How to Motivate Yourself

A thought —

How do we actually “motivate” ourselves in life? Where does the power and energy of motivation come from?

This is also tied to ideas on free will.

Do you believe in free will?

Our buddy Nietzsche doesn’t believe in free will, nor does he believe in “will” either. He said something like:

Free will or no will? This is the wrong question. There is no such thing as the will!

Personally I believe in free will. Free will in the sense that if I want to do something, I can do it. If I want another shot of espresso, I can pull it for myself.

Questions to ignore

Now the more nerdy philosophical questions like:

Do you even have the power to desire to want more coffee in the first place?

To me, these questions are silly. Not even worth our time.

Motivate to do what?

For myself the question is:

What do you want motivation for? What do you want to motivate yourself to do?

Motivation literally means to move. To move is to be active, and engage in activity.

But the question is:

Move in order to do what? Go where? Make what? And why?

Motivation to make art

The more and more I think about it, I think the ultimate apex is to make art.

For example, I love lifting weights and going to the gym. But ultimately working out and becoming more physically strong is only a means or a bridge in order to make more powerful artwork.

My theory:

The more physically strong you are, the stronger artwork you can create.

For example, I would trust the artworks of a bodybuilder like Kai Greene than some emaciated nerd drawing super hero comics.

Why? Kai Greene is a real bodybuilder, and can create more “legit” artworks about muscle, strength, and heroes overcoming. My theory is that artwork born from real experiences and superabundance of power is superior to artwork being born born out of weakness.

Where does the motivation come from?

Once again the question — can you “will” yourself into motivating yourself to move, act, and do shit?

I think so.

Simple ideas:

As a prerequisite, it seems that you need optimal physical and physiological health and wellness. I’m much more motivated after 10 hours of sleep than 2 hours of sleep.
Desire to become more, make more, create more. It seems that extreme discontent is a positive motivator in our lives. If I were content with my life, what motivation would I have to do anything? Discontent must be channeled in a positive way. Some people become depressed via discontent (learned helplessness). I believe in channeling discontent to empower us to reach for a new level.
Lots of meat, no sugar or carbs. If we desire to reach the apex of our creative powers, we must maximize our power potential with our nutrition. It is evident that meat is the apex nutrition for us as humans, to grow more muscle mass, and also to maximize our growth. Refer to all the feasts done by the Greeks of Homer in the Illiad and Odyssey (no veggies are consumed, and even fish is only eaten as a last resort to prevent starvation).
Stay hungry: Hawks are purposefully kept a little under-fed, in order to keep them sharp, and to appreciate the taste of blood and flesh. I think we are the same. If we were eating all day long, certainly we would just be sleeping all day long. To sleep is the opposite of being active and doing stuff. So if your motivate is to act more, create more, and move more — channel hunger (in praise of intermittent fasting).
Lots of water and black coffee during the day: Caffeine (poison) as a stimulating force.
Motivating music: Music with motivating, and uplifting qualities. Generally speaking, when I listen to music that is heavy on bass, and encourages me to dance — I get encouraged to do more! In praise of dancing, music, and going to the night club.

These are some physiological ideas. What about the mental?

Reach for your desires

It seems the reaching, the striving for more is the inner-compulsion which motivates us to do anything.

I think it also requires you to have an insane self-confidence in yourself. The belief that you’re not alike other humans. The idea that you’re above others — that only attempting more epic and noble tasks are worthy of you.

Unlearning

Another thought —

Perhaps to motivate ourselves to do anything, we must learn to ruthlessly cut individuals, people, or things which discourage and dismotivate us.

For example, I cut out all toxic people from my life, I don’t watch the news, I don’t follow blogs or websites, and I try to stay away from advertising like it were the devil.

Essentially the way the media works is this: it makes money on making you feel less, by making you feel FOMO, like you’re inadequate, and you’re lacking much (unless you buy x, y, z). Also fear mongering.

This means avoid anything which depresses you, or causes you to lose in your own tenacity and courage. This is highly dependent to you.

Focus on yourself

In praise of extreme selfishness for your own prolific growth, and self flourishing, in order to better help others.

First prioritize yourself, and everything else will follow.

GO HARD!

ERIC