For every new dev that has asked me for assistance with motivation, I reflexively counter with "it would be better to work on your discipline. Discipline flows where motivations slows". The bonus point here is that what sometimes appears to be discipline is actually well-ingrained habits.
It's generally accepted that an activity you engage in consistently can reasonably become a hyabit somewhere between the 60 and 90 day mark. That is a fantastically short amount of time. Psychology gives us the 21/90 rule of taking 21 days to make a habit, 90 days to make it solid, still within the timeframe. you could begin a practice of reading 1 hour per day everyday starting tonight (8/15) and regardless of how challenging the "start" may be, before Thanksgiving you'll be a regular reader without even thinking about it.
This reminds me of the nature v nurture argument. My take being that regardless of nature, our bodies and more importantly our neural processes are typically flexible enough to adapt to a much wider variety of change than we give ourselves credit for. Growth mindset isn't a Polyanna-ish take on the human condition. Growth mindset is a reflection of our ability through sheer will to grow new capabilities over time. The start of that process is expected to be difficult as those neurons begin firing in ways they haven' before. But over time, what was just a singla yesterday becomes a synaptic connection today.
All to say motivation is great. Discipline is better. Habit is the secret sauce of long-term achievement.
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