I have just been told I have "very weird" ideas about motivation. But I maintain that THEY WORK.
For instance: I only exercise to get high. (On endorphins.) Not to look good or cheat death or whatever. Only the high.
Today I said I only write anything "to see if I can." I'm working on a YA novel right now but not "for publication." Only because I have an idea, and I want to see if I can stick the landing.
I say this kind of motivation frees me from caring what others think.
@danialexis I don’t think that’s weird. That sounds effective as hell.
@Coffee_and_Salt Ironically, I have published two novels, written for The Atlantic, and have a career's worth of academic articles/book chapters, ALL of which started because I went "I wonder if I can pull this off."
So yeah, ime it is effective as hell!
I also go the gym regularly.
@danialexis sounds like they fear the idea that they’ve been confined by the possibility of failure. Hope they see your successes as motivational in their own way.