consistent intensity - looking for "spiritual" answer

[riemann]

Hi,

I'm a graduate student and my work requires great intensity and concentration; however, I can only summon this intensity when confronted by imminent dire consequences. This means that I have one month on and then three months off, then one month on again, and so on. At this rate I'm headed for failure since my overall pace is not nearly fast enough. So the question is: how do I maintain intensity from one month to the next, independent of the level of external stresses?

Systems such as GTD tend to result in reduction of intensity for me, which kills my output since sustained concentration is key for my work (simply putting in the time just doesn't cut it). So I guess I'm looking for a "spiritual" answer to help my perspective on reality during the off months resemble that of my on months. Thanks.

[stephencp]

You're half way there already.
#1 - "... independent of the level of external stresses?" You're beginning to recognize that you need an INTERNAL motivator and not just external drivers. THis is great.
#2 - "At this rate I'm headed for failure since my overall pace is not nearly fast enough." Once you are convinced of this fact, this should serve as a sufficient motivator (guaranteed failure.) Convince yourself that the status quo WILL ABSOLUTELY result in failure and you will change. When you're only one month out and you really believe, things pick up. Really analyze what you're doing (and not doing) and convince yourself equally well that you will fail longterm if you continue to do what you're doing and CHANGE.



Stephen
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[Joel Chue]

I may not be able to provide you a spiritual answer but here's a good
suggestion.

Rely on pain to keep you moving.

"At this rate I'm headed for failure since my overall pace is not nearly fast enough."

Since you know you are heading into impending doom if you continue to work in some irregular cycles, use that as your starting motivation.

Besides having an intellectual understanding that you will fail, you need to understand it EMOTIONALLY as well. Think, feel, visualize what it will be like if you fail. I don't see why this is not a good motivating factor for you.

Last piece of advice: if you don't do something to reduce your irregular cycle of intensity and focus, then you are heading for trouble. Feel the pain that's waiting for you. What would your future hold if you can't break this nasty pattern right here, right now!

[Keith]

The responses so far seem to be a bit fear-based.

I would suggest the opposite approach: figure out how to make study fun. Presumably you're undertaking this course of study because it's a field that interests you. I suggest tapping into that interest that inspired you to take the course in the first place and channel that into your studies.

[Dimitry]

Similar as Keith's question but phrased slightly different: do you like what you're doing?

[AdamKayce]

Keith pointed out a good distinction, which I heard phrased once as,

We are either pulled by motivation, or pushed by fear.

I'm not a huge fan of fear, but it sure does work sometimes. So, why not use both?

1. Set up some external deadlines, in addition to the ones you mentioned. (You could say to a friend, "if I don't show you my work, completed, by Friday, I buy you dinner." Or something similar that works for you...)

2. Find out what your passion is for doing what you do. Write it down, post it on the wall, make a t-shirt out of it, whatever - but remind and reinforce your passions.

And pray. That's always a good one.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by riemann

Hi,

I'm a graduate student and my work requires great intensity and concentration; however, I can only summon this intensity when confronted by imminent dire consequences. This means that I have one month on and then three months off, then one month on again, and so on. At this rate I'm headed for failure since my overall pace is not nearly fast enough. So the question is: how do I maintain intensity from one month to the next, independent of the level of external stresses?

Systems such as GTD tend to result in reduction of intensity for me, which kills my output since sustained concentration is key for my work (simply putting in the time just doesn't cut it). So I guess I'm looking for a "spiritual" answer to help my perspective on reality during the off months resemble that of my on months. Thanks.

Perhaps this is spiritual, it might relate to something Steve writes about, that it is tough to succeed if we are only doing it for ourselves, for our own ego. In his words, our "own satisfaction is very weak motivation." See what I mean? Maybe we need to work for the satisfaction and service of someone or something more than ourselves in order to be "love-centered" and succeed (rather than being failures driven by fears of pain and punishment being inflicted on our limited little egos).

Even more spiritually, you should think about doing meditation and balancing and cleansing your chakras. You might learn a lot about your energy and motivations from that.

Just for example, the feelings I get when I think about my ideal girl is what motivates me. She is no ordinary girl, of course. She has the kindest heart and soul, and she is highly intelligent, motivated, compassionate, caring, and sweet. Sure, she might only exist in my head (subjective reality -- so does everything else, haha), but, hey, it works. When I vividly see her smile and smell her skin, I feel my intensity surge and I can study forever or do anything I have on my list -- I take immediate action, I get totally absorbed in my work, I enjoy it, time doesn't even matter, and I feel unstoppable. It's kind of tough to describe, but for her love I get the urge to achieve and it drives me like a fire. Have you ever read Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, specifically the section about transmuting sexual energy? I can assure you there is something to this.

[JJH]

Great post JJP, makes a lot of sense to me.

Thanks!

[Yev]

When I am procrastinating I find the concept that gives me the best whack on the back of the head with a 2x4 is to remember

"Work hard now, or work hard forever"

Whether you call it spiritual or sub-conscious, when this concept gets through to that level then you will want to get it done.

Also, you must understand why you want to achieve whatever it is that you are working on. Write down all the reasons you want to achieve this goal. As others have noted already, we are sometimes more motivated be avoiding pain than by moving towards joy. So when you write down your "why's", write down the disadvantages of NOT achieving this goal as well of the advantages of actually achieving it. If, when you see all these reasons, you still do not get motivated to work on it then it is the wrong goal for you.