Leveraging the Motivational Triad
How's the planning going? Two weeks ago, we discussed the importance of mind management (NOT time management) in creating our best life.
If you noticed yourself having a hard time sticking to your calendar this past week, what I'm about to teach you is CRUCIAL.
There's a phenomenon called the motivational triad, which consists of three fundamental drives that influence our behavior. Our survival brain wants to:
Pursue pleasure (the more immediate the better)
Avoid pain (both physical and emotional)
Conserve energy
These drives were vital for our ancestors' survival in a world filled with physical danger. However, in today's world, they can sometimes hinder our long-term goals.
It's important to recognize that these drives are normal and natural. We don't need to feel bad when they arise, but understanding them helps us live more purposefully.
Our brain naturally seeks pleasure; and in a world filled with easy dopamine—social media, TV, sugary snacks, video games, and online shopping—it's easy to get sidetracked.
It also avoids pain and discomfort, especially uncertainty. Overcoming this requires us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace challenges.
Additionally, because our brain accounts for only 2% of our body weight but uses 10% of its calories, it prioritizes conserving energy. It urges us to stick to old patterns and avoid hard tasks.
Understanding the motivational triad helps us recognize that we might not want to do the things we planned in our calendar.
But we can do them anyway.
When you feel the pull to seek immediate pleasure or avoid discomfort, remind yourself of your long-term goals and your WHY behind them. Trust the plan you made when you were thinking clearly.
We may not feel motivated in the moment, but honoring your commitments to yourself builds self-trust and confidence. Our future self will thank us for sticking with the plan.
This is the essence of mind management around time.
Another strategy is to limit distractions and temptations that offer easy dopamine. Set up your environment to support your goals, like having a dedicated workspace or scheduling specific times for breaks.
Remember, getting more done without feeling stressed is not about managing time; it's most often about managing our minds. Despite the resistance we fill from our survival brain, we create our best life when we keep our planning brain in the driver's seat.
