--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, motivation is this horrible…" description: "\"“For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I try to make myself do something while I actively avoid doing it.”\" — Allie Brosh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg" --- # For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I… ![“For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I try to make myself do something while I actively avoid doing it.” quote by Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg) > ““For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I try to make myself do something while I actively avoid doing it.”” [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation feels like a frightening game where she tries to force herself into action while resisting it. **In simple terms:** Motivation can be a scary struggle. Key Takeaway Accept resistance and start small. Themes motivation psychology self‑discipline Mood humorous honest Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - starting a project - exercise routine - writing habit Key Concepts cognitive dissonance behavioral inertia Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take now? - How can you reframe resistance? A Different Perspective Motivation may wane; external accountability helps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actively Avoid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actively-avoid-2434833/) [Avoid Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoid-doing-647201/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivation Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation-horrible-2646502/) [Scary Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-game-4116287/) ## Related quotes > [“Most people can motivate themselves to do things simply by knowing that those things need to be done. But not me. For me, motivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/most-people-can-motivate-themselves-to-do-things-simply-by-knowing/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-festinger/when-dissonance-is-present-in-addition-to-trying-to-reduce-it-the/) [Leon Festinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-festinger/) > [Self-awareness is something that we actually actively avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dwane/self-awareness-is-something-that-we-actually-actively-avoid/) [Ted Dwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dwane/) > [“After all, we all know Hide and Seek can be a scary game, especially when we don't want to be found.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-hunter/after-all-we-all-know-hide-and-seek-can-be-a-scary-game-especially/) [Callie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-hunter/) > [I'm so curious about knowing the unknown; it can be scary, but I see it as a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/i-m-so-curious-about-knowing-the-unknown-it-can-be-scary-but-i-see-it/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) > [I think when I finally got it in my head that I was going to do the story, I wanted to avoid doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-think-when-i-finally-got-it-in-my-head-that-i-was-going-to-do-the/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [Style is made up of whatever an author can't avoid doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/style-is-made-up-of-whatever-an-author-can-t-avoid-doing/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The end and object of conquest is to avoid doing the same thing as the conquered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/the-end-and-object-of-conquest-is-to-avoid-doing-the-same-thing-as/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [When you have decided that a thing ought to be done and are doing it, never avoid bein seen doing it, though many shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-you-have-decided-that-a-thing-ought-to-be-done-and-are-doing-it/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I can do only one thing at a time, but I can avoid doing many things simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/i-can-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time-but-i-can-avoid-doing-many-things/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [The only behaviour that is truly common is to avoid doing something because you think others might consider it common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/the-only-behaviour-that-is-truly-common-is-to-avoid-doing-something/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [I will not do that which my conscience tells me is wrong to gain the huzzahs of thousands, or the daily praise of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mansfield/i-will-not-do-that-which-my-conscience-tells-me-is-wrong-to-gain-the/) [Lord Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mansfield/) > [To avoid doing anything, wait for the right circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/to-avoid-doing-anything-wait-for-the-right-circumstances/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thales/avoid-doing-what-you-would-blame-others-for-doing/) [Thales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thales/) > [Never put off till tomorrow what you can avoid doing entirely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-put-off-till-tomorrow-what-you-can-avoid-doing-entirely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Allie Brosh > [“I’ve always wanted to not give a fuck. While crying helplessly into my pillow for no good reason, I would often fantasize that maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/i-ve-always-wanted-to-not-give-a-fuck-while-crying-helplessly-into-my/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“Fear and shame are the backbone of my self-control. They are my source of inspiration, my insurance against becoming entirely unacceptable. They help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/fear-and-shame-are-the-backbone-of-my-self-control-they-are-my-source/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“I am incensed that reality has the audacity to do some of the things it does when I CLEARLY don't want those things to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/i-am-incensed-that-reality-has-the-audacity-to-do-some-of-the-things/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“Reality should follow through on what I think it is going to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/reality-should-follow-through-on-what-i-think-it-is-going-to-do/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“Nobody can guarantee that it's going to be okay, but - and I don't know if this will be comforting to anyone else -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/nobody-can-guarantee-that-it-s-going-to-be-okay-but-and-i-don-t-know/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“And that’s how I got to go to a birthday party while very heavily sedated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/and-that-s-how-i-got-to-go-to-a-birthday-party-while-very-heavily/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“Most people can motivate themselves to do things simply by knowing that those things need to be done. But not me. For me, motivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/most-people-can-motivate-themselves-to-do-things-simply-by-knowing/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“The illusion of control makes the helplessness seem more palatable. And when that illusion is taken away, I panic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/the-illusion-of-control-makes-the-helplessness-seem-more-palatable/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“It’s so somewhat effective that I now rely on it almost exclusively when I need to get myself to do something”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/it-s-so-somewhat-effective-that-i-now-rely-on-it-almost-exclusively/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“Fortunately, it turns out that being scared of yourself is a somewhat effective motivational technique.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/fortunately-it-turns-out-that-being-scared-of-yourself-is-a-somewhat/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“And that's the most frustrating thing about depression. It isn't always something you can fight back against with hope. It isn't even something -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/and-that-s-the-most-frustrating-thing-about-depression-it-isn-t/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“And finally - FINALLY - after a lifetime of feelings and anxiety and more feelings, I didn't have any feelings left. I had spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/and-finally-finally-after-a-lifetime-of-feelings-and-anxiety-and-more/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“No one could tell me not to eat an entire cake—not my mom, not Santa, not God—no one. It was my cake and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/no-one-could-tell-me-not-to-eat-an-entire-cake-not-my-mom-not-santa/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“We're going to play a different game now. It's called "who can yell 'help' the loudest and the most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/we-re-going-to-play-a-different-game-now-it-s-called-who-can-yell/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [“Then the guilt from my ignored responsibilities grows so large that merely carrying it around with me feels like a huge responsibility. It takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/then-the-guilt-from-my-ignored-responsibilities-grows-so-large-that/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) [Explore all 52 Allie Brosh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) ## More Motivation quotes > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is like riding on a bus. God is the driver and I am the passenger. Have faith God knows which route to take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefroy-hanson/life-is-like-riding-on-a-bus-god-is-the-driver-and-i-am-the-passenger/) [Jefroy Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefroy-hanson/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) [Browse all 14,479 Motivation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I try to make myself do something while I actively avoid doing it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allie Brosh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary-game-where-i-try-to-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Motivation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary-game-where-i-try-to-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/allie-brosh-12906_motivation_for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary_1395450.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For me, motivation is this horrible, scary game where I try to make myself do something while I actively…” — Allie Brosh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Allie Brosh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“For me, motivation is this horrible,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary-game-where-i-try-to-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/for-me-motivation-is-this-horrible-scary-game-where-i-try-to-make/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```