It doesn’t matter what I do
Negative thoughts like “it doesn’t matter what you do” can become self-fulfilling prophecies
When our mind produces thoughts such as “it doesn’t matter what you do” or “don’t even bother trying,” it can be devastating to our motivation. These thoughts can become self-fulfilling prophecies because once we believe we’re incapable of success, it becomes difficult to find the motivation to try.
“Once we believe that we’re incapable of success, it becomes really hard to find the motivation to even try, as we learned from things like the action success calculation, a big part of our motivation actually comes from our confidence in the ability to succeed.”
- How have negative thoughts affected your motivation in the past?
- What specific thoughts do you experience when feeling unmotivated?
The placebo effect demonstrates the power of belief in treatment success
The placebo effect is a scientific principle showing that if a patient believes in a treatment, it is more likely to be successful. Even when patients are told they are receiving a sugar pill, if they believe it will work, it often does.
“The placebo effect is so powerful that even if we know it exists, but we still have faith in the treatment, it actually succeeds.”
- How can you harness the power of belief to improve your motivation and success?
- What role does faith play in your personal and professional life?
The nocebo effect: lack of belief in treatment diminishes its effectiveness
The opposite of the placebo effect is the nocebo effect, where a patient’s lack of belief in a treatment diminishes its effectiveness, even if the treatment has a biological therapeutic effect.
“If your mind starts populating thoughts in your head with it doesn’t matter what you do, don’t bother trying, you’re doomed to failure that will actually become a self fulfilling prophecy.”
- How can you identify and challenge thoughts that stem from the nocebo effect?
- What strategies can you use to maintain a positive mindset in the face of setbacks?
Negative thoughts often stem from emotions of powerlessness or hopelessness
Thoughts like “it doesn’t matter what you do” often come from the emotional seed of powerlessness or hopelessness. When an attempt fails, it reinforces this Samskara, providing data to support the belief that you won’t be successful.
“And as the Samskar becomes strengthened, the size of those thoughts in your head become greater as well. Don’t even bother because you’re not someone who’s a winner, and then your motivation tanks and then you’re kind of stuck.”
- When have you experienced feelings of powerlessness or hopelessness?
- How can you work on emotionally digesting these experiences to reduce their impact on your motivation?
Identifying the origin of hopelessness is key to overcoming the Samskara
To overcome this Samskara, it’s essential to identify when you first gave up hope. Often, the seed of hopelessness precedes the first attempt, rather than being a result of multiple failures.
“When did you give up hope? And don’t give in to the first answer that your mind tells you because your mind will tell you Oh, yeah, the reason I’ve given up hope is because I’ve failed 10 times. You need to be a little bit more critical because chances are the seed of this failure, the seed of this hopelessness, actually precedes your first attempt.”
- When did you first give up hope in a particular area of your life?
- How can you reframe your perspective to see that success or failure depends on your confidence, not external factors?
Self-confidence, Emotional resilience, Growth mindset, Cognitive reframing, Motivation strategies, Overcoming limiting beliefs