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How to Achieve Your Goals By Creating an Enemy
Finding an Enemy
Going anti-something, finding a villain, or a fictional antagonist to our lives makes us work harder, as a force awakens in us wanting to defeat the enemy.
We need to embrace this enemy in our lives and realize that even though this is just us fighting against ourselves, the fight is worth it.
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Key Ideas
Default behaviors
They are actions we make without thinking (habits, routines, compulsions). They control more than 40% of our daily actions.
So if we want to change our lives and be more productive, we...
Inbox always open
This behavior keeps you from dedicating your time to meaningful work. Replying to email may feel productive, but the truth is emails are rarely the most important thing on your to-do list.
So instead of keeping your inbox open all day, change your default behavior to working on emails in batches.
Immediately responding to messages
Real-time communication sets the expectation that you’re always available. And for many of us, our default behaviors support just that.
In order to change this behavior, you need to set expectations on response time. Mute specific channels, get rid of pop-ups, turn off mobile notifications, etc.
3
Key Ideas
Ego depletion
The theory of 'ego depletion' refers to the idea that there is a connection between willpower and one's limited reserve of mental energy.
However, evidence has been brought to support a...
A self-defeating state of mind
Having a self-defeating state of mind makes one believe that he or she is not able to achieve certain goals, by providing a logical reason to give up.
Willpower as emotion
According to the psychology professor Michael Inzlicht, the individual is able to control his or her willpower, taking into account current feelings and events.
This is perceived as a decision-making tool that enables its owner to have full disposal of the mental energy and, therefore, to accomplish even the most challenging tasks.
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Key Ideas
What willpower is
The willpower response is a reaction to an internal conflict. You want to do one thing, but know you shouldn’t. Or you know you should do something, but you’d rather do nothing.
How willpower works in the brain
The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps us with things like decision-making and regulating our behavior, needs to be looked after.
Feed your brain with good-quality food so it has enough energy to do its job and get enough sleep.
Willpower is finite
Willpower is like a muscle—it can get exhausted by overuse, but we might be able to strengthen our willpower by training it.