What Motivates Me?
My motivators:
God: God is my greatest motivator because He gives me guidance in many aspects of my life. Having faith helps me stay focused on my goals.
Parents: My mom has an unconditional love that keeps me going. My dad is a man of integrity and he taught me the value of hard work. Their lessons guide me in making decisions and push me to be the best version of myself.
Sisters: My two little sisters forced me to take on a role of responsibility at home. Because they always copied what I do, I learned to be a leader by example.
Health: For me, health is essential because it allows me to stay active in life. Why would I want my body hindering me when trying to experience something on this earth, we're not here for a long time so I want to make sure I'm as healthy as possible through it all.
Economic Freedom: Economic freedom motivates me to work hard, I'd say I have a thirst for knowledge because I know that it can lead to opportunities in the future. I want to financially independant and flexible so that I can help my family and not be tied down due to financial illiteracy.
Ruth Prieto Arenas and John Nordell both have a passion and motivation for storytelling and social change, similar to how my family motivates me to be the best version of myself. Just like Ruth uses her images to highlight the struggles of immigrants, Professor Nordell has a drive to give voice to the underdog, and I find motivation in my health because I want to enjoy life to the fullest of my physical ability. What they do is a reminder that everyone has their own motivators to do what they do in life. I think it's important to understand why people do things, and in order to understand that you have to look at their motivators.
Chat GPT Promt:
Me: Hi. I need you to do me the favor of acting as if you're Jordan Peterson for the duration of this conversation. I'm currently a junior in college who plays soccer and is part of the marketing program. I believe in God and I take my faith very seriously, but I feel that I struggle with sloth sometimes. I know I'm a smart person and I do good work, but only when I feel motivated to do so. What advice do you have for me regarding motivation and staying on top of things?
Chat GPT: Ah, I see. First, let's be clear about something: you're not alone in facing this struggle. The fact that you're aware of it is already a great step. Sloth, or what you might call procrastination, is often tied to a lack of direction or a sense of meaning. You see, when you tie your actions to a higher purpose, something greater than just getting good grades or excelling in soccer, it becomes easier to overcome inertia.
Now, let's talk about motivation. Motivation is fleeting—it's not something you can rely on. What you can rely on is discipline. You don't wait for motivation to come to you; you create the conditions for it to arise by engaging in a habit of action. Your motivation will follow the discipline you impose on yourself. You see, if you wait to feel like doing something, you’ll often miss the opportunity to act.
Think about your faith, too. There’s something inherently powerful in the idea of discipline within a religious context. In Christianity, we are called to act in faith, even when we don't "feel" it. This can be a great analogy for your work. It’s not always about how motivated you feel to get up and do something, but about following through because it's the right thing to do—because you know it serves a higher purpose.
So, here's my advice:
1. **Structure and Discipline**: Set up a structure in your life, particularly around your studies and soccer. Create a routine that doesn't rely on motivation but on habit. Prioritize your time and stick to it, even when you don't "feel" like it.
2. **Focus on the Incremental**: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Even if you're not feeling motivated, taking a small step is often enough to get the ball rolling.
3. **Think About Your Future Self**: Imagine who you want to become—what kind of person do you want to be in five or ten years? Let that image push you to work today, even when it feels hard. This means sacrificing immediate comfort for long-term gain.
4. **Align With Your Higher Purpose**: Use your faith as a guide. When you feel sloth creeping in, ask yourself, "How does this help me fulfill the purpose I believe God has set for me?" This will provide the spiritual fuel to keep you going.
5. **Accountability**: Share your goals and struggles with someone you trust—someone who will hold you accountable. Sometimes, knowing others are relying on you can be the spark that reignites motivation.
Remember, discipline is the antidote to sloth. It's not about feeling inspired all the time, but about doing the right thing consistently, day in and day out. Keep striving towards being the person you know you're meant to be, even when the motivation is low.
Me: I understand the difference between discipline and motivation. I feel that in soccer, I am very disciplined. I fuel my body with the right nutrients and I take very good care of my body, making sure I'm as flexible, strong, and mobile as possible. How can I translate that to my school work? I feel that the only place I procrastinate is school. I want a marketing degree because in todays world, attention is where all the money is. If you are good at grasping and maintaining someones attention, you are able to monetize that attention and even sell a product if you have one. Marketing is all about getting people's attention, attention = money. My end goal is to have economic freedom, I don't want to be tied down by financial chains in this world. I want to be able to go wherever I want in the world. Should I start looking at my school work as small steps to reaching my big goal?
Chat GPT: Absolutely. You’ve already hit on a key insight: your schoolwork can indeed be reframed as a series of small steps toward achieving your big goal. You’re right that in today’s world, attention is currency. Your discipline in soccer—how you nurture your body and focus on incremental improvement—is exactly the mindset that can be applied to your studies.
Consider your schoolwork not just as assignments or tasks to complete, but as part of the foundation you're building for your future. If your goal is economic freedom, and you understand the power of attention, then you can see each class and project as an investment in the skills and knowledge that will help you master attention in the marketing world. The better you understand human behavior, communication, and how to capture attention, the more effective you'll be in your career. And this is no small matter.
So, how can you translate that discipline?
1. **Set a Clear Goal for Your Schoolwork**: Tie every task to a broader vision of what you want to achieve. Whether it's a specific skill in marketing or a particular job you're working toward, understand that school is the training ground for that end. Every paper, every project, is you getting one step closer to mastering the craft of attention and influence.
2. **Treat School Like a Training Program**: Just as you train your body for soccer, approach your studies as a method of "conditioning" your mind. Nutrition for your body is important, but intellectual "fuel" is just as crucial—read, engage, take in diverse perspectives, and challenge yourself to think critically. Make sure you’re practicing, just as you would with a soccer drill.
3. **Consistency Over Perfection**: You don’t need to be perfect in every assignment, but you need to be consistent in your effort. Progress, not perfection, is what will help you maintain momentum. Aim for steady growth in your understanding of marketing principles, even if it means pushing through the harder subjects where motivation is harder to find.
4. **Incorporate the Same Routine**: Build routines around your schoolwork like you do with your soccer training. Maybe it’s setting specific hours for studying, prioritizing your assignments, and keeping a consistent, organized approach to your work. Use your discipline in physical training as a model for mental training. This can help break the habit of procrastination.
5. **Understand the Leverage of Your Degree**: Each assignment and lecture is a small step toward mastering the art of marketing. The deeper you dive into understanding consumer behavior, how attention works, and how people make decisions, the more equipped you’ll be to apply that knowledge to real-world situations. Your degree is not just a piece of paper; it’s your toolkit for creating economic freedom.
By seeing school as a series of small, intentional steps toward your big goal of economic independence and freedom, you will begin to view your academic efforts in the same way you view your soccer training: as a vital part of preparing yourself for success. If you keep your eyes on that larger vision, you'll have the fuel to tackle the smaller tasks, even when motivation is low.
CO-CREATED WITH CHAT GPT (11/18/2024) https://chatgpt.com/share/673c0304-e634-8010-8335-7e5364fb4f1a
Link to conversation can also be found here
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