I have read a few books on the science of motivation, ( I read a lot of science/text books on psychology and psychiatry )
and what I learnt is that humans are social animals and that everyone does better with external motivators like a coach or a muse or a boss.
Even Olympic athletes need a coach.
So I ask/tell myself, I am no where near as good or dedicated as one of these elite people and if they need a coach then what about the rest of us? Why is there some societal belief that getting help with motivation or nudges is a weakness? It’s not. Knowing we do better with other people giving motivation is a strength.
It’s very true, I do often need social motivation/a community to spur myself on, all the successful times in my life have been when I’ve had external motivators like that. I have often beat myself up about it because it feels like feeding my ego, and also it feels like a double edged sword - disappointment or discord with that external motivating person, especially a perceived sense of rejection, can have a dramatic negative effect (at least for me). But that shouldn’t stop me from reaching out while being realistic with expectations. I have been blessed to have one of the most lenient and supportive supervisors I could get…
I have read a few books on the science of motivation, ( I read a lot of science/text books on psychology and psychiatry )
and what I learnt is that humans are social animals and that everyone does better with external motivators like a coach or a muse or a boss.
Even Olympic athletes need a coach.
So I ask/tell myself, I am no where near as good or dedicated as one of these elite people and if they need a coach then what about the rest of us? Why is there some societal belief that getting help with motivation or nudges is a weakness? It’s not. Knowing we do better with other people giving motivation is a strength.
It’s very true, I do often need social motivation/a community to spur myself on, all the successful times in my life have been when I’ve had external motivators like that. I have often beat myself up about it because it feels like feeding my ego, and also it feels like a double edged sword - disappointment or discord with that external motivating person, especially a perceived sense of rejection, can have a dramatic negative effect (at least for me). But that shouldn’t stop me from reaching out while being realistic with expectations. I have been blessed to have one of the most lenient and supportive supervisors I could get…