There is a saying I have heard a few times in many different variations.

“Motivation creates motivation.”

The meaning of this being that if you have motivation, if you use your motivation, you with build more motivation. This is a very true concept. I know its a well know concept that the hardest part of writing anything is staring at that blank page and actually starting your writing. This is one of the hardest things I have faced in starting this website, and through all of my schooling.

When I am handed an assignment, whether it be writing a paper, or making a poster, or anything else, the hardest thing to do is start. I find this hesitation just before starting is something I see in my day to day life as well. I can spend days, even weeks, researching the best keyboard hypothetically(I have never actually done this, but lets use it as an example). I love the process of looking at all the features they have, comparing prices, daydreaming about how each one would fit into my existing setup, but when it comes time to actually make my decision and buy one I often freeze.

This is something referred to as “The Flinch” by author Julian Smith. It also happens to be the title of a book they wrote. The general concept of it is that you have this flinch your body does before doing anything it deems as tough or dangerous. I recommend people put this on their list of books to read, and it is definitely on mine. Now writing a paper for your English class is not dangerous, but it is uncomfortable. Buying a new keyboard is not dangerous, but spending money for someone who is a saver is uncomfortable.

I look at the motivation to do almost anything as the will to overcome this flinch. Today is a day off for me, I enjoy writing posts for this website, but I also know it would be a lot easier to just binge watch YouTube. So for me, I flinch when I think of writing, because it is much more comfortable to watch endless videos, then put in work, even if I enjoy that work.

So what is my advice, what do I want you, the reader, to take away from this article. I want you to develop your own way of recognizing the flinch. We all have different levels of the flinch, I think what makes many entrepreneurs great is they have learned to squash their flinch. For people who have not yet faced their flinch, or have been losing to it for a while, it might take immense effort to overcome it, but that is why motivation builds motivation. Once you can defeat the flinch and start working, you are able to continue working, because you have already defeated it.

So next time you feel yourself flinching, as long as its not flinching away from jumping off a cliff, lean into the flinch and push past it. Ever time you defeat this flinch it will be easier and easier to defeat it again.

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