Why you feel stuck — and how to get motivated - Shannon Odell

00:05:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD3-DKkiVeA

Sintesi

TLDRMany individuals experience a sense of stagnation while working on projects, known as the "stuck in the middle" effect, which arises as focus shifts from initial progress to the distant end goal. To combat this, it’s recommended to divide larger tasks into smaller, more manageable sub-goals, fostering motivation through incremental achievements. Community involvement is also crucial, as it not only provides support and encouragement but also inspires individual actions that contribute to larger societal change. The text underscores that even minor actions, powered by a belief in their impact, can lead to significant progress over time.

Punti di forza

  • 💔 Many feel stuck in the middle of a project, losing motivation as they focus on the end goal.
  • 🎯 Breaking tasks into smaller, achievable sub-goals can help regain motivation.
  • 🤝 Community support fosters inspiration and problem-solving when feeling stuck.
  • 🚀 Individual actions, no matter how small, contribute to larger societal progress.
  • 😡 Moral outrage can unite people towards social causes when harnessed correctly.
  • 🏃‍♂️ Taking any action, even small ones, is crucial to overcoming stagnation.
  • 🔄 A positive feedback loop exists when witnessing others' actions encourages personal efforts.
  • 🔍 The "stuck in the middle" effect can lead to frustration and disengagement.
  • 🕊️ Social issues are complex; individual contributions can create collective momentum.

Linea temporale

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    The feeling of being stuck during projects is common, often resulting from a shift in focus as one nears their goal. While initial progress provides motivation, prolonged effort can lead to frustration if one only considers the distance to the end goal. To combat this, breaking tasks into smaller, achievable sub-goals not only makes the journey feel less daunting but also creates opportunities for celebrating successes. This is particularly crucial in addressing large societal issues, where individual efforts can feel insignificant. Despite feelings of powerlessness and the belief that progress is unattainable, those who maintain confidence in their contributions often stay engaged and motivated. Additionally, moral outrage can fuel collective action, as seen in significant movements like the Civil Rights Movement, where shared anger united diverse groups for a common cause. Collaborating with others not only fosters accountability but also provides inspiration, reinforcing the idea that even small actions—like voting or volunteering—are steps towards greater progress.

Mappa mentale

Video Domande e Risposte

  • What is the "stuck in the middle" effect?

    It refers to a dip in motivation that occurs when progressing toward a goal, causing frustration over the remaining work required.

  • How can one avoid feeling stuck in a project?

    By breaking larger goals into smaller, achievable sub-goals, which creates incremental benchmarks to monitor progress.

  • Do feelings of concern lead to action on social issues?

    Surprisingly, concern alone doesn't guarantee action; confidence in personal impact is also critical.

  • What role does community play in overcoming obstacles?

    Community support can inspire action, provide problem-solving collaboration, and offer encouragement during tough times.

  • How can moral outrage be beneficial?

    It can focus attention on critical issues and unite people in collective action, as seen in historical movements.

  • What is an effective way to initiate progress toward goals?

    Taking any action, even small ones like writing a sentence or making a vote, can help overcome feelings of being stuck.

  • Why do many feel that progress on societal issues is impossible?

    The enormity of issues can lead to a sense of powerlessness, causing disengagement, especially among concerned individuals.

  • What is the psychological basis for feeling stuck in the middle of a project?

    Motivation can wane as the focus shifts from achievements to the daunting end goal.

  • What historical example showcases the power of collective anger?

    The American Civil Rights Movement, where shared anger over injustice galvanized diverse communities for action.

Visualizza altre sintesi video

Ottenete l'accesso immediato ai riassunti gratuiti dei video di YouTube grazie all'intelligenza artificiale!
Sottotitoli
en
Scorrimento automatico:
  • 00:00:07
    You're in the middle of a project when suddenly moving forward seems impossible.
  • 00:00:12
    Maybe you don't know what the next step is.
  • 00:00:14
    Or perhaps you’ve faced setbacks, and you’re starting to think,
  • 00:00:18
    “what’s even the point?”
  • 00:00:20
    Many of us have experienced feeling stuck.
  • 00:00:23
    It can happen when tackling something as simple as a term paper,
  • 00:00:27
    or as monumental as social inequality or the climate crisis.
  • 00:00:32
    So, are there ways to get unstuck?
  • 00:00:34
    People often report feeling highly motivated
  • 00:00:37
    at the start and end of a project,
  • 00:00:40
    but the middle can feel untethered.
  • 00:00:43
    Psychologists call this the “stuck in the middle” effect,
  • 00:00:46
    and it’s thought to be caused by a shift in perspective that happens
  • 00:00:49
    as you move closer to your goals.
  • 00:00:51
    When you start working towards something, any progress can feel like a win,
  • 00:00:56
    as we tend to compare ourselves against where we started.
  • 00:00:59
    For example, when someone starts training for a marathon,
  • 00:01:02
    accomplishing even a short jog can feel motivating.
  • 00:01:06
    But the longer you work on something,
  • 00:01:08
    the more likely it is that your focus shifts to your end goal.
  • 00:01:13
    In other words, rather than seeing how far you've come,
  • 00:01:17
    it’s easy to become frustrated by how far you still need to go.
  • 00:01:21
    A simple way to avoid these motivational sinkholes is to break your pursuits
  • 00:01:26
    into smaller, more achievable sub-goals.
  • 00:01:29
    This creates less daunting, incremental benchmarks to compare your progress to.
  • 00:01:34
    It also creates more opportunities to celebrate wins along the way.
  • 00:01:39
    This is especially important when working towards bigger societal goals.
  • 00:01:45
    These issues are, by nature, large-scale and complex—
  • 00:01:49
    no single action or person is likely to solve them.
  • 00:01:52
    So if you only focus on the end goal, it’s easy to feel personally powerless.
  • 00:01:58
    And the enormity of these problems may be why so many people,
  • 00:02:02
    including those who care deeply about the issues,
  • 00:02:05
    think that progress is impossible, leading them to disengage.
  • 00:02:10
    In fact, one 2021 global survey of young people
  • 00:02:14
    found that over half believe humanity is doomed.
  • 00:02:18
    But despite these obstacles,
  • 00:02:20
    some people do manage to stay motivated, engaged, and unstuck.
  • 00:02:26
    So, how do they do it?
  • 00:02:28
    Surprisingly, it’s not all about how concerned you are
  • 00:02:32
    or how much you care about the issue in front of you.
  • 00:02:34
    For instance, research has found that among those who feel the most alarmed
  • 00:02:38
    about climate change,
  • 00:02:40
    only about a third take regular climate action.
  • 00:02:43
    However, a unifying factor among those who do take action
  • 00:02:48
    is the confidence that their personal involvement could make a difference.
  • 00:02:52
    And this belief isn't misguided.
  • 00:02:55
    The long history of social progress proves that change is possible.
  • 00:02:59
    And individual actions— whether it’s volunteering, voting, protesting,
  • 00:03:03
    or personally contributing to a communal goal—
  • 00:03:06
    are key to building the collective momentum
  • 00:03:09
    that has tackled seemingly impenetrable issues.
  • 00:03:13
    It’s not to say that concern and passion have no place.
  • 00:03:16
    Moral outrage, or anger, can help us focus on what’s at stake.
  • 00:03:21
    And when it’s correctly harnessed, outrage can be a powerful unifier.
  • 00:03:25
    In the American Civil Rights Movement, shared anger over systemic racism,
  • 00:03:30
    injustice, and violence against Black people
  • 00:03:33
    galvanized diverse communities to work together in the fight for equality.
  • 00:03:37
    And bringing together people of different backgrounds and mindsets
  • 00:03:41
    is essential to building longevity and resilience in any movement.
  • 00:03:45
    In this way, thinking about how you can apply your own unique perspective,
  • 00:03:49
    knowledge, and expertise to promoting change can be helpful.
  • 00:03:54
    And finding community has plenty of other benefits.
  • 00:03:57
    Just witnessing other people at work has been shown to motivate personal action,
  • 00:04:01
    creating a positive feedback loop.
  • 00:04:04
    Collaboration can help you better problem solve
  • 00:04:07
    when you’re unsure what the next step is.
  • 00:04:09
    And the support and encouragement of others
  • 00:04:11
    can serve as a source of inspiration and joy
  • 00:04:14
    if you’re feeling exhausted, defeated, or stuck.
  • 00:04:18
    The path to conquering any goal is long and bound to hit sticking points.
  • 00:04:23
    Often, the best way to get unstuck is just to take any action,
  • 00:04:26
    no matter how small or imperfect the outcome.
  • 00:04:30
    Progress starts with writing that next sentence, running that extra mile,
  • 00:04:34
    or even casting that vote to build a better future.
Tag
  • motivation
  • goal-setting
  • community support
  • social change
  • mental health
  • psychology
  • progress
  • individual action
  • collective momentum
  • staying engaged