My oldest son and I are coaching the Freshman football team at the local high school this summer/fall. The month of June is conditioning month. For Freshman, this means lots of running and learning how to lift weights; and just enough football to keep things fun.
Today, I had them do Indian Runs or what I like to call it Next Man Up run. I added a few rules. They must quickly fix any gaps in the line and they had to jog the perimeter of the practice field (no cutting corners). If they failed to do either it would be 50 push-ups for each offense.
Guess how many push-ups the team did? Mind you, this was the first time that several of them had done this drill.
If you guessed “zero” you are right. After the run, I asked them how was it that they were able to complete this task this well. They all echoed that they were already tired from the week and there was no way they wanted to do more push-ups; especially that many! I asked if they were motivated by pleasure or by pain! A unison cry of young men exclaimed “PAIN”!
I let them know we are all motivated by avoiding pain. I explained that in life pain avoidance keeps you achieving the bare minimum. Get just good enough grades to pass. Have just good enough behavior to not get kicked out of school. At some point you will desire more out of life, but that will require setting up different motivations to achieve bigger goals. You will need to be self motivated with pleasure attaining your goal. Pleasure as the driving force obliterates all the avoidance of truly becoming better.
What do you think is a better motivator? How are you motivated? Pain or pleasure involved?
Speaking of motivation
Colossians 3:23 KJV And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Proverbs 3:5 KJV Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Matthew 19:26 KJV But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Be a blessing,
Coach H
So true, Coach!!