Motive of mind

Philosophy Forums Psychology and Mind
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Summary at end.

I risk distorting the explanation by reiterating.

A coworker of mine is a firm believer that the secret to succeeding in any specific goal is in the drive of your attitude. For example, you want something, and you develop basic phrases that put you in that tone. You go to sleep repeating the mantra of phrases to yourself, you push yourself to wake up with that goal as the first thing on your mind.

So for example: “I want to play guitar. I’m Jimmy Hendrix. I’m Jimmy Hendrix. I have an awesome guitar.”

The actual act of acquiring this goal is a triviality. You will intuitively work toward the goal as you implant the goal in your mind.

I realize this kind of theory has probably been said a million times over, and I think it makes good sense. My drive to constantly question things prevents me from simply absorbing it. Maybe I should consider this a handicap. If you believe it makes good sense, why not simply take it in.

I remember a stage in my life not too long ago, in which I used this kind of method in an unorthodox way. Brace yourself, it’s not a happy carebear sort of thinking. "I’m fearless. I’m a vigilante. I stand up to men that mess around with girls. I can have a gun to my head and remain absolutely calm. I can talk to anyone and they don’t dominate me. No flexed muscle makes me quiver. No one can deny that I’m dangerous when I want to be . . . " and so on and so on.

The key warning there: Be careful what you wish for.

In retrospect, I wonder this-

First, is there skepticism you’d like to express about that psychological tool (if it is one)?

Second, do you think it’s dangerous to deny its existence? That people can destroy their lives because they deny that such a tool exists, and unknowingly use them without aim? Like tinkering with your car without any intention behind it, then driving it hoping for the best. You grow up without any strong indication that this subconcsious control exists. And as a result, it’s not really that you fail to motivate yourself, but that you allow just about any motive to fall in and thus become aimless in an uncoordinated sea of motives.

I’m hoping to establish a view between one proposition, and its negation. That proposition-

The most crucial psychological tool to begin with is to establish specifically what motive enters your psyche and remain fixed on it. Solid example being repeating mantras of simple phrases to yourself picturing your ideal future in present tense, when you wake and before you sleep.

SUMMARY

Is it true that the most crucial psychological tool to begin with is a fixed specific goal- an image of yourself in present tense in morning and night?

How would you work with this tool? What are vital things to know about it?

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Hey Gaia! :smiley:

I certainly think this type of psychological tool could be helpful. I think the primary process through which it would work is the placebo effect. It’s not so much the mantra that has the most direct effect, but the fact that you believe it works. And when it comes to psychological states, there’s very little contrasting a placebo effect from an “authentic” psychological phenomenon - I mean, if you believe some trick is going to make you more confident, and you end up feeling more confident through the placebo effect, then you pretty much are more confident - there’s nothing “fake” about it.

I think you’re right about the dangers of not using it, at least for some people. This phenomenon can work both ways. If you keep telling yourself negative things, even if you think you’re just being honest with yourself or realistic about the world, you can become more and more convinced of it and it can become more and more ingrained (even neurologically hardwired). I used to be like this big-time, and even now it’s difficult for me to pull myself out of my negative thought habbits, but things are a lot better than they used to be.