"This Simple Skill Will Keep You Motivated"

By the end of this Newsletter you’ll know:
- How to stay motivated
- How to keep your discipline
- Understanding REAL pleasure

In the last episode, we already talked about how NoFap can change your life
To read the last episode:
https://wearestoa.beehiiv.com/p/nofap-rewire-brain-free-guide-inside

Introduction
Understanding the Pleasure in Effort

• Effort is often seen as the challenging part of any task, but it holds a hidden pleasure.

• Focusing solely on external rewards, such as trophies or grades, can undermine the joy derived from the process itself.

• Dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter, plays a crucial role in experiencing pleasure through effort.

Lesson 1
The Pitfall of Extrinsic Rewards

• Experiments, like one conducted at Stanford, reveal that external rewards can diminish intrinsic enjoyment.

• Children, initially enjoying drawing, reduced their inclination to draw when rewards were introduced and then removed.

• This phenomenon reflects the conflict between intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcement.

Lesson 2
Growth Mindset and the Neural Mechanism

• Carol Dweck's concept of a growth mindset emphasizes the intrinsic value of striving for improvement.

• Cultivating a growth mindset involves learning to derive pleasure from effort, even in the face of challenges.

• The neural mechanism behind this process is crucial for personal development.

Lesson 3
The Challenge of Hard Work

• Hard work is universally challenging, and many people work hard to achieve specific goals.

• However, the focus on rewards after the hard work can make the process more difficult and less enjoyable.

• The key lies in associating the feeling of friction and effort with an internally generated reward system.

Lesson 4
Accessing Dopamine Release

• To maximize the benefits of effort, it's essential to access dopamine release during the activity.

• This involves telling oneself that the effort is pleasurable, even in moments of physical discomfort.

• The process becomes reflexive over time, enhancing one's baseline dopamine levels.

Lesson 5
The Reflexive Nature of Pleasureful Effort

• Repeating the association between effort and internal rewards makes it a reflexive response.

• This approach allows individuals to find pleasure in various types of effort, leading to increased efficiency and focus.

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Lesson 6
Avoiding Pitfalls: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic

• Focusing solely on external rewards undermines the entire process of deriving pleasure from effort.

• Spike dopamine from the effort itself rather than relying on pre or post-engagement spikes.

Lesson 7
Embracing the Choice and Love for Effort

• During intense moments of friction, remind yourself that the pain is a choice made out of love for the process.

• This mindset shift distinguishes between lying to oneself and aligning with the truth of wanting the effort to be pleasurable.

Lesson 8
Exemplifying the Concept

• People like David Goggins, a former Navy SEAL, exemplify turning effort into its own reward.

• The ability to access pleasure from effort is a universal aspect of dopamine, accessible to everyone.

Conclusion
Overcoming Obstacles to Dopamine Release

• To enhance dopamine release from effort, avoid spiking dopamine before or after engaging in the task.

• Learn to derive satisfaction and pleasure directly from the effort itself.

In conclusion, the journey of embracing effort as a source of pleasure involves a shift in mindset. By internalizing the rewards within the process, individuals can tap into the powerful aspects of dopamine, making hard work not only rewarding but inherently enjoyable.