Never to be too serious

Never to be too serious about anything, I really mean it, and this is for your own good.

I have been contemplating about motivation recently (mostly because I have a tendency to procrastinate). If I am seriously pick a time and sit down and do some study, most likely, my brain will be filled with some outlandish day dreams, I will not be able to focus. If I use my feeble will power to glue my butt to the seat, more like than not, I will fall asleep. Tragic, what happened to me, I used to do so well, focused 100% when I was doing homeworks. But now, when I am doing my own research, I cannot focus?!?

The funny thing is if I try to seriously relax and have fun, play games or watch a movie or something, then my mind wonders again, simply cannot focus. Is my brain playing tricks on me, or god is playing a trick on me.

Then it struck me, I should relax, I should let pressure go, and most importantly, think ahead. The reason why homework systems worked is because I was thinking ahead about submitting it and earn praises, the reason why I am motivated to cook 2-3 times a week, is because I am thinking ahead to filling a hungry stomach; and I am writing this blog now, is because I am thinking ahead of sharing my thoughts and revealing a truth about myself. Simply put, all the things we do are means to achieve some ends. Better to keep those ends in minds, rather than treating those means as ends.

And of course, if those ends you keep in mind are too lofty, they don't work. You sitting down to read a paper, you cannot think about this is getting me a job, this is about my retirement plan in 40 years. The ends have to be immidiately realizable, no matter how silly they are.

Keep on thinking about those goals, automatically, I would have an urge to do things to attain those goals. And once those goals are achieved, then I feel gratified and motivated. Remember feelings always come afterwards.

So now, seriously, don't be serious.