The Experiment: A Rat, Cheese, and a Cat
Imagine a rat placed in a straight tunnel. At the far end of the tunnel, there’s a piece of cheese its favourite reward. Naturally, the rat starts running toward it, driven by hunger and the promise of pleasure.
Now, imagine introducing a new factor. Behind the rat, at the starting point of the tunnel, you place a cat. A real predator.
What happens?
The rat doesn’t just run it sprints!
It moves faster than before, driven not just by the desire to reach the cheese but by the fear of being eaten. The presence of a positive goal (cheese) and a negative consequence (cat) creates a dual force that maximizes motivation.
The Third Experiment: The Ultimate Speed Boost
Researchers then introduced a third variation:
The rat had both the cat behind it and the cheese in front.
This time, the rat outperformed its speed in the previous two experiments. It moved faster than ever before.
This proves a powerful insight: Motivation is strongest when we have both a compelling vision (what we want to achieve) and a clear anti-vision (what we fear or want to avoid).
Vision vs. Anti-Vision: The Dual Approach to Motivation
Most people set goals based on what they want:
“I want to be fit.”
“I want to be financially free.”
“I want to have a fulfilling career.”
But what if you also define what you don’t want—the nightmare scenario?
“I don’t want to be stuck in a dead-end job, miserable every morning.”
“I don’t want to be out of shape, feeling tired and weak.”
“I don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck, constantly stressed about money.”
Just like the rat, when you recognize both the cheese (vision) and the cat (anti-vision), your motivation skyrockets.
Why This Works
Fear is a Stronger Motivator than Pleasure
Studies show that people are more likely to act to avoid pain than to gain pleasure. When you create an anti-vision, you activate that fear response in a controlled way.
Clarity Through Contrast
It’s often hard to define what we truly want, but we instinctively know what we don’t want. Writing both down makes your path clearer.
Built-in Discipline
On days when motivation fades, the anti-vision serves as a wake-up call. It reminds you of the consequences of inaction.
My Experience: Writing My Vision and Anti-Vision
I recently sat down and wrote both my vision and anti-vision.
At first, I thought I knew what I wanted, but once I started writing, I realized I had only vague ideas. The process of putting it on paper forced me to be specific.
More importantly, my anti-vision was a reality check. It showed me what my life could become if I didn’t take action. And that hit harder than any motivational quote ever could.
This led me to a deeper realization writing your thoughts down is a powerful tool.
Why You Should Write Things Down
This exercise made me understand something important: writing brings clarity.
When your thoughts stay in your head, they’re scattered. But when you put them on paper, you see them for what they are. This might even be the idea for another blog—why writing your thoughts down is essential for self-awareness.
Where I Got This Idea
This concept was inspired by a video:
👉 Instantly Boost Motivation by 20x by Outperform.
For more details on the rat experiments and motivation, you can check out:
👉 Jaak Panksepp's experiments
If you’re someone who struggles with motivation or clarity, I highly recommend watching the video and reflecting on the experiment.
Final Thought: Try It Yourself
Take 10 minutes and write down:
Your Vision – The life you want to create.
Your Anti-Vision – The life you want to avoid.
It might just be the push you need.🚀
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