first it was the only motivation which could move me from being frozen in place.
As I took action on some things I was motivated to change with less pain and then even less pain. Eventually I was able to contemplate change with out the impetus of pain.
Pain can still be a motivator for change but more often I can make life choices before I reach intense fear and pain. The process of conscious choice and change in my life began with the small steps of taking action to avoid consequences that seemed terrible to me and progressed to action without the fear and pain.