Risk and Motivation: Implementation
In my last two blogs I shared with you how risk and motivation interact. I pointed out that research shows that the optimal level of risk, the level chosen by successful people, is a moderate level, in between a surety of success and a high probability of failure.
In today’s blog I will give you two strategies for how you can make sure you are acting like a successful person, by setting your level of risk at the optimal level. These strategies will answer the question of, “What does it mean to set our risk at a moderate level?”
The first way we set our risk at a moderate level is in our determination of our goals. Once we have decided on our vision, that major change we want to make in our life, we will generally find there are numerous ways to manifest that vision, many ways to skin the cat. As we choose our way, we will have many opportunities to pick goals that are of moderate risk. As you choose your goals, therefore, make sure you take into account the level of risk in each goal. Make it one of the considerations. Don’t necessarily reject an otherwise perfect goal, a goal that will greatly enhance your manifestation as your vision, just because it is risky. Just be intentional; be aware!
A second way we set our risk at a moderate level is by breaking down our goals into manageable tasks, by seeing each goal as a series of moderate risk tasks. Then we write down those tasks in list. A goal that appears to be risky, and is, therefore, amotivating, will, when broken down into its component tasks, be much less scary. This list of less threatening tasks gives us opportunities to succeed under conditions of moderate risk.
There is an old Spanish mariner’s saying, “Unless you leave the safety of the harbor, you will never reach the distant shore.” You need to take risk, but don’t do it in a leaky boat, and don’t do it during a hurricane.
Pay attention to the level of risk in all your goals and tasks.
Tags: how to motivate myself, iMotivateme, model for self motivation, motivating myself, motivation, optimal level of risk, pursuing your dreams, risk and motivation, risk and self motivation, risk taking, self motivation