*Thread* - Rewiring the dopamine circuit

Activating autopilot achievement

Clarity creates motivation

Without clear specific tasks

The dopamine circuit has no defined ‘end’ to attach to

If when you’ve done a ‘good job’ is undefined the circuit is disconnected

No current flows through a disconnected circuit

Motivation = Motive

Lacking motivation often lacks clear motive

“Get healthy” is vague

“Follow 21X training plan. Mon, Wed, Fri. Gym at noon”

Clearly defined = pass or fail

If you ‘pass’ you get the reward of feeling accomplished

This end is needed for the circuit

With no end

There is room for interpretation

“What lifts to do?”

“Maybe tomorrow is better”

“I’ll go after I finish this I am too in the zone right now...”

Avoid Vagueness

FIRM Win or Lose

If there is a win, that’s a motive, then you have a flowing motivation circuit

Keep in mind

We are wired to conserve energy & avoid the unfamiliar

Here’s the key...

It’s effortless for me to write these tweets off the top of my head

These subjects I’ve been writing on for 10+ years

I’m adapted to it, it takes no effort & feels good in flow

It feels good because it’s familiar

There is also ‘reward’ of validation from likes/nice comments

^^ This will be more appealing to the brain than doing something unfamiliar/unadapted

The unfamiliar thing doesn’t feel good while doing it

There is probably no reward after doing it

Which makes it VERY important even while learning to define the ‘win’

“Complete Module 4 & 5”
Vs
“Study”

Be aware of this trap

Just because it doesn’t feel good doesn’t mean it’s wrong

It means it’s not adapted & your brain wants to do the thing you’re already adapted to & will get a reward from now

If I put my phone away all day. I remove that dopamine circuit as a option

Which then means the new goal set, the new non adapted motive is the only option left

Like a backup generator powering a house

Remove the first circuit, the default easy & adapted motivation

Kick into that backup generator

Like a backup generator it’ll take more energy because you’re not adapted yet

So it’s totally normal when you don’t feel as ‘good’

As doing your adapted thing

Stick with it for long enough it may become your new default adapted thing

Transitioning from football to soccer

Was literally painful. I was unadapted to it

So playing was somewhat attractive to me, not magnetic tho

2 years later new adaptations & familiarity

Was so addicted to soccer id wake up at 6AM just to practice BEFORE practice at 11AM

This thread covers one dopamine concept

of having end outcome to properly wire the motive circuit

Many other factors like nutrition, stimulants, media consumption

(Physical & Biology) also play a factor

Possibly a thread for the future

Thx for reading
- Yous