Yep, I was wrong … again. One of the hardest things for people when it comes to gaining muscle or losing weight is motivation. For years I have been telling people that the secret to bodybuilding motivation is by using internal motivation rather than external motivation. That is true but I realized this week that there exists an even more powerful tool you can use to outsmart yourself and turbocharge your motivation - induced hypocrisy!
For me, internal motivation works better than the external one. Knowing that a goal serves a purpose or have a deeper meaning works so much better.
I used to watch a lot of motivational videos and they might have it's place, but it's just so much better to spend the time in pursuing the goal itself!
Yes, internal motivation is always better. Those who lift weights thinking that it will get them more dates dont last very long because validation of their success depends on external factors beyond their control (the women).
Saying your wrong anytime is not easy. Especially when you have a worldwide audience. Thanks for sharing that vulnerability and for reminding us showing those things is a true sign of strength and maturity. Thanks for all the years you've been giving us good information and helping us stay motivated!
Interesting. Good shout out for Hidden Brain! I think you're doing yourself down and you've already explained it well.
I suppose a similar way of thinking about it is that we are motivated by the stories we tell ourselves: as a narrative, "I am the sort of person who cares for their physical health" means that's it's easier to resist temptations to laziness or poor diet, because giving in to temptation would contradict your self-view.
I think of myself as a runner - that's internal. My friends and family know me as a runner - that's external. On a given day, if I'm reluctant to go for a run if it's cold or wet, either of those can push me out of the door. After all, a "runner" wouldn't let a bit of bad weather stop them from training.
Really interesting, great article! the same technique could also be used to promote other behaviors besides fitness. It must be said that everyone could have a different relationship with hypocrisy, there are probably those who tolerate it better than others, but it still creates a certain discomfort. Even in Alcoholics Anonymous it is said that those who are most likely to succeed are those who help others, those who act as mentors.
Dear Scooby, first of all thank you so much for your work. I have been following you almost two decades. I learnt all the basics from you and had great results during my early twenties. And then life happened, now I am 39 and last 1.5 years I began working out again ,and again got great results (muscle memory and good genes from grand dad)!
My financial situation is not stable enough to thank you properly but I can tell you that you helped me a lot and I will teach the same to my son… So thank you from bottom of my heart (for what it is worth)
About motivation…. As a person who has mild depression and PTSD I find it hard to be motivated at all. What I use is discipline… The method you say might boost one’s discipline but there is a chance that one can actually be a good liar and hypocrite. I do not say that one can be immoral. Being able to lie and live as a hypocrite are skills, you become immoral when you use those skills to take advantage of people (good actors, spies, all are good at lying but use that skill set in non immoral ways)
What I do is, I usually just tell myself this had to be done and if I keep doing it I will actually enjoy it. Or else I will get sick and probably die a horrible death with long periods of suffering before it happens (which is true, being overweight and sedentary can give you all kinds of cancer and I lost my mom to cancer a short time ago to know what it looks like):
1- I cannot do that to my wife and son at least it should not happen because my negligence. At the end of all, I should know that I did all I can to stay healthy and their suffering of seeing me dying is not caused by me being lazy.
2- I enjoy life so little that I barely keep going and I cannot afford it to get worse by losing my health. Because I am not a suicidal person so it is not an option for me to quit suffering.
3- Being healthy and strong makes life easier and the feeling of strength itself is very enjoyable in itself. Constructing your muscles and feeling the power, running more than half an hour and feeling your heart getting used to the tempo… are more enjoyable than a bag of chips for sure.
It is impossible to keep being motivated. But accepting these truths on a deep level helps me keep going and even on days I don’t enjoy the exercise itself I do it as a duty for the loved ones, and on days that I am so depressed that I am not able to care about loved ones enough, I just curse myself up an do it (I save my willpower for those days)…
P.S. sorry for my English it is not my mother language.
Can you please reach out to me via email or somehow. It’s regarding a review of a gym you did years ago and due to exactly what you said in your review- I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same again. I can’t go into detail here- but I have sustained a TBI that has changed out whole word. (Husband is a professional athlete as well)… would love to pick your brain. Thanks! I’m just leaving my email address because apparently I’m not “allowed” to say anything about the incident. RIDICULOUS meylergirl@gmail.com Thanks:)
For me, internal motivation works better than the external one. Knowing that a goal serves a purpose or have a deeper meaning works so much better.
I used to watch a lot of motivational videos and they might have it's place, but it's just so much better to spend the time in pursuing the goal itself!
Yes, internal motivation is always better. Those who lift weights thinking that it will get them more dates dont last very long because validation of their success depends on external factors beyond their control (the women).
Saying your wrong anytime is not easy. Especially when you have a worldwide audience. Thanks for sharing that vulnerability and for reminding us showing those things is a true sign of strength and maturity. Thanks for all the years you've been giving us good information and helping us stay motivated!
Interesting. Good shout out for Hidden Brain! I think you're doing yourself down and you've already explained it well.
I suppose a similar way of thinking about it is that we are motivated by the stories we tell ourselves: as a narrative, "I am the sort of person who cares for their physical health" means that's it's easier to resist temptations to laziness or poor diet, because giving in to temptation would contradict your self-view.
I think of myself as a runner - that's internal. My friends and family know me as a runner - that's external. On a given day, if I'm reluctant to go for a run if it's cold or wet, either of those can push me out of the door. After all, a "runner" wouldn't let a bit of bad weather stop them from training.
I wish more people listen to hidden brain and fewer would listen to joe rogan.
Made an account just to say that you write excellently and the messages always come clearly across! Was surprised to see you doubting that!
Been following you since 2010 and you have never come across/written poorly.
Thanks! :)
Great article . Consider doing one on why people should take up fitness in their 50’s.
It’s very hard to be motivated when you are old and have no started . It seems it’s pointless at that point isn’t it ? Thanks
Really interesting, great article! the same technique could also be used to promote other behaviors besides fitness. It must be said that everyone could have a different relationship with hypocrisy, there are probably those who tolerate it better than others, but it still creates a certain discomfort. Even in Alcoholics Anonymous it is said that those who are most likely to succeed are those who help others, those who act as mentors.
:( Afraid you are right.
Dear Scooby, first of all thank you so much for your work. I have been following you almost two decades. I learnt all the basics from you and had great results during my early twenties. And then life happened, now I am 39 and last 1.5 years I began working out again ,and again got great results (muscle memory and good genes from grand dad)!
My financial situation is not stable enough to thank you properly but I can tell you that you helped me a lot and I will teach the same to my son… So thank you from bottom of my heart (for what it is worth)
About motivation…. As a person who has mild depression and PTSD I find it hard to be motivated at all. What I use is discipline… The method you say might boost one’s discipline but there is a chance that one can actually be a good liar and hypocrite. I do not say that one can be immoral. Being able to lie and live as a hypocrite are skills, you become immoral when you use those skills to take advantage of people (good actors, spies, all are good at lying but use that skill set in non immoral ways)
What I do is, I usually just tell myself this had to be done and if I keep doing it I will actually enjoy it. Or else I will get sick and probably die a horrible death with long periods of suffering before it happens (which is true, being overweight and sedentary can give you all kinds of cancer and I lost my mom to cancer a short time ago to know what it looks like):
1- I cannot do that to my wife and son at least it should not happen because my negligence. At the end of all, I should know that I did all I can to stay healthy and their suffering of seeing me dying is not caused by me being lazy.
2- I enjoy life so little that I barely keep going and I cannot afford it to get worse by losing my health. Because I am not a suicidal person so it is not an option for me to quit suffering.
3- Being healthy and strong makes life easier and the feeling of strength itself is very enjoyable in itself. Constructing your muscles and feeling the power, running more than half an hour and feeling your heart getting used to the tempo… are more enjoyable than a bag of chips for sure.
It is impossible to keep being motivated. But accepting these truths on a deep level helps me keep going and even on days I don’t enjoy the exercise itself I do it as a duty for the loved ones, and on days that I am so depressed that I am not able to care about loved ones enough, I just curse myself up an do it (I save my willpower for those days)…
P.S. sorry for my English it is not my mother language.
Can you please reach out to me via email or somehow. It’s regarding a review of a gym you did years ago and due to exactly what you said in your review- I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same again. I can’t go into detail here- but I have sustained a TBI that has changed out whole word. (Husband is a professional athlete as well)… would love to pick your brain. Thanks! I’m just leaving my email address because apparently I’m not “allowed” to say anything about the incident. RIDICULOUS meylergirl@gmail.com Thanks:)
Alles ist klar. Not sure why you're concerned about your writing, Scooby. Unsurprisingly, it's as fluent and cogent as your video narration.