What drives you to push yourself?

[油井緋色]

A couple years ago I hit some kind of existential crisis. I even posted a thread here about how everything felt pointless.

The video describes what an existential crisis is without actually defining it.

While I'm out of that really painful state (for now) and understand what drives me, I'm now curious to see how many of you have been in it, what you found when you came out.

I'll share mine later...because it's dark and disturbing lol

Also, keep judgment out of this thread. There is no right or wrong answer for any of this.

 

[POWERMAN]

I turn 34 next year...which means I have around 31 years remaining if I live long enough to hit 65 in 2052.
I've seen what happens to the older men in my family...not exactly pleasant lol...definitely not looking forward to the retirement years (short lived, if even).

 

[油井緋色]

I turn 34 next year...which means I have around 31 years remaining if I live long enough to hit 65 in 2052.
I've seen what happens to the older men in my family...not exactly pleasant lol...definitely not looking forward to the retirement years (short lived, if even).

Hey, we're the same age! lol

 

[jc100]

Eggs bung me up...curries on the other hand.....no need to push.

 

[Trials]

I turn 34 next year...which means I have around 31 years remaining if I live long enough to hit 65 in 2052.
I've seen what happens to the older men in my family...not exactly pleasant lol...definitely not looking forward to the retirement years (short lived, if even).

should be aiming for 80
I want to still be competition riding when I reach 80

 

[Trials]

Oh and what drives you? I honestly think you are born that way, some just have more drive then others.

 

[backmarkerducati]

I think a better question is what motivates you as most people are either driven or not driven based on personality type, and this rarely changes.

Some are motivated by motorcycles, money, power, free time, vacations, drugs..... or become demotivated due to life events or an eventual switch in motivation.

 

[Mad Mike]

Oh and what drives you? I honestly think you are born that way, some just have more drive then others.

I agree somewhat. It's my experience that drive is what pushes people to succeed, resilience is what pushes people through tough times.

I also believe that very few these capabilities naturally, they are learned or cultured.

Kids that had to work, whether it be chores at home, in a family business to get things they wanted and kids that participated in any art/sport/activity that at the highest competition levels often display both capabilities throughout life. Some cultures, some families nurture these into kids through their value systems, this seems to work for drive, not so much for resiliency. If you never learned these in your youth, you can learn later -- but from what I've seen it's a lot harder as you get older.

 

[油井緋色]

I turn 34 next year...which means I have around 31 years remaining if I live long enough to hit 65 in 2052.
I've seen what happens to the older men in my family...not exactly pleasant lol...definitely not looking forward to the retirement years (short lived, if even).

I wrote a program a while back that shows me when I'm gonna die (avg life expectancy of someone of my ethnicity - my age)

At first I tried to represent the data in days. That was too numerous to actually make me feel anything. Then I tried years.....well, that was instant panic. Then I tried weeks and found the panic/despair/urgency it created just right lol

 

[jeff96]

I think lots of people have drive, but for many, it ebbs and flows. Sometimes you can lose it for a while. I've trained for ultramarathons and run 160km in 26 hours. It took years of dedication and hard work to get to that level. I've also had months where it has seemed equally difficult to get out of bed and have a shower.
I've lost my drive for ultramarathons, but I've directed it in a different direction and did an adventure race called the Everglades 300. I'm now building a boat for 'Race to Alaska'. It's a 2 year project and lots of days, I feel like I've taken on too much.
Like many, this time of year is difficult for me. Probably less daylight is a factor, though I believe depression is much more complicated than that. I don't worry about it like I used to. Everything big I've accomplished, I have failed at in the beginning. I'm not a natural athlete. I'm not the smartest or the most motivated. That doesn't really matter. I will fail. I will get back up. I will finish what I set out to do.

Sent from my Redmi 7A using Tapatalk

 

[油井緋色]

I think lots of people have drive, but for many, it ebbs and flows. Sometimes you can lose it for a while. I've trained for ultramarathons and run 160km in 26 hours. It took years of dedication and hard work to get to that level. I've also had months where it has seemed equally difficult to get out of bed and have a shower.
I've lost my drive for ultramarathons, but I've directed it in a different direction and did an adventure race called the Everglades 300. I'm now building a boat for 'Race to Alaska'. It's a 2 year project and lots of days, I feel like I've taken on too much.
Like many, this time of year is difficult for me. Probably less daylight is a factor, though I believe depression is much more complicated than that. I don't worry about it like I used to. Everything big I've accomplished, I have failed at in the beginning. I'm not a natural athlete. I'm not the smartest or the most motivated. That doesn't really matter. I will fail. I will get back up. I will finish what I set out to do.

Sent from my Redmi 7A using Tapatalk

Holy ****, I know what ultras are. That's insane man!

 

[Trials]

I wrote a program a while back that shows me when I'm gonna die (avg life expectancy of someone of my ethnicity - my age)

At first I tried to represent the data in days. That was too numerous to actually make me feel anything. Then I tried years.....well, that was instant panic. Then I tried weeks and found the panic/despair/urgency it created just right lol

Whoever made us already made the program, when you get older everything starts to hurt all the time so by the time you get really old you lose interest in continuing anyway. Assuming something bad doesn't shorten your natural existence.

Lighter is good,
I incorporated and started a small business when I was 22 years old, how old are you that you're worried about life expectancy

 

[油井緋色]

Whoever made us already made the program, when you get older everything starts to hurt all the time so by the time you get really old you lose interest in continuing anyway. Assuming something bad doesn't shorten your natural existence.

Lighter is good,
I incorporated and started a small business when I was 22 years old, how old are you that you're worried about life expectancy

I'm not worried about my life expectancy.

I needed to induce despair in order to act. Accepting that life is truly finite does this.

And most people don't think about this, and rightfully so, because death is normally ******* scary!

 

[bigpoppa]

A couple years ago I hit some kind of existential crisis. I even posted a thread here about how everything felt pointless.

The video describes what an existential crisis is without actually defining it.

While I'm out of that really painful state (for now) and understand what drives me, I'm now curious to see how many of you have been in it, what you found when you came out.

I'll share mine later...because it's dark and disturbing lol

Also, keep judgment out of this thread. There is no right or wrong answer for any of this.

I go through this sort of thing often, was going to make a thread about it, but Im experimenting with CBD oil, it seems to be working so far, still experimenting with the dosage as Im a new user, though it could also be placebo

 

[Trials]

I'm an optimist, I ride motorcycles over scary dangerous terrain and actually believe it is healthy exercise.

Induced despair, that's alcohol, nothing induces despair faster then booze.

 

[jeff96]

I'm an optimist, I ride motorcycles over scary dangerous terrain and actually believe it is healthy exercise.

Induced despair, that's alcohol, nothing induces despair faster then booze.

Toyed with going down that path. It's never worked for anyone

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[Trials]

Toyed with going down that path. It's never worked for anyone

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What path, trials bikes or alcohol?
alcohol is evil.

I go through this sort of thing often, was going to make a thread about it, but Im experimenting with CBD oil, it seems to be working so far, still experimenting with the dosage as Im a new user, though it could also be placebo

... not laughing at your use of the oil one bit but up the THC content if you want it for mood changes.

 

[油井緋色]

I go through this sort of thing often, was going to make a thread about it, but Im experimenting with CBD oil, it seems to be working so far, still experimenting with the dosage as Im a new user, though it could also be placebo

Have you tried therapy or regular reflections?

I've found writing my thoughts out helps a lot. You can logic test your own stuff. Only thing is it becomes unbearably painful and is why therapy is often recommended.

 

[Trials]

Get a dog & walk him lots.
Dog is not just a pet like a gold fish it's a life style, get a dog and you now have a completely changed life style,
lol I guarantee it.

 

[Mad Mike]

I think lots of people have drive, but for many, it ebbs and flows. Sometimes you can lose it for a while. I've trained for ultramarathons and run 160km in 26 hours. It took years of dedication and hard work to get to that level. I've also had months where it has seemed equally difficult to get out of bed and have a shower.
I've lost my drive for ultramarathons, but I've directed it in a different direction and did an adventure race called the Everglades 300. I'm now building a boat for 'Race to Alaska'. It's a 2 year project and lots of days, I feel like I've taken on too much.
Like many, this time of year is difficult for me. Probably less daylight is a factor, though I believe depression is much more complicated than that. I don't worry about it like I used to. Everything big I've accomplished, I have failed at in the beginning. I'm not a natural athlete. I'm not the smartest or the most motivated. That doesn't really matter. I will fail. I will get back up. I will finish what I set out to do.

Sent from my Redmi 7A using Tapatalk

What you are mostly demonstrating as a strength is resilience. The ability to learn, not accept defeat as the end but as a learning opportunity to do better. Resiliency is also shows when something gets old or boring, and you are able to take on a different career or other challenge and succeed.