Logic is a terrible motivator, don’t use it! · 𝙂𝙊𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙁𝙔 🍓🐛🦋🌈⭐️🩷

Logic is a terrible motivator, don’t use it!

You may want to do things in life like exercise, eat healthy, do hard work, etc. When trying to do these things, one may invoke the logical mind and say to themselves

‘I should do this because ___.’

Remember this:

When there is a should, there is almost always a but.

I should go for a run.... but I'm too tired.

I should eat this salad... but I want pizza.

I should study for my test... but I want to play games instead.

We have this idea that if something makes logical sense, we should do it, and if it doesn't, we should not.

We know a lot of the things we SHOULD do. If you are able to do everything you should logically do, then you are quite a blessed individual. If others had that same drive, surely everything that should be and could be done, done would happen.

Why don't we do things we should do?

Logic can be good for knowing what path to take, but is a horrible motivator.

We make our decisions mostly based on how we feel doing it. Your mind is not trying to sabotage you, it’s trying to protect and help you.

The mind may tell you ‘Why go for a run? That will make you tired. Conserve energy instead.’ It’s trying to be efficient and protect you from pain.

We evolved to survive in times of scarcity. In times when wasting energy and being inefficient would kill you.

Think of something you should do, like going for a run. How do you feel?

Many people will feel tired just from the thought of it. Isn’t that interesting?? You didn’t even do anything, you’re just thinking. Then, why do you feel physically tired?

Tiredness is a signal the body and mind send you to stop you from doing something. Energy is the signal your body and mind send you when it wants you to do something.

When your mind is used to being in scarcity, it’s no wonder you feel tired when thinking of things you don’t want to do.

‘Pizza or salad? I choose pizza. Salad doesn’t taste good and itd be too effortful to eat it. Pizza tastes good and it is easy to eat.’

‘Go for a run or play video games? I choose to play video games because running is hard and effortful and playing games is easy and fun.’

Pay attention to what happens in the mind. To choose salad over pizza using willpower, you have to use willpower twice. The restraint to not eat the pizza, and the effort to make yourself eat the salad. This path of effort and willpower is possible, but it requires a lot of energy, it is hard, and most don’t succeed on this path. Willpower is a limited resource and you mustn’t use it all up on trying to eat a salad.

If logic isn’t a good method of motivation, what is?

It is simple. Do what you feel you should do. Use your emotional energy, not your logical energy

I have many options available to me to get from the first floor to the second. I may take the escalator, the elevator, or the stairs. To many, the stairs are the least appealing of these three options because its slower than the escalator and more effortful than both the escalator and the elevator.

How do I choose the stairs?

‘Well I should take the stairs because its good for me…. but’

Here comes the but.

Here comes the mind trying to stop me because my reason wasn’t good enough. Surely I think being healthy is a good thing to be, but it isn't a good enough motivation, especially if i am tired. Again, this is my scarcity mind trying to conserve energy.

You may ask, how do I take the stairs?

Well why do you want to take the stairs? it’s difficult and effortful.

Your reason needs to be worth the effort to you.

I need a better reason thats not so easily dismissed by the mind. I need to see it though to end.

I personally take the stairs as often as possible over the elevator or escalator. How do I do this?

For me, it is easy because I have a good reason to take the stairs. I don’t do it because i should or because it’s healthy.

I ask myself, why should I take the stairs?

Because I want to have the physical ability to carry groceries up the stairs. I require the strength to hold my child and carry them up the stairs. I don’t take the stairs because I should, I take it because having the ability to do so is something thats important to me. One day, I may not be able to take the stairs again. I would like to prolong that day as long as I can.

Now this, is a good reason to me.

Physically, taking the stairs is just as difficult. However, my mind realizes that it’s something now that I should do, so it stops withholding energy. My mind and body are aligned in my goal and it feels worth it to try.

Think of something you want to do differently and think, why do I even want to do this in the first place? Compare the consequences of both actions you could take. Which one can you live with? Be honest with yourself.

If your reason isn't good enough, it is going to be quite difficult to do it.

Fighting with your mind and body will not give you more energy. It will not make it easier.

What is something you want to do that is difficult for you, and how can you use your emotional energy to do it?

You are welcome to comment it below or message it to me and I would be honored to help you.

I love you, and live in peace

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