Psychological stagnation / Passive decline

If you don’t have anything significant to look forward to, you stop being happy.

For example, when you just sign a client who pays you a big sum of money. Or the excitement of the first time sex with someone you really really really really like, or the date with your ex that you have been waiting for for months.

That thing that melts your heart with joy.

If you have low confidence, you won’t have good things to look forward to.

As a result, you start to go backward because there’s nothing good ahead and you believe what you had was the best you could get.

Your face gets longer, despair becomes your reality, and you realize, "This is my life... as good as it gets, maybe one day in the future a miracle happens but it's very unlikely." You start to complain, become isolated, and pick up some addiction. Not every addiction is taboo in US culture, by the way. Many people run on alcohol, catastrophic relationships, or thought addiction, and no one sees that as wrong.

Do you see where we are going with this? This is just a message for you to do a quick audit and evaluation of where you are.

What do you have to look forward to? Not in next 3 years. I am talking next month.

What is that thing you can’t wait to happen and you know it will happen this month?

If you don’t have it, it’s ok but you have to design it for yourself.

You’re mixing the two biggest sources of dopamine: the vision (that thing you’re looking forward to that’s coming in the next few weeks) + progress toward it. That combination is the most powerful source of positive dopamine.

I don’t know what rocks your boat. On a superficial level: money, women, things, success, business. On a deeper level: doing something meaningful, like giving $3K worth of clothes, food vouchers, and shelter for a month to someone in need.

When you have money, it’s easier. I’ve been broke and had money—you can’t compare.

Go back to the main framework: vision, strategy, plan, execute (time-boxed).

If you want ideas, ask.

No one will do this for you. It’s on you. This is the framework.