How To Excel
Three Point Essay #15 | The Motivation Trap, The Real Battle, The Types of Pain
Here’s a three-pointer to open your mind.
The mission of “Three Pointers” & about the author here
Don’t Rely On Motivation
That’s how you get ahead in this life. If you just concentrate entirely on your feelings, you’re never going to fucking get anywhere. The way I think in the morning, how I feel, has no bearing on what I do.
—Joe Rogan
Discipline definition: a system of rules of conduct; to train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way
The only way to become good at anything is through discipline.
How many times have you heard someone saying they fell off their exercise routine, because they ‘lost’ their motivation?
1,000,000 times, right?
But if you’re disciplined, motivation doesn’t even matter.
I’ve had people tell me that my articles motivate them, and that’s cool.
But relying on motivation to get things done over the long haul is one of the stupidest things you can do. Because inevitably, it comes and goes.
The only way to stay consistent in any activity is to make a deal with yourself to stay disciplined. Which means doing it even when you don’t feel like it.
Know That It’s You Versus You
The first and greatest victory is to conquer self.
—Plato
Let’s say you make a deal with yourself to become disciplined in some areas. Every day you plan to wake up early and work out.
Eventually your feelings are going to start bitching.
It happens to everyone.
But that’s why Plato said the greatest victory is to conquer yourself.
Learn to understand and manage the emotions that cloud your reason.
Especially the ones telling you you’ll get back to the grind ‘once you feel like it again.’
Instead, make small improvements every day, regardless of how you feel.
Choose Your Type Of Pain
Your blessing in life is when you find the torture you’re comfortable with.
—Jerry Seinfeld
You're thinking discipline doesn’t sound fun.
You like to party. You want entertainment. I definitely do, and always will.
But to a certain point, drinking and consumption aren’t pleasures. They’re punishments. Assaults on your peace of mind and strength of body.
It’s a crippling pain.
Human beings are meant to be striving and struggling for a goal.
When that something is a freely chosen task that excites you, the pain of doing it every day is a beautiful pain.
Choose your type of pain wisely: crippling or beautiful.
Find challenging activities natural to your interests that also boost your well-being. That’s where the beautiful pain is.
The discipline of embracing beautiful pain daily will make your life 100x better. For me this includes writing, lifting weights, playing basketball, and reading challenging books.
Perform your chosen torture that you love and become great. Or be a drunken weakling stuck in mediocrity. It’s up to you.
Another great article! You have motivated me to work on my Spanish. Julia signed me up for the Duo Lingo app.
Always a great read!