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In terms of higher-level concepts, I've recently been thinking​ a lot about identity-based motivation. This is basically the theory that we should expect, even welcome, difficulties encountered when engaging in activities that are relevant to our ideal future self. The initial step is to elucidate who we want to be, and then bring that identity to mind when we encounter failure. This reframing might be more effective than, say, believing I am dopamine deficient, that I'm lazy or that I'm not talented enough to complete the task at hand, etc. If I know the path to who I want to be (a well-traveled explorer, to use OP's example) will be difficult and I suddenly encounter a difficulty, instead of feeling dejected, the difficulty will motivate me instead, as it is a signpost that I am becoming who I want to be. Some of this may seem obvious, especially to people who are already super achievers, but I've been finding it a worthwhile way to think about my behavior. Here are some links if this sparks any interest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_based_motivation https://youtu.be/0bwvP-Zk_wM The research conclusion so far is a bit convoluted. I don't know if any popular writers have run with the idea yet. To sum up: 1. Pick who you want to be in the future (ex: a good friend), 2. Expect to encounter difficulty on the path (ex: my friend needs help moving, it's gonna suck and I'm not gonna be able to work on my project today, but I know sustaining close friendships will be hard), 3. Take actions that will be congruent with your future identity (ex: I went out of my to help my friend move to his new apartment, I did it because every day I try to take advantage of my opportunities to be a better friend) |