Thread by @Adam_Ha_Yes

Please stop motivating me.

Here's why you shouldn't want to be motivated either.

This is the motivational industry in a nutshell...
🧵

I log onto YouTube and get suggested a video called "10 minutes of motivation that will change your life"

Sweet, I want to change my life... let's watch.

The video starts out great.

Woah, is that Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness?

The narrator tells me that I have limitless potential.

You know now that I think about it, I am pretty awesome.

Then it moves to B-roll footage of someone doing burpees in the rain.

The song in the background sounds like I'm about to go into battle.

The narrator is yelling now at me now. Work harder. Set BIGGER goals. DON'T QUIT

The video ends.

I. Am. Pumped.

Let's go baby, bring it on WORLD.

I start going on a run, I'm wearing flip flops but damnit I don't care because it's time to GRIND.

I set an alarm for 4 AM the next morning because that's hustle o'clock.

I don't have time to sleep. Sleep is for dreamers NOT doers.

I spend the next half hour jounaling my 5 year plan:

The video told me to set HUGE goals because I am unstoppable.

So I decide to:
- Change world
- Save the rainforest
- IPO 7 times
- Change the world some more
- End all suffering everywhere at all times

I got my new life plan.

I'll tackle it first thing in the morning.

My 4 AM alarm clock goes off.

I'm not quite jumping out of the bed how I thought I would.

I don't have that same tingly feeling of inspiration.

I get to work anyway (what would the nice gentleman who was yelling at me think if I didn't.)

I start to plot out the plans for new projects.

The vision isn't as clear as it was yesterday.

Plus, it's about to be breakfast and I haven't IPOed yet.

Somethings wrong...

Oh no, here comes the negative self-talk.

I start to feel bad, like I let down my potential.

Why haven't I changed the world yet?

Maybe it's because I didn't burn all the boats.

I must be too comfortable. Maybe I should find a pack of wolves to live with.

The feeling of actually 'pursuing my dreams' feels different then the video I just watched...

So I go back on YouTube and watch a video called "UNLOCK YOUR BEAST MODE".

Boom, I'm back in action baby.

And this is the motivation cycle that never ends.
- Motivation
- Action
- Lack of motivation
- Inaction
- Repeat step one

That was me in college.

Maybe you've experienced this too.

So here's why I don't look for motivation anymore.

Motivation literally means to put into motion.

Motivation can get you started, but it won't sustain you.

Here's the problem with that...

The brain can't store motivation.

If it's external, it leaves as quickly as it came.

People become addicted to the feeling of being motivated.

The day to day struggle of pursuing your goals isn't glamorous.

It's hard and often boring.

These motivational videos feel productive, but really they're setting the wrong expectations.

So, is the moral of the story don't try?

No. Far from it.

If you have potential and want to make an impact there's a better way.

#1 Focus on intrinsic motivation

Intrinsic motivation comes from the self.

It's a sustainable energy.

It compounds over time.

Internal motivation comes from your WHY, not from the person yelling on you over YouTube.

Listen to yourself.

#2 Habits hit different.

Build habits that create small actions every day.

Start by working a little bit each day on your passion project.

From there, your passion will grow and sustain.

You'll be surprised what you can get done in a year.

Wait, but how can I be successful if I'm not taking cold showers at 5 AM?

To be successful, you don't have to:

- Sacrifice your health
- Burn all the comforts you have
- Do burpees in the rain while someone yells at you

You can just be happy and create things people love.

Yes, external motivation has a place.

Listen to "Lose Yourself" by Eminem or have David Goggins slap you across the face whenever you need it.

But treat it like a dessert, not the main course.

Instead focus on daily inputs, not external outcome.

And if you really can't find a reason WHY you want to do something, you're probably doing the wrong thing.

So if you really want to UNLOCK YOUR BEAST MODE and CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN ONE TWEET

Follow @Adam_Ha_Yes :)

I would also love to hear your thoughts below, what is something that resonated with you?

Thanks for reading friend