What advantages do we get from putting efforts over the rewards?

Question

Could someone kindly elaborate on the advantages of focusing on the effort behind a task instead of the reward?

Answer 1

In my experience, ‘telling’ myself the effort is the reward does NOT work. What works is LISTENING to whatever it is inside me that is telling me how pleasurable the effort is. I don’t know what it is that’s doing that ‘talking’ but it’s different from the conscious me trying to impose my will on it and it’s not at all the reward system. It’s just a sort of listening, like ‘oh, that’s right, now I remember, this activity is a blast! (even if it’s strenuous.)’ Thank you for this video. It helped me focus my thoughts on this issue. Definitely subscribing.

Comments

Great comment thanks for sharing.

Answer 2

This is great. Instead of saying "I'm doing this because my dopamine level will increase soon" (which is too abstract for some people) you can say "I'm doing this to improve my technique/ grow muscle / understand medieval history better" – instead of win the game/ win the fight/ ace the test. This technique was described in The Power of Double Goal Coaching and has been found in studies to massively increase performance.

Comments

v2 what you said doesnt it conflict with the information contained in the video, if doing a workout you said you can say, im doing this to grow muscle, however isnt that focus on the gold star, the reward, some end goal, my understanding was that the video was saying to link pleasure to the discomfort letting go of any thought of the outcome thus reason its being done, what your saying seems to be connecting with the outcome again which seems to contradict the video.

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https://youtube.com/shorts/lOqJU9QkjDs

Answer 3

Reminds me of an inscription on Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska:  "Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory."

Answer 4

There’s a Saying in the Hindi language “कर्म करते रहो फल की आशा ना रख”

It means ‘Keep doing the work, Do Not Worry about the end result’

Answer 5

this is great advice if you're actually learning or picking up a skill. how do you motivate yourself when you're in a thankless job where your work is often taken for granted by others? perhaps one that doesn't inspire much personal growth because you're just following rules/guidelines/instructions like an automaton? how do you convince yourself that you're doing something important to keep yourself motivated? there's rewarding pain, and then there's just senseless pain - challenges that are a complete waste of time because you walk away without growing.

Answer 6

I was over 50 before I worked this out for myself. It's been a tough few years but I'm improving me all the time.

Comments

https://youtube.com/shorts/lOqJU9QkjDs

Answer 7

I so needed to see this video!!! Telling yourself you “love the effort” is not necessarily a lie bcuz whatever your conscious mind tells your subconscious mind, it (the subconscious) accepts as true. Accepts as the truth! Your subconscious mind has confirmation bias and no mechanism to challenge what you tell it. Thru repetition, if you tell yourself that “effort is pleasurable” over time you’ll believe it to be true and as a result your body will produce the chemicals (dopamine) that your mind translates as pleasure

Answer 8

It's like not enjoying life, waiting for an after life. Loved it!

Comments

Hello

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Both..there is an afterlife❤

Answer 9

Thank you for this excellent sharing on an essential aspect of Truth. I have learned this at a very young age. In my twenties, as a lover of the Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti, I had learned that basing my motivation on receiving the "carrot" was more like the functioning of a donkey than that of an authentic human being. We are lucky to live during Times when all myths are debunked.

Answer 10

Big up to this man for teaching us what he understood. Bless up brother. Thanks.

Answer 11

"Striving itself is the end-goal" wish I had learned this earlier than 21, but it has been my mindset recently and it really works. At this point I get my pleasure just from the feeling of running, studying, cleaning and organising, dealing with an unwanted problem, etc

Answer 12

To whoever needs to hear it:  I love you, even though I don’t know you. And I want to thank you for just being you.  Now go get some sleep. You deserve a peaceful rest. You’ve fought enough today.  Good night. BAM Loves YOU.  See ya next time - get better every day.

Comments

Thank you ❤

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Love you, Bam! Stay this positive for the rest of your life!

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Love you too
Thank you for this
I’m exhausted
Nitey nite

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Thank you for “Making Soooo Much Sense” ,a true breath of FRESH AIR!!

Answer 13

Andrew, I feel that every decision I make is based on dopamine. Ever since childhood, I have always felt this, now that you articulate it, it’s that much better! (More dopamine ). Great site❤️

Answer 14

Simply put... These are STOIC principles that teach us to create intentions, not goals.   This way, you focus on the process and effort applied.  

You are powerful!
Be Strong, Be Knowing, BELIEVE!