Lets Be Real #6: How to reject Mediocrity
Hey 👋
Welcome 🙏 to the 6th edition of this newsletter!
I finally decided to give this newsletter a name that resonates with what the newsletter brings to the table - “Lets Be Real”.
In the last edition, I shared the story of my transformation and reflection on the last 5 years of my life that led to the profound realization - Accepting Mediocrity is at the root of all my regrets.
This message resonated with quite a few people. That tells me I am doing something right.
So, today, I will take the Mediocrity Rejection framework and make it more practical and actionable. After all, what is the point of sharing a framework if it cannot be applied effectively?
With that said, let’s go!! 🚀
Applying the Mediocrity Rejection framework
In the new year, as I began applying the Mediocrity Rejection Framework to my life, I realized TWO critical aspects were missing in really making it work.
Intrinsic Motivation
The ability to make hard choices in pursuit of a goal is, to a large extent, dependent on how motivated we feel about pursuing that goal.
Without some form of intrinsic motivation, systems start to break down, and habits start to slip. And before we know it, we are back to making mediocre choices.
We all have done this before - we start with a firm resolution and then give up a few days/weeks in.
So, this time I had to get to the root of why this happens if there was any chance of me breaking this loop.
That’s where Andrew Huberman and his deep insights on how dopamine works helped.
Simply stated,
Pleasure experienced 🥳 without a prior requirement for pursuit 🏋🏻♂️ is terrible for us.
Read that again.
Let me explain:
In the modern world, we have way too many sources of easy pleasures - from social media 📱 to over-abundant food 🍔 to Netflix 🖥 and so much more, all at the click of a button with no effort involved.
“I don’t even know why I am doing this. It doesn’t even feel that good.” - Haven’t we all felt this when endlessly scrolling social media or binge-watching Netflix?
It is because this overindulgence depletes our dopamine reserves.
And dopamine is the fuel that drives our motivation and craving to go and pursue things that bring fulfillment.
So, it’s a double whammy - We choose the mediocre option every time because it is easy dopamine, but with time we don’t derive as much pleasure from it. And we do not feel motivated afterward to do the things that will actually move the needle.
We are addicted to the mediocre choices, and we don’t know how to let go.
This answered so many questions about my own nature - questions that always eluded me and made me feel helpless. For years, I considered myself inadequate and lacking in intrinsic motivation, questioning why I chose the mediocre options even when I did not want to.
But the reality is so much simpler. It is simply human biology clashing with the modern world we have built for ourselves.
And it made me feel so much better - for a correct diagnosis is the first step to finding a solution that works.
So, we now know the root of the problem. What is the solution?
Andrew calls it - The Knowledge of knowledge can allow us to intervene and self-regulate.
But that will have to wait for the next edition (this is getting too long).
Hit reply and let me know if this problem resonates with you.
Better still, just choose from the options below. That will tell me if I should continue on this topic next week or choose a different direction.
Now, I know I mentioned about TWO critical aspects required to make this framework work.
For now, reflect on the first aspect - evaluate your experiences for how the easy availability of dopamine has been silently killing your motivation to pursue your goals.
We will dive deeper into the solution to this problem as well as the second key aspect in the next edition.
Time's Up⌚
That's my 3 minutes with you this week.
If you have a minute, I would love a response.
Do you like this new format, or do you prefer the 3 ideas of the week format more?
See you next week. 👋
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Thanks again 🙏, and please share this with a few friends if you like it. That is the only way I am growing right now.