Negative People are Great Motivation

Ever had a person trying to motivate you by sucking out all of your energy and enthusiasm? I have. I was unfortunate enough to be part of a group of people that had to listen to an over inflated ego telling us that because we were not as good as them we sucked and the only way to be good was to be like them.

I couldn't believe this person was actually trying to motivate us. I was hoping that this person would be a leader and set the example for us to follow. They failed my miserably, however, they did motivate me. They really pushed me to be nothing like them. I do not care what happens to me in life as long as I never end up like that person.

I know you may think that that sound nasty, but that is far from the truth. In life we have role models, people that inspire us and people that we hope we emulate. We love the way they handle themselves, motivate others and deal with various situations. Most of us would be proud just to be half the person they are.

However the same can be said for people we do not like. They disgust us through their actions, or lack of, their attitude towards people and how they chuck a big wobbly when things don't go their way. These people are also role models or anti-models if you would like. We will do anything not to be like them. We all like to hope that we can handle ourselves better than they do.

In my life I have a wide range of people that I do not want to be like. People that I have met over my years that are foolish, lazy, sneak, untrustworthy, irrational, arrogant and/or obnoxious. They are everything that I see wrong with the world and they are great motivation. I watch how they handle themselves and then try to ensure that I never behave like that. I will move heaven and earth to make sure that I am never put into the same category as them.

In the old theory of motivation of the carrot and the stick, my anti-models are the stick. They are the pain that I do not want in my life. My role models are, of course, the carrot.

Anti-models can also motivate you in another way. Not only do they create a desire not to be like them, they also create a desire not to be with them. They drain you in every single manner and you feel wasted and lost at the end of the day. They are like vampires sucking the life from you.

The best thing to do is to move away from them the best that you can. If you can eliminate them from your life then that's great. If you can do that, then try to limit your exposure to them. Keep them at a distance and only deal with them when you have you.

Of course while you are getting rid of your anti-models surround yourself with role models and positive people. Remember these people will support, encourage and motivate you. And at the end of the day with them you will feel more alive than ever before.

So use the anti-models to motivate you as your stick and move away from them the best you can. Then use your role models to also motivate you as you carrot and move closer to them.

I think you will then have far better life.

Terry Shadwell