The Real Reason You Never Follow Through (And How to Fix It)

Summary

This video explains the challenges of following through on tasks and introduces the concept of 'urge surfing' to overcome them. It contrasts disciplined individuals who maintain willpower with those who lose excitement over time. The key idea is to recognize cravings as temporary urges, which can be resisted by 'surfing' through them, rather than using forceful willpower. This technique, used in addiction treatment, helps individuals tolerate the urge to switch tasks, leading to greater consistency and focus. The video encourages viewers to apply this method to various areas of life.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video aims to teach viewers how to follow through with their goals and commitments.
• 🏋️‍♂️ It contrasts disciplined individuals who consistently follow through with those who struggle due to lack of willpower.
• 🎯 The speaker introduces a technique called 'urge surfing' to help manage the mind's tendency to seek new stimuli and get bored easily.
• 🧠 Understanding the mind's natural curiosity and its development of tolerance to stimuli is crucial for following through.
• 🌊 'Urge surfing' is a method used in addiction psychiatry to help individuals resist cravings, which can be applied to overcoming procrastination.
• 🍕 The mind's cravings for immediate gratification, like pizza, can be managed by not giving in, leading to the mind getting bored and moving on.
• 🛑 The video emphasizes that the difficulty in following through is often due to the mind craving other activities rather than the task at hand.
• 💡 It suggests that noticing the urge to switch tasks is the first step in managing that urge, which is a form of craving.
• 🔁 The speaker encourages viewers to 'surf' on top of the urge, tolerating it without giving in, which can lead to a return to the original task.
• 🌱 The video concludes by highlighting that urge surfing is a skill that can be developed over time, and viewers have already practiced it by watching the video to the end.

Q & A

What are the two main groups of people discussed in the video?

The two main groups are disciplined people who follow through with their commitments and lazy people who tend to lose excitement and fail to maintain their efforts.

Why do people struggle with follow-through, according to the speaker?

People struggle with follow-through because their mind develops a tolerance to the current activity and craves something else, leading them to lose interest and switch tasks.

What is 'urge surfing,' and how is it relevant to following through on tasks?

Urge surfing is a technique used in addiction psychiatry where a person notices a craving and learns to ride it out without giving in. It's relevant to follow-through because it helps people manage the cravings to switch tasks and stay focused.

How does the speaker explain the mind's natural curiosity and tolerance?

The mind is naturally curious and gets excited about new things. However, it also develops tolerance to stimuli, meaning that over time, the excitement fades, whether it's related to a task, food, or entertainment.

Why does willpower often fail when trying to follow through with tasks?

Willpower fails because it involves forcing the mind to do something it doesn't want to do, leading to a mental struggle. This is unsustainable in the long run as the mind craves other activities.

How does the speaker suggest managing the mind’s cravings for other activities?

The speaker suggests using the technique of urge surfing, where one notices the craving, resists acting on it, and waits for it to pass, allowing the mind to naturally return to the original task.

What role do dopamine and boredom play in following through with tasks?

Dopamine fuels initial excitement when starting new tasks, but over time, the mind develops tolerance, leading to boredom. The key to follow-through is managing this boredom without switching to another task.

Why does the speaker believe that cravings, no matter how intense, can eventually fade?

Cravings can fade because the mind gets bored of wanting something over time, just as it gets bored of stimuli like food or activities. This natural tendency can be leveraged through urge surfing.

How can people with strong cravings begin using urge surfing?

People with strong cravings can start by focusing on smaller, more manageable cravings rather than trying to tackle the biggest ones right away. As they practice, their ability to manage stronger cravings will improve.

What does the speaker encourage listeners to notice about their own mind while watching the video?

The speaker encourages listeners to notice any desire to switch off the video and recognize that this is a craving. By resisting this urge, they are already practicing urge surfing.