12 Tweets 10 reads Jan 12, 2021
*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 đŸ„‚
- Yous

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