Using Fear As A Self Motivator

We may ask: How could using fear possibly be a positive motivator? Let’s examine what fear really is. Websters dictionary – Full Definition of fear. 1 a : an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger b (1) : an instance of this emotion (2) : a state marked by this emotion. 2 : anxious concern : solicitude.

Short definition – awareness of danger.

Here’s some examples. From childhood we are told to brush our teeth or we will lose them. For those who paid attention to that lesson came the awareness that losing teeth would be unpleasant and dangerous. How could we eat without teeth? That underlying awareness, the fear of how bad life would be without teeth, served us in a positive manner by helping us to establish good dental care. Think about it. How many times in your own life did you make sure to brush your teeth when you didn’t really feel like it?

How about your car?

I don’t particularly enjoy spending money on brake maintenance but I do because I must be sure they’ll work. Anyone who has experienced brake fade while driving has felt that gut wrenching fear when they couldn’t be sure they would stop in time to avoid disaster. We may not think about it exactly that way when we’re told it’s time for a brake overhaul but that awareness is with us and motivates us in a positive manner.

Now let’s move on to what www.sweatingseniors.com is really about and how using fear for our own benefit.

People know that unless they are struck down by bad luck or bad decisions they will eventually be old. Any person can find that thought to be very scary indeed. Why? Well beside the fact that by then we know we’ve already lived most of our lives, I’m 74  so I know this feeling, there is the fear of diminishing physical and mental abilities. Very scary to think that we may not be able to walk under our own power, or that our brains deteriorate from Alzheimer’s or any of the other maladies that are waiting to attack us. I’m here to say loudly and clearly that it does not have to be that way. Do you want to be able to walk unassisted in your old age? Ridiculous question. Of course you do. Simple solution, walk more now. Find the time. Take the stairs. The old saying “Use it or lose it” is absolutely true. Don’t wait until it’s hard to walk out to the mailbox.

How about joint health? Do we really need a scientific study to tell us that if we are seriously overweight that will accelerate wear on our joints? Do we need to be told that leads to arthritis that will cause misery well before old age? Then there’s the fact that being overweight shortens one’s life.

Have you known people who have been stricken with Alzheimer’s, Dementia or other diseases of the brain? I have and the thought of that happening to me is truly terrifying. So much has been learned in the field of neurology about how diet and exercise affects the brain and we can all benefit from that knowledge.

We will be examining these and other challenges of aging at www.sweatingseniors.com and how we will use the fear of them to motivate ourselves to fight them with very positive overall health and fitness habits. Conquer fear with your positive inner self.