I often describe the “running away” personality and the “running towards” personality.

When the running away person is awoken by their alarm clock, they immediately hit the snooze button. Ten minutes later, the buzzer goes off again. “Just ten more minutes,” they say to themselves, “I won't exercise this morning.” And again, they activate their friend, Mr. Snooze.

Motivated by fear

This could happen three more times, and each time they determine that they will skip a vital activity in order to enjoy a few more minutes slumber. They have already decided to miss breakfast and they will shave/put on make-up in the car on the way to the office.

Finally, a full hour after their first alarm call, they leap out of bed, the image of their boss standing outside the office door, purple with rage at their continual poor time keeping is just too horrible to contemplate and it acts as their spur. These people are motivated by fear.

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