Raise your hand if you’ve been fired up to make a change, only or that fire to burn out just a few days or weeks later.
🙋♂️ Same.
We can thank the “happy-hormone” dopamine for both of those events.
Dopamine drives motivation. It spurs us into action to seek out the reward that satisfies a hunger.
When we get that reward, we feel great. We’re on top of the world.
But while we’re basking in our glory, behind the curtains, another pit of hunger opens up – and it’s the same size as the first one.
“That felt great. I want it again.”
Here’s the shitty part…
That same reward, resulting from that same effort, doesn’t satisfy the hunger as much as it did the previous time.
Motivation is fleeting. It’s why we seek out shortcuts, hacks, and snake oils. Or quit, all together.
The effort literally doesn’t pay off anymore.
How can you prevent that from happening…?
Well, routines, behaviours, and habits – once in place – don’t need motivation. At least, not to a level that’s conscious.
So rather than focusing on an outcome-based goal, try focusing on establishing new routines and behaviours.
And until those routines and behaviours become subconscious, temper the satisfaction that comes with the win.
Celebrate your wins, yes. But not too much.
Give something back or share the credit with those that deserve it.
Or as the legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, “…the next time you make it to the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.”
❤
❤🧠💪
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