Total Consciousness

Chapter-2: Motivation and Fun

Outline of Article:

• The Second Interconnected Question of Consciousness
• Thank you

The Second Interconnected Question of Consciousness:

Why does a person experience low motivation?

     In order to answer this question, I need to introduce a rule from algebra.

The Zero Product Rule:

If a product is zero, then at least one of its factors must be zero.

     Applying this rule to motivation, we have that if motivation is zero or very close to zero, then at least one of its factors: value, expectation or willpower must be zero, or very close to zero. Using symbols, this means that if M = (v)(e)(w) = 0, then at least one of these factors v, e or w must be zero, or be very close to zero in real life.

     To further clarify this concept, consider the following example:

Example: Jim Has a Crush

     Jim has a crush on Sandra, the most attractive girl in his freshman English class in college; and he wants to ask her out on a non-platonic date. However, for the past month, Jim hasn’t been able to ask Sandra out on a date. Moreover, he is saddened because of his lack of action.

     Michael, a close friend of Jim, has intervened and gathered pertinent details, and is working on developing advice for his friend. Using the givens below, follow along as Michael analyzes the situation Jim is in, and helps to develop a plan of action and advice.

Givens:

• Asking Sandra out requires at least 100,000 units of motivation.
• Jim values Sandra’s beauty, physical proportions and character; and he assigns a quantity of 80 out of 100 for v, value, in asking Sandra out.
• Jim has claimed he is willing to do almost anything to convince Sandra to go out with him; and, assigns 91 out of 100 for w, willpower, in asking Sandra out. But, Michael adjusts this value down to 20 after talking with Jim.
• Jim is shy, embarrassed and highly negative over the event of asking Sandra out; and he is overwhelmed with fear. As a result, Michael approximates a numerical quantity of 6.2 out of 100 for, e, expectations in a favorable outcome in asking Sandra out.
• Currently, Jim is at (80)(20)(6.2) = 9,920 units of motivation—not even 10% of the required 100,000 units of motivation required to ask Sandra out.

Advice and Plan of Action:

     Since Jim is exhibiting shyness, embarrassment and a highly negative outlook on the event of asking Sandra out, this points to inner strife within Jim. In particular, he perhaps does not have enough successful accumulated minor events in interacting with women—or in other personal areas of his life.

     In addition, shyness and embarrassment are indicators that Jim may not be fully developing his willpower in life, in general.

     Areas in which willpower may need training, include but are not limited to: exercise for a stronger body; exercise for a more aesthetic appearance; healthy eating habits; a life goal or goals that contribute to society in a positive manner; knowledge and practice in conversations; healthy hobbies; and actual long-term interests in Sandra beyond superficial intentions. Also, Jim must practice accepting that all things in life have a risk and cost factor, especially the better the events are in life. Overall, Jim must accept the practice of moving or acting despite the potential of an unfavorable outcome.

     Furthermore, Jim should spend at least a month, maybe more, working on developing his willpower in order to increase his amount of belief in expecting a better result in asking Sandra out. The areas of improvement include all the areas mentioned above. In addition, Jim needs to practice better general planning and contingency planning. Meaning that, before asking Sandra on a date, Jim needs to: plan out potential date locations, date activities and an overall goal in dating; and consider possible back-up plans just in case.

     The main thing for Jim to consider is that a stronger, well-balanced and overall better person will increase their success in creating meaningful events in life. Otherwise, if Jim continues to deny his honest positive desires in life, then he will practice and develop a debilitating habit of inner dishonesty. Overall, Jim must accept that there are no 100% guaranties in life, especially when involving another’s free-will.

     At this point, I am now able to answer the second interconnected question of consciousness, with respect to motivation and fun.

2. Why does a person experience low motivation?

Since motivation is defined as, M = (v)(e)(w); then by the zero-product rule, when M = 0, then at least v = 0 or e = 0 or w = 0. Alternatively, at least one of these factors may be very close to zero in real life, when M is very close to zero.

Thank You

I appreciate your time in reading my blog post. Next Saturday I will upload the next part of Chapter-2: Motivation and Fun, from my unabridged book on metaphysics, Web of Consciousness: An Interconnected Life.