smh... student motivation hints: Recent Episodes
Mitchell Rutherford
are you shaking your head when you know you should be getting stuff done? you think it's your fault? smh... it's not your fault! motivation is not easy, BUT! YOU can do it! subscribe and listen to get some hints to be the best version of yourself you've always wanted to be!
been a while since i recorded, but back at it! we are the species that tells stories. our entire culture and societies are built on ideas based in stories. if you look at it, how you view yourself is also just one big story. and stories can change.
what if you thought about nothing? are you in control of your thoughts? are you responsible for your thoughts
to find the right change, to make the right choices, takes time, stillness, patience, and focus
struggling pretty bad right now, but is that even a bad thing? something to escape? do i even need to understand it?
i had this thought the other day: all of a sudden, there is so much time. rushing is a disease of our society and culture, there are SO MANY MINUTES in every day. notice which moments ripple positive vibes to the other minutes and hours, and which rocks ripple negatively in your life lake
do you enjoy practicing hard things? perhaps the hardest thing is knowing yourself, and being honest with yourself, completely, and deeply. who are you?
do you want to change? do you want to change someone else? everything changes. that's the law of the universe, right there next to love :) <3
yes, i mean it. mistakes are the ESSENCE of learning! you cannot grow or learn if you do not make mistakes. so step on- tell yourself it's ok!! step 2, start asking questions to find out WHY, AND HOW, and then step 3: find the right fix!!
today was difficult, our lives move so fast, there's so much happening, so much to do, so much to think about, meditation is the antidote. the quick reset to balance out
do you need to practice focus, cultivate compassion, or experience more awe? join me on a tour of 3 different types of meditation: focus on breath, loving kindness, and mindfulness meditation.
life is not about perfection, and nothing in life is bad. all you can develop is a healthier mindset as a tool to reframe anything to helpful!
life can be complicated in good ways and bad ways, and as simple as a calming, deep, breath. also, near the end a youtube ad pops up and we meditate right through it! 1st one of the new school year
2nd day of a new school year, growth mindset allows you to change who you are by identifying with your actions, your effort
we are habitual creatures, we get in positive routines, and negative ruts. but when we break it down and realize what is addicting, and that our brain can be REWIRED, we have the power to change ANYTHING
I haven't been my best, but perfection is not possible, not for me at least, not if you're human! But there are ways to accept, to learn, to love, to find the root of the problem and learn how to face your faults with compassion so that you can actually grow in the way you want. and it feels SO MUCH BETTER than just judging and hating and regretting...
complaining and whining can be done correctly, as long as you don't follow it up with actions. we all need to release and vent in a variety of ways, and that can be productive if it doesn't leave you more negative, or stuck. see things for what they really are- and make sure feelings are separated from actions
education is the key to changing whatever you dislike about your life right now. SWEAR. it's not supposed to be easy or fair, but if you want control and freedom in life, it all comes from education.
at the end of a tough week, we have 1 month of school left. 80% of life is doing stuff you don't want to do, so SHIFT gears, it's game time. if you want TRUE freedom you will tackle your responsibilities.
we have an issue in our society where people think they are supposed to be completely independent otherwise they are weak. STRENGTH is being SMART enough to know when and WHO to ask for help
no one is supposed to rely on their brain alone all the time, and no one successful or happy does!! surrounding yourself with people, books, podcasts, quotes, pictures, art, planners, notes etc all help you remember who you are every day, and what you have to do, and what you're doing it for!! This is simple brain science. use it to your advantage cuz you're SMART not to be completely on your own independent isolated (that sucks!! and doesn't work!)
do you procrastinate by cleaning or organizing?? Listen, you gotta know yourself and know if that's what you need to do to be productive, but stopping to reflect on all your physical space and organize it, especially if you don't do it very often like me, can be a SUPER investment in your productivity moving forward.
when a student makes an amazing transformation I GOTTA KNOW WHY AND HOW?!?! here's some tips on exactly how it can happen!!
you know i just realized i actually have practiced smiling when bad things happen so much for the last 3 months that i now do it AUTOMATICALLY!! yeah, i used to think smiling was lame, overrated, and silly. for years i was held back by this belief, but i started trying it cuz it LITERALLY changes your brain chemistry and wiring, and you know what, i practiced it SO many times (cuz we know a lot of stuff goes wrong all day err day) that now when i hear something tuff, get triggered or feel emotional, i just crack a lil smile. and you know what? IT HELPS. don't believe me? i DARE YOU to try it
what if life really is as simple as a deep breath and a smile? do you wish it was? what's the secret...?
life is full of difficulties, struggles, suffering, dissatisfaction, can buddhism help us understand how to handle the most difficult things? acceptance is difficult, but through simple daily practice, we see slow changes
when i take a vacation to San francisco and LosAngeles, i miss my students! coming back sick and stressed reminds me why i do this, why i love this, and how it feels for students to be absent, stressed, or sick
the house of happiness is built slowly, steadily, by focusing on good things in life. negative things will always be there, ugly things tend to steal our attention very easily, BUT how can you fill your bag by focusing on more beautiful things?
freedom can be a choice, just like imprisonment. whether you listen to yourself, or those around you, can make you feel trapped in your thoughts, unable to make the choices that are truly good for you...
why do people avoid doing the right things they KNOW are good for them and they plan on, and do the things that aren't right or helpful?!?! simple: comfort, energy conservation. simple solution: love yourself, and accept that things are hard. stop wasting energy fighting, and GET DOWN TO IT.
the audio is unbalanced in this episode because moses was talking from his feet, and GENIUS ensues. forgive the varying levels of sound, i thought we got some SERIOUS knowledge from him it's well worth the volume changes.
thoughts are a funny thing... your brain generates way more of them that we can make sense of, but can we practice turning it off?
with this conversation, rutherford and Moses talk to 5th period and arrive at the 2 types of happiness, a wild and meaningful tangent.
there are so many things that make our lives rich, if we look for them. money is fake, yet useful, but experiences with loved ones and simple things we are lucky to have can help us cultivate gratitude in small ways that build and build...
recently i've been trying to let nature give me what i need, and learning to be the student in nature...
this is a very important episode to me, i had rough day and by the end of this meditation I actually lost myself and my words, if you listen close you can hear me not quite making sense at the end. at some point, words fail :)
listen in to the second episode of Moses sharing his life journey with Rutherford in class. ENJOY!
In this series, rutherford presents classroom conversations with Moses. Each period is different and enriching; ENJOY!
find a quiet place to sit still, in silence, with your eyes and mouth closed, maybe with soft meditation music playing. enjoy :)
distractions are everythwere, and it's not our fault! Focus takes work, patience, practice, and time to develop, just like any muscle. Try it, develop it, strengthen it, and you will feel stronger, more in control, and successful!
2 chicas staying after school to get caught up on work delve into the power of communicating with people that care about them to avoid stress building up into paralyzing overwhelm
trying to figure out what the true cause of not getting stuff done, because there are different solutions depending on the barrier. The first most important thing will be to focus on your successes instead of your failures, but what we can learn from our failures needs to come with self-compassion, patience, practice
comparisons are usually negative and demotivating, so we need to become aware of them and avoid them. other people lead other lives, and we need to make our own unique goals and habits regardless of other people in different situations. HOWEVER, comparisons to role models and positive friends can be incredibly motivating and inspiring the changes you know are good for you.
discussing why happiness and positivity is at the root of new habits and behavior change. we've evolved NEGATIVE EMOTIONS to stay alive, but once we get past that and life is not threatened, negative emotions hold us back... so how can we find and use positive emotions instead??
Chasing the sweetness of success can motivate us to conquer harder and harder challenges. Allow yourself to become addicted to the process, the journey, the grind of hard work to achieving something difficult and meaningful.
This dude has one of the fullest schedules i know, and he's never stressed... how does he do it?
think about it, everybody hates being bored... so the solution is pressure, stress, challenges!! As humans we WANT to use our brains, we CRAVE stimulation, which we get in school! Just remember that life is always a balance, always moving in waves from boredom to challenges back and forth. Can you enjoy both??
feeling very lucky to have this group of positive, hard working students showing up open and ready to go.
beginnings are always full of excitement and enthusiasm, but obviously things will come up that will be hard, and affect this positivity. But how can we respond faster to give ourselves a fresh start whenever we feel we need it??
a podcast can be a journal, just the act of saying it out loud rewires my brain and allows me to gain control of a negative feeling. with so many people and students going through mental health issues that affect their motivation, i feel it's very important to share my personal struggles not so we can all just complain and stay stuck, but so that we can find solutions to becoming OURSELVES again. because negativity is not your fault, it's not permanent, and there is always a way out. Journaling and podcasting is great, but the second i shared this struggle with my students i felt significantly better, and many of them explicitly showed a lot of compassion that actually changed me. The more you share your struggles with caring people around you, the faster you can go back to being YOURSELF, the happiest most motivated version of yourself.
for the first ever appreciation day, i had no idea what i was doing. I knew something was wrong and i have been feeling awful for about a week and a half and I decided to show some gratitude and recognition to the students that inspire me to be better every day. turns out, what i've been reading is really true: when you care about others and show kindness and thankfulness, it actually rewires your brain and can heal the body too. that's why we do thoughtful thankful thursdays. in some small way, i need every day to be appreciation day
this week has been an unbelievable struggle for me, and I have used this podcast as mu journal to keep me motivated and reminded of why i do what i do, and how to do it best. compassion. I have been learning about this through books on mindfulness and podcasts on buddhism, and i really want to share it. when you truly seek to understand how and why someone is acting the way that they are, approaching everyone around you with kindness and compassion, it not only relaxes your brain and makes your interactions with that person better, it also helps you become a better person too. because it's working for me in my toughest times, i can only recommend that more of the world practice more compassion in both their interactions with others, and also just as importantly, with themselves.
after this interview the student told me the best thing i ever told him was "instead of problems focus on solutions". Well in this interview we dig deep into the problems to understand how he came to spiral down into skipping class for weeks and filling his days with sleep and video games. and THEN how he took small steps to turn his life around and be himself again, where i now have seen him day after day making himself happier through organized work. I am so proud of the reflections and mindfulness that he has practiced that allow him to learn about his struggles and notice what truly makes him happy. I thank him during and after the recording of this pod for his inspiration, because his transformation is what encourages me to continue to work harder and harder to believe in all students and support them in their journey to learn about themselves, their happiness, their motivation, and improvement.
When I'm stuck and procrastinating, my mind is swirling and overwhelmed, sometimes the first step is just talking about it! journaling is a version of this, an opportunity to get your ideas out of your head so you can undesrtand them, sort them out. Talking is best done with a teacher, mentor, or loved one, but it also works with dogs, cats, and mirrors. ALSO! The benefit of naming your feelings and emotions allows you to take back control as your understand what you're feeling.
a reflection on why it's so important to actually meet and talk with your peers in person!!
somethings are hard, they require concentration and time and patience for your brain to figure it out. RELAX, not everything is easy and fast and decisive actions. if your strength is moving fast and acting, great, but you need to work on your weakness of being able to slow down and SIT down if some tougher decision or task comes in front of you. this is the process of living and learning about yourself, enjoy it.
FREAK OUT, relax, get to work. when you get bad news or upsetting unexpected information about your grades, tests, assignments, there are many steps you take to get to the point where you feel proud of the work you've accomplished. but how many unneccessary steps do you have in your routine, and how can you minimize those?
J cole taught us this, and we know it's true. we feel so much better when we do the right things, and stop doing the wrong things. you can do BOTH at the same time, literalyl rebuilding and rewiring your brain to the right choices, away from the bad habits. you can do it today, right now. stop feeling shame, fear, and sorry for yourself. it's ok to fail in the past, now it's time to grow better.
this dude just spits wisdom and motivation for 15 straight minutes. and trust me its working, he is one of the most positive and motivated students i've ever had.
this student inspires me. all of them do, but this one truly showed me that it's possible for a person to notice within themselves a desire to change because they want to be happier, more motivated. she chose to change her influences, and truly i can confirm is one of the most positive students i see at the start of every school day. even when she is absent she doesn't get discouraged. find out her secret and take the advice, this is one influencer you want to be influenced by.
amazing transformation coming from this 5th period kid whose dad is sitting him down at the kitchen to get his work done. We all need helpful reminders from friends, teachers, podcasts, and parents! avoiding work, not knowing where to start, and feeling bad about failing is all SO NORMAL. but you don't have to stay there, use the help around you and you will feel so much better once you become the better version of yourself: productive. #workpride
anxiety comes from thinking to much what you need is ACTION. working is the definition of productivity, and the progress of doing something is what gets us past the stage of worrying. if you are thinking and planning, that is a version of work that can be very helpful, but just worrying and having negative stressful thoughts is a state of fear that is supposed to activate our fight or flight response- so don't FREEZE, it's time to fight, or fly, but those are actions! get to work and notice how much better you feel
bad days happen, we have to expect it and not worry about them when they happen. listen to my reflections on how to make sure a bad day doesn't turn into a bad week
when you are living your best life, write it down! you want to have written and concrete reminders of your most positive, proud, motivated version of yourself to look back at for the rest of your life. you already know everything you need and should do, you are all you've wanted to become, you just need to spend more time there, be able to pull that mindset out more often
procrastinating is a useful skill you need to master if you want it to work for you. Most humans operate better under this kind of pressure, but you have to notice whether you are avoiding work, or whether you are warming up to crank it out last minute. procrastination is NOT avoiding work or putting it off indefinitely. procrastination is NOT for everyone, but if you feel it works for you, work WITH it, understand yourself- KNOW YOURSELF.
the environment that you cultivate around you is grown by planting seeds that will remind you who you want to be and what you want to do. if your social media and friends, family and journals, phone and pictures and notebooks and sticky notes are all positive and motivated, they will carry you always. we all need reminders, you cannot force yourself to make the right decisions at all times, so grow your garden of positive reminders so that you are surrounding yourself with an environment that will make you happy, proud, productive
on the last test i asked students "how would you like to feel about your grades by the end of the school year?" and as i read through the answers i got HELLA inspired: everyone wants to feel proud. by improving and working hard we end up feeling less stressed, more calm, and happier when we know we did our best. #workpride
when you are in the place, things just happen. missing school sucks and everyone knows it. i'm not telling you because i think so, i know being absent sucks because everyone complains about it, and hates catching up. So most of the battle is won by simply choosing to go to school (the way society was designed) but then what if you aren't actually HERE to HEAR what's happening in class/life? the second battle to win the war is actually listening, paying attention, and SHOWING UP TO PLAY. it's not enough for an athlete to just go to practice or a game, you have to actually PLAY TO WIN. uh oh... another idea for a podcast :)
SOS HELP, we need to get the message out: help is GOOD. asking for help, seeking help, recognizing when you need help and GETTING help is the smartest thing you can do for yourself. people who isolate themselves and take on too much by themselves are almost always struggling worse, and not in a good way... you like helping other people, so why not help yourself? you like helping other people, they will like helping you too!! asking for help doesn't make you weak, it makes you SMART.
no really, what is it? I am no master of mindfulness, but i have been practicing and studying for a while and wanted to answer the question as best as i could for a curious 5th period kid. if you're curious, try it, and go looking for more answers and experiences yourself. trust me- it's the way to go
some days i feel exhausted, some days i feel energized. Some kids make amazing changes and improvements, some are still lost in frustrating refusal and negativity. I AM HERE FOR IT. ALL OF IT. this career is not for money, it is my contribution to the world, and the fact that I stumbled into this job where i get to inspire students to find as much purpose and happiness as i have teaching is UN. REAL. AND i get to teach you all about how life started on this freakin PLANET and your life and how your bodies work and how to rewire your brain to be positive and motivated. WOW. YES. PLZ.
recorded this one at home 2 days before a mind blowing podcast by a PhD researcher who wrote a book by the SAME TITLE. I'm not making this stuff up, there are clinical studies proving how to rewire your brain and make unbelievable changes to your mind, your life, your perspective. but it's only unbelievable if you don't believe it... if you try to make changes you will actually feel that it works. this is my mission in life as a teacher
after a long day with a few students who are not making the right choices, here's one who's completely turned around. what's COOLEST is that he is now happier, more motivated, productive, focused, inspired, and did i mention HAPPIER?!? This kid and all the others who make changes is the reason i love teaching so much, to see students make amazing changes for the better. This gives me hope and a positive focus for all those struggles I am engaged in because EVERY student is worth it. EVERY student can make a change.
Inspired by a 1st period discussion I had recently where we argued over the usefulness of money, but the ultimate disconnect between deep, true, long lasting happiness. listen in to hear what I think is actually your source of true happiness, and reflect on your own life to see where yours lies
Javi is trying to get his grades up for basketball... or maybe for his mom, or maybe for college so he can study something he doesn't even know yet! His mom taught him to work hard and always improve, and he has been doing that all year. I push him a lot, and I'm really proud of the changes he's made.
I have to remind myself to not be frustrated or stressed with kids who haven't made the right changes yet because there are SO MANY who have, and more and more changing every day. I'm so excited to see the improvements and watch kids grow and develop because that's what all living things do, FOR A LIVING. and if this podcast or anything else i do can influence that change, i'mma die happy knowing I made a positive change in the world.
These two freshman girls just met this semester, and they are making huge changes so they can make a better future because they don't want to stress and struggle. One is new to sahuaro and the other had a bad 1st semester, but their future looks super positive because they know if you surround yourself with motivated people, life is so much better, and success is easier! Very proud of these two
sitting down with the hardest working runner i've never taught, we talk about how failing calculus in college twice didn't defeat him because of his experience on the cross country team. Listen in as we dive into his methods for keeping his long term motivation and grind up no matter what obstacles life throws, how to stay driven for YEARS. this 2 hour interview could have easily gone for another 2, we finish with some radical thoughts on how the whole education system could be improved. truly one of the greatest conversations i've had, well worth the time.
you can choose to lower and raise your cortisol and adrenaline with your sympathetic nervous system to perform when you need to, the question is, how high to raise those hormones? how long do you need to perform? and can you view this stress as excitement with a positive perspective? stress isn't bad if you know how to PLAY with it
i've never seen this student this stressed. she's usually so happy, motivated, and positive, so i had to investigate. turns out she CHOSE all of these responsibiblties, and she knows they are all good things! but... we have to deal with the negative feelings. by the end of our chat, she had vented and identified the root of the problem and left with a smile and some relief but most importantly: A PLAN OF ACTION.
these awesome girls inspire me SO MUCH they don't even know... some of the most dedicated girls know how to improve their life with structure and schedules, but they're worried it'll be boring? listen here as they search for some solutions to make their lives even better, dropping all sorts of wisdom and encouragement for each other and for everyone listening.
5th period raised my adrenaline today, and not in the good way. sympathetic nervous system stress raises your heart rate in a fight or flight situation that threatens life, but in school there is no threat to life, so when students fight me, i fight back. BUT THIS IS WRONG, i need to be sympathetic to the stress you feel and teach you that there is another type of GOOD stress, good adrenaline that is exciting and enjoyable. this enthusiasm for education makes everyone here on this learning team happier and more successful.
when his parents stepped in he had 9 missing assignments, but most of his other classes are boring. when your dad is a basketball coach, of course ball is life, so bryce is working on specific drills to learn to play with his left hand. He holds himself to a higher standard than just D's, and his goal in life is to be able to do whatever he wants like his grandma.
establishing good habits can be hard, but there is a formula, and it's WORTH it. when this student started getting their work done they learned that having good habits and getting stuff done feels SO GOOD. your parents are proud of your accomplishments and so are you, but ultimately you become able to change your life however you want through habits, and the reward is feeling you are proud and in control of your achievement.
amazing academic performance with daily skilled habits can be fueled by a long term goal, and all of them can make you happy. but are you motivated by happiness, or habits, or goals...
What does outrageous curiosity have to do with being squished? When your family instills strength and confidence, you become unstoppable in pursuing your dreams.
When your parents teach you mindfulness and AVID teaches you growth mindset, you don't let failures hold you down. Listen to this student show some serious love to her mom and explain why she likes the pressure of difficult classes.
This basketball player knows failure is temporary, something to fix. He also learned from his family that education is the key to a good. The friends around him are fun, but distracting sometimes and he has learned to not let his team down he needs to move to a different seat in class. Smart actions
Perhaps one of my most important episodes ever. From a great conversation I had with AP biology today. Money is fake, but it is also useful. What basic needs do you need to buy in order to pursue true happiness in life?
5th period today was unbelievable. Listen in to my reflections as I try to understand why my students continued to distract themselves by overreacting as if defending from threats like anaphylactic allergic response to a perceived threat. But this is the world and the culture they are drowning in here in 2022. This allows me to marvel, and laugh at the absurdity of it all, but also to be compassionate for the diseases students suffer from.
Agreement and positivity are twins. Being happy comes from accepting what is in your life, what is good in your life. How are you saying no to the things you know are good for you? How can you say yes to more of the good stuff that makes you better, happier, more productive?
Addictions are not your fault, but you need to know how to control the most powerful drug destroying our lives today: cell phones. apps are designed to be addicting, they pull you away from relationships, success, and true long-term happiness. How can you get this drug out of your life every day at specific times to be a happier, better version of yourself?
Are you joining a team to work towards the same goal, or are you competing with your teachers, family, bosses, and classmates? Are you resisting the cooperation of good teamwork by rejecting responsibilities, or are you thankful to have teammates that have your best interest in mind?
What if you could treat all the challenges of life as a fun opportunity to win, to compete, to play around and learn from failure to try again and again. Games are not always won, but you keep playing and you don't give up, and you have FUN too! What if all aspects of life could be like this?
words matter. when we use the word SMART, we usually say someone is smart... it implies a fixed mindset, that talent matters more than effort: DEAD WRONG. we can live and GROW with a growth mindset when we understand actions, behaviors, habits, decisions are SMART. find the smart strategies, the smart skills, and start ACTIONS you take to improve. use the word smart correctly to change your beliefs.
learning is repetition, this is the way of living things. do it more and more and eventually it becomes memorized, habit. reminders are necessary for all people all the time, so give yourself reminders, look for them, find the people that remind you, the things that remind you to be positive, motivated, productive, BETTER.
i assumed this kid was just always productive and positive, turns out she's MADE her life great from her own hard work and EFFORT. Sports taught her the benefit of failure and power of teamwork. AND TO ENJOY CHALLENGES???
So proud of this transformation, he's making huge changes because he realized that slacking off and catching up is really stressful, and being busy with success is much better. Amon has made massive changes by working with a partner and deciding not to make his mom mad.
making changes for yourself is the best feeling in the world. amberly comes on the pod to talk about her amazing transformation, and how focusing on the positives keeps her motivated. also! having partners to keep you accountable makes everything easier, and more fun. truly one of my most inspiring student success stories.
When you are playful and curious in low stakes scenarios, you are learning, growing. As a beginner, a student, you are accepting failures and learning because you recognize perfection is overrated. By cultivating a playful mindset with everything in life, you get better at viewing all things with a growth mindset. Rewiring your brain to allow for more and more rewiring means you can do anything, and have fun while doing it. this just might be the secret.
Listen in for a personal and honest update with a student who knows her weaknesses and WORKS on them! No one has to be at their best 24/7, but the more you communicate with the people you work with (teachers!) the better the relationship can be for everyone!
your mind is money, spend it wisely, because you become what you pay attention to. What you CHOOSE to PAY attention to is an investment in future you. you have control if you choose to take it.
This student is at a low point due to absence, but she's really good at catching up. in fact, she LOVES the feeling of being productive. But how can she make sure she is PROUD of herself for the amazing work she is doing? and how is dopamine impacting her life...
checking in again with this dude cuz he has made some SERIOUS moves in the right direction, in fact I'll call it a 180. youtube videos and grandpa's mattresses turn out to be pretty big inspiration, listen in for some seriously motivating words.
This is the longest episode by far, and for a reason. Words cannot express how important and impactful this person is to me. Listen in.
These teammates are quite different, and each one helps the other in this game called life, with their jobs called being productive students! And doesn't it feel good?? Find how these two balance responsibilities and seek to address the struggles in school.
When you NOTICE what you are doing and the causes of your emotions and actions you begin the process of making the positive changes you want in life. This is the concept borrowed from cognitive behavioral therapy that puts YOU and your brain in charge of your life!
practicing basketball for 4 hours a day, inspired by his mother to always get it done and WORK for what you want in life, listen in to this episode with a student that knows how to work AND relax.
Two of the best TA's I've ever had sit down to discuss how their families and sports shaped their work ethic and leadership. These two are going places, and they have some very simple habits that keep them positive and grinding no matter what.
when you reconnect with a former student who has made HUGE growth, the conversation is filled with dopamine. listen in as I check in on the progress of this inspired journalist honestly open up about his growth and fixed mindset.
This teacher is one of my greatest inspirations and collaborators, he and I bounce radical ideas about revolutionizing education with a complete reimagining of what it means to learn, do science, and teach the next generation.
understanding how and why our genes have brought us to be HARD WIRED to be lazy can help us overcome those lazy urges.
when you're driven and hard working and successful, what could you possibly still have to work on that's MORE IMPORTANT? listen to this episode to see how this family and future motivated student needs to create an automatic habit for the future.
You have NO IDEA how many amazing jobs there are out there that fit your passion! Listen as I discuss how school gives you options and how to explore your passions and introspectively discover your SOFT skills to find what's meaningful and inspiring for you. Then in the end, Halley explains how she balances work and rest, a necessary soft skill acquired through more self-examination.
this lifelong coffee drinking puerto-rican learned how to write with his left hand in ONE WEEK because he likes going fast. and because of that, he just might be the next elon musk. listen in to this incredible story that will surely motivate you.
some serious wisdom from a student who has made a long journey from negativity and anxiety to positivity and happiness, even amongst the negative. he says he's learned a lot from me, but you will hear that I learn a lot more from him. This is why I love my job.
wow, listen to the journey of this amazing student who is constantly trying to figure out how to learn, improve, progress, and grow for her long term goals, but it ALSO FEELS SO GOOD in the short term! There is so much gold in this podcast you might think we rehearsed it or read a script but we SWEAR this was entirely authentic, organic, and improv. enjoy!
there's always 2 categories: the things we want to do that we actually DO, and the things we want/need to do that we don't... but the only problem is thinking that those 2 categories are good or bad. acceptance of the fact that there will always be things in both categories is acceptance of the balance of life. life moves in phases, and if we accept that, we can work to ride the waves, but also relax when we wait for the next wave.
After the first semester post-covid, our reflections on attendance, socialization, and positive reinforcement. Listen in as I discuss the problems and solutions with one of my greatest mentors and influences.
Figuring out what works for you and what doesn't is the journey to improvement that every successful person is on. Learn about yourself by noticing when you are distracted and what causes it, so that you can find the solution to focusing on what you want to get done!
Practice does make perfect, so dive in! Nobody gets good at anything after trying it once. Nobody learns anything that way either. So get your repetitions over and over and over and over and soon it becomes so easy! We know it works, even if it seems tough, just be ok with the beginning stages of starting something new!
When we get stuff done it feels good IMMEDIATELY. Being positive and productive is AWESOME. Remember how good it feels and create the vibe by working hard and feeling proud of your accomplishments throughout the year!
Amiyah has this superpower... she never gets stressed! Listen in to see how she does it, and where she gets the inspiration!
How do we build pyramids? The same way we build grades. School and life is best done bit by bit, lots and lots of little things added together to accomplish something HUGE and amazing. If it feels like you have a lot to do, you do! But every little brick helps build the stairway to success!
It's ok. You've done this before, everyone has. No need to freak out, this is just life. Sometimes we stress and have tons of stuff to do, and sometimes we don't. It happens to literally everyone all the time nowadays. So relax, be calm. You are super unique in all your skills and gifts and interests, but in your stress, you are SO, so very normal :)
Do not fear the difficult work, you are ready to do the work to conquer whatever life throws at you. inside and outside of the classroom, life will throw many obstacles your way, do not give up, do not be stressed, but look to these things as guests on thanksgiving. Get ready, be ready, go get em.
if you thought finals were an opponent that you could BEAT, how would that change your attitude while studying? understand that good grades are just as possible as winning a tennis match, or completing a great piece of art that you are proud of. This can all be a game that you enjoy trying to win!
People change, you can change! But you must be open to the possibilities, to new things, to growth and positivity. How can you identify where you have been closed off and find a way to open up? You know it's good for you, so give it a try!
What does it take to be an amazing teacher? listen in on this conversation I had with Sahuaro's AVID teacher who has been in education long enough to have learned a thing or two. One of my favorite colleagues who definitely shows up every day for the right reasons!
how well do you know yourself? how open are you to feedback, and new ideas? Listen in as an advanced student tells how she has and does overcome many obstacles, and continues to learn about herself and grow as a person!
THURSDAYS, am I right?! Listen in as these 3 friends discover the secret to understanding the biggest dip in motivation that everyone deals with, and how to DEAL with it!
Listen to what keeps this basketball center motivated to practice in the classroom just as hard as he practices on the court. And once again, maybe procrastination is a strength... if you know how to use it!
Feeling stressed because you're "lazy"? Listen to Two super successful students talk about how, after 4 months, they are finally losing a bit of motivation. BUT, there is a solution. Planning on Procrastination, and being positive while doing it.
Kyle has a missing assignment, from a month ago... can you relate? When something isn't working, how do you rely on your community to help?
snowballs aren't just for white winters. Dylan wants to go to business school like his family, so right after school he starts with the easy stuff and let's it snowball into the harder assignments. And when he hits roadblocks- he talks to his teacher!
Do you love yourself? Listen in to this phenomenal interview with someone who loves the feeling of being successful because she first learned to love herself!
Are your teachers magicians? This one is. Listen to english teacher Ms. Tuli talk about creating authentic connections with students and modeling reflection so that her students regain motivation and connect literary themes with their own lives.
Trying to make a change and don't know what the recipe and ingredients are? Success is different for everybody, but exploring what is holding you back and what steps you need to take starts with asking lots of questions, and not being afraid! Listen to this amazing interview where Aniya shows us how to discover what is your secret to success!
Do you Love to learn?? Listen to this fantastic interview with a 6th period student about where she developed her love for learning, and why she recommends you try new things!
fantastic interview with one of sahuaro's math teachers about how to connect with kids, and why teaching is the hardest yet BEST profession there is!
Basketballer Devin wants to be the first person in his family to go to college, but he has both good and bad days... listen to find out what motivates him to move from bad to good!
getting lost in the moment is the FLOW state: when you lose track of time, and you forget your worries and all feels right as you get tons of stuff done. Find out how YOU can trigger this powerful state of mind.
When you have failing grades in biology and geometry, do you give up? What motivates you, what steps do you take to grow that grade? What is the mindset that Jack used to accomplish this incredible improvement? Listen in to find out!
What keeps these two students motivated? How are they influencing and being influenced in class? Listen in to the first student interview on smh!
When you have the skills to learn and memorize, your motivation will always improve. When you learn something new, you need repetition and review, and doing it at certain times of day and the week is perfect for your brain!
Everything is constantly changing around us, so we should too! If you don't have something figured out YET, try new things until you do. Flexibility and curiosity ensures that we will always be ready to adjust to whatever life throws.
Wonderful conversation with the goat: connecting with those around you, the power of extracurriculars, learning from failure, and the ability to stick to-it.
When you get stuck, reach out to those that inspire you. Talking it out, or just listening, is the therapy we all need regularly to get through challenges and gain fresh perspective.
Responsibilities and stress are an illusion, but so is success...? You don't HAVE to be motivated, academically successful, positive, focused, or hard working. But society, teachers, and parents tell you this, and if you believe it, you'll be motivated and productive, and ultimate proud of what you've accomplished. So tell yourself this is essential, and believe the lie.
When you'er doubting yourself, questioning the effort or which action to take, do you land on indecision or apathy? Try rephrasing your questions into an optimistic attitude and ask: why not?!
What do you tell yourself to stay motivated? Make it RHYME and it'll stick in your MIND.
You know it takes hard work to improve on physical things like sports, but do you realized your BRAIN works in exactly the same way??? In what areas do you realize hard work pays off?
Doesn't it feel good when you're on a roll? Doesn't it feel terrible when you're overwhelmed with too much to do? There's only one difference: the vibe you CHOOSE.
When faced with challenges, are you a baby? Maybe you should be... What can we learn from babies about how to face challenges?
Motivation drops when we're doing the wrong thing. The faster you notice you're going down the wrong path, the better. Then you RESET AND RESTART.
Humans focus on the negative, but can we discover the hidden positives? Criticism is hard to hear, but what does it tell you about your mindset, your environment, your focus and goals?
Are you needing calm because you need a break? Or are you choosing calm to avoid a challenge?
Life is a cycle of experiments. Your brain only learns how you succeeded or failed if you can identify the specific ingredients that got you there. So look closely, and move forward intelligently.
Learning is easy when you are interested, but sometimes subjects aren't that interesting... WRONG! Find a way to connect with anything on a personal level, and foster that fascination and love of learning. A teacher can do it, a peer can do it, but YOU CAN TOO.
Pair up; throw DOWN. Find the person that makes you better in school, life, sports, work, and help make them better too!
Who is impacting you positively? Have you told them recently? Share your love when you are thankful for others, and do it often! Everybody wins.
When things are going great, dig in to what you did to feel that good. Usually, I find it stems from productivity. Getting things done is AWESOME, and inspires you to get even MORE done. So get started, get stoked, and keep stacking!
these things take time. Don't expect instant gratification, and then you're set for success!
Motivation can drop when life gets hard, but that's where our mindset matters! Understanding that the struggles are not just a part of life, but the BEST part of life can completely restore your motivation. Choose to struggle for the right things in life and forget the rest.
It's normal to feel amazing when everything is going your way, but that momentum was built by many small things. Look closely at what you can control to slowly start to build that momentum. It's just as easy to get stuck in a rut when you feel like NOTHING is going your way, that too, is momentum. And although it's hard to break negative momentum, it can be done with small good things, intentionally.
There's maybe two things in life, work and vacation. But there's a nasty 3rd thing that lies in between... the transition, the SWITCH. The longer it takes to switch, the more time you spend stressed and anxious. So work hard while working, vacation deeply when vacationing, and switch QUICK.
Negativity and bad vibes are all around us, but you don't have to let them in! You control your vibes.
when you feel exhuasted after a long day, usually you think it's negative... but looking back, let's count the WINS. human brains naturally focus on the negative, but if you carefully examine the data, you'll come to the conclusion that there's always more positive to be proud of!
Planning and preparing are essential for productivity, but when you're motivated and something doesn't go as planned, be flexible!
You are a work in progress, so be patient with yourself, and the process. Slowing down to truly understand what's working and what isn't is the best way to find solutions to improvements you'd like to make!
every choice you make is a vote for who you will become. every action is a vote. your identity and progress is a democratic process that you have complete control over. and you don't need 100% of the votes every time to get the law passed...
Behavior change doesn't have to rely on motivation. Habits mean you don't have to make the right decisions all day every day. Set up a tiny habit with a trigger, the right timing, try it and make adjustments!
When a student comes in flustered, confused, emotional, I know we can solve the problem no matter what- BECAUSE they took that one step to come in and talk to me. You don't have to do the entire assignment, or know how to complete something to take that one step. Don't sit on thoughts and emotions- go for the simplest easiest action now!
When you are open to understanding the truth behind your actions and thoughts, you are listening! Be open to advice, criticism, from someone else, or yourself! This kind of studying is how we learn the best solutions to improve however we truly want.
Let your relationships inspire you, motivate you. Work at them, rely on them, contribute positively to your friends, family, and significant others. Even when it's hard, especially when it's not going well. This will teach you how to practice the skills of positivity and perseverance that we know will be useful in all aspects of life.
You are born into some identities, others happen to you unknowingly. But if you want to change your life, first you have to change you mind. You have to change how you view yourself.
Fear drives a lot of our behavior, in fact maybe all of our negative behavior? So understanding what you are afraid of can help fix the negative, self-destructive behavior you want to eliminate from your life. Don't be afraid of learning about your fears :)
something you don't want to do? Welcome to life! But the more you fight the things you know you have to do or should do, the harder your life becomes. Solution? LEAN IN! Be agreeable, let it happen, say YES! even if you don't want to, you will make your life easier. And who doesn't want that?!
Tons of new things on your plate got your overwhelmed? No worries, take it one at a time, and it'll be easy peasy before you know it.
As a teacher we want our kids to be mature. Most students would probably like to be treated like mature adults, but have to demonstrate it first. So, how can we bridge the gap? Choices. No judgement. No emotion. Just choices and consequences.
Humans tend toward negativity, shoot every animal does! We focus on the bad stuff naturally, but it doesn't have to be that way! Find the good in everything, because it is absolutely there. Because the alternative isn't fun, we know that! It takes practice, but you will see rewards. Promise.
Your brain and mood affect your facial expressions, but ALSO VICE VERSA! When you move that face into a smile, you actually release hormones to increase positive feelings. Negativity has a huge toll, and most of our reactions are involuntary. When you can, notice negativity, and fight it with a voluntary smile.
Frustration is the auto-response to adversity, but that little rock in the road doesn't need to be a brick wall. When a challenge arises, try to see through it, beyond it, to understand it through curious questioning. Difficulty is a guarantee, but you always have control over how you respond.
Was it hot today? Are you uncomfortable? Pushing outside of comfort is something usually voluntary, and valuable, so when discomfort is involuntary, can you make it valuable? This is an opportunity to deal with stress, any kind of temporary stress makes you better at dealing with ANY kind of stress. So USE IT. And what's the worst that's going to happen? Sweat?
Who wants to feel exhuasted? Positivity is a choice. You can label anything as difficult and draining, or you can let it recharge you and GAS YOU UP. Find ways to gain positivity and energy and GAS from your day.
Your energy and mood changes throughout the day, and week! Make decisions in advance and write them down to maximize your productivity when switching between multiple different kinds of assignments. Each class requires a different kind of focus, a different level of focus, so manage that well and you'll be much more productive!
Life moves very fast, and sometimes you need to slow down. Sit, breathe, and control your mind by reminding yourself that what is happening around you is not happening to you. You can choose how you respond, how you view anything.
You want to start with an easy assignment first or tackle the tough project that's stressing you out? Either one! Whatever works for you! You got a huge list of stuff, and you know what's tough and easy and you know once you get started and finish a few assignments you will get on a ROLL. It's so fun to get momentum and you KNOW it, so focus on THAT.
Long list of stuff to do? Sure, but don't focus on everything you HAVEN'T done... Positivity is the best motivation. Period. So be proud of yourself, literally write down the things you HAVE done and your accomplishments and that will fuel your future. You'll have time to learn from your mistakes later, right now it's time to feel good about the WINS.
Your brain perceives this stress as a threat to your life, releasing adrenalin that makes your muscles tense all throughout your body, leading to extreme physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. Relax. Breathe. Your body can convince your mind there is no real threat to your life here. Only then are you free to think clearly.
Actions speak louder than words. Emotions can hinder your progress, so be wary of using them too much. Regret and feeling sorry for yourself, or feeling bad and apologizing to parents, teachers... think about it- THEY'RE ALL NEGATIVE. Do they help you fix the situation? Do they help get work done? Don't punish yourself further, you need to climb out of a hole so start climbing!
The first official pod where I guide you through a meditation. It's super easy, super quick, I DARE YOU to try it. There's no way to fail, every attempt is a success. And I can guarantee you will feel better.
(Inspired by my 2nd period) Your mind is the strongest part of your body. Your best tool. Limitless If you use it right! Growth Mindsets, Open mindsets, Positive Mindsets can transform you, if you use this incredible power correctly. Be amazed, and take charge, your powerful mind is yours to use.
What are your superpowers when the supervillian of homework, tests, and stress all come to attack you? Waking up early? Staying up late? Calling a friend? Creating a super detailed planner? Locking yourself in your room? Meditating? Listening to a bunch of motivational songs, videos, and podcasts?? BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS, BATMAN. It's time to save the world.
How many times have you been here before? Stressed, overwhelmed, overworked, exhausted, but you DID IT, RIGHT? So relax, calm down, this is just another storm you will get through because you've done it a hundred times. You will do whatever it takes, no matter what. And if you haven't yet proven that to yourself, today's the day to start.
Tons to do and tons of distractions? Keep it simple, no need to worry, procrastinate, or take it all on right now. just SIT DOWN. Distractions will always try to flood into your mind so you have to FULLY engage in the task AKA WRITE THINGS. notes, diagrams, ideas, questions, whatever. You have the power, just follow 2 easy steps like Bryan!
Get your mind right. If you're drowning in stress over a bunch of assignments to the point that you cannot function, it's time to take a deep breath and realize all the good things you have in life. You can't get anything done when you're spending all your emotional and mental energy on anxiety, so instead focus on blessings, be thankful, be grateful, and relax.
Overwhelmed by massive amounts of work? Here's a simple way out. 3 quick steps to get you moving forward and working. 1. Write down everything you have to do. 2. Triage them by ranking them with numbers based on priority. 3. Zoom in to the first task and tackle it completely as fast as you can without distraction. Step 4 of course is keep going!
What is meditation really? Want to give it a try? It's really simple and easy! Just breath. Just sense your surroundings. Give it a shot and see how you feel!
When are you most productive and motivated? USE IT. What gets you motivated and productive? USE IT. You know what works for you, so use those strengths!
You can do it because you've already DONE IT. With so many external factors bringing you down, remember that the power of confidence from within is ALWAYS more powerful. Remember what you have accomplished and remind yourself you can do anything if you believe in yourself.
Focus on what positive things you want in life, and GET EM. Your future self will thank you, and making yourself proud is the best thing you can do for your emotional and mental health. Live life without regret, and without fear of regret.
Challenges are tough, but by definition they are POSSIBLE. The way you view this challenge makes all the difference. So be powerful, be postiive. Conquer with confidence.
Stuck? Regretting something? If it already happened- forget it! It's over, it's done, you made a mistake but it's in the past and it's now time to MOVE ON. Focus on what you can control: the actions in the present.
Have you failed? THAT'S THE PAST. Think you're going to fail? STOP THINKING LIKE THAT. Control what you can in the present, right now. Take control of your identity and encourage yourself like a bff.
When you have a bad interaction, before getting mad get curious. What else is happening in your life that is affecting you? What else is going on in other people's lives that is affecting how they interact with you?
DO WORK, SON. Having a lot of work to do is a GOOD thing. It makes us better, makes us proud, gets us places. Don't be afraid of work, it doesn't matter how much you have, just get it done. Get lost in it, grind it out, figure it out. You will always feel better accomplishing something you worked for.
Exhausted? How do you get your energy back? There are 3 different types of energy and exhaustion and I'll discuss why it's important to keep them separate and understand how to refill!
You are a student, you have assignments, you have responsibilities, you get good grades. Whatever you gotta do to get what you NEED, DO IT. It's not rude to ask for what you need to be successful. You don't have to apologize for asking questions. As long as you are respectful, don't let anything stand in the way of getting what you NEED.
We think too much. Dreaming is cool, but don't try to predict the future, or read someone's mind. Start with a simple question! Ask your teacher for help, clarification, or motivation! Ask yourself why you're frustrated, stressed, or tired. Ask your fam n friends for help, encouragement, or fun things! Stop thinking you know the answer, and JUST ASK.
There are TONS of things to do to get motivated, but thinking about it all the time is NOT one of them. You need to get organized, get started, get moving. Trying to "find" motivation is vague, difficult, and NOT a pre-requisite for getting started. So open that laptop, book, or app and stop thinking about it!
Need a break? Take one! But you don't need a week on the beach, smh... you can take small mental vacations every hour, every day, every week. Vacations can be sports, meals, music, socializing and more! Most importantly- SCHEDULE them into your daily routine.
Working together is the most powerful thing we have an human beings. Find someone who inspires you, and inspire them right back!
Got a visit from a great student today who literally just asked for a motivational speech on the spot before class. She "didn't have any motivation". Sound familiar? Here's what I said and learned.
You know what? Most of the time I talk about speeding up, and I like that. But for some types of mental activities, especially if it's not working or we're distracted... let's slow down.
Your motivation is complex. You feel your emotions changing and respond, but do you actually know why, or where it comes from? Be your own thereapist and curiously dig deep into WHY you are feeling the way you are, WHY are you acting a certain way?
Practice, drills, dedication, focus, games, tournaments, performance, winning. All these words we associate with sports, but school is the EXACT same. Being in class is practice, homework is drills. You need daily dedication, you can't procrastinate. You take tests and write essays just like you compete in games, matches, and tournaments. So be excited not nervous! Compete to win!
You think you're lazy, and that makes you lazy. SHAKE YOUR HEAD and look at it correctly: you are NOT lazy. Something else in your life is keeping you from being productive, and you can do something about it. Saying you're lazy is giving up, and it's also FALSE. Think about it. I dare you.
How often do you think this? Oh, that wasn't so bad! That wasn't so hard! We often naturally build things up to be bigger or harder than they really are but once we get started or even once we finish we realize it's no big deal.
Rutherford tells a story about how a frustrated conversation turns into a deep understanding.
Are you stressed? Is that even a bad thing? Stress is necessary for growth, learning, and improvement. Can you talk about things differently and use different words to change your perspective on anything? YES, SI SE PEUDE. Everything you say or feel or tell yourself has a HUGE impact on how you perceive it, so take control and view stress positively!
We all fall off. We all lose momentum, hit a road block, or get tired. But how do you respond to it? BOUNCE BACK is the quick little phrase we can use to shake our heads and start fresh on a path we know we want to get back on. Say it out loud, or develop your own little saying, but always have something quick and easy you can use to restart your motivation.
Bored? Tired? Tired of the same old things? SPICE IT UP. Novelty is super exciting for our brains, and you can actually create this for yourself! Change your environment, change your methods and process. Start a new habit, get outside, stand up, study differently, discuss your homework, do work in a different room. You can trick your brain to have more fun and be more focused by giving it something new.
Can you control everything in you life? Can you change your mistakes in the past? Can you control your perspective and emotions and your actions right now? Carefully and accurately dissecting any situation can expose whether you are wasting your time with regret or complaints when you SHOULD be focused on the future and SOLUTIONS.
It's so hard to conceptualize the future, and to make sacrifices in the present to make your future self proud, but that's what we know we should do! Instant gratification is great for right now, and your brain is wired for that, but as humans we have a unique ability to understand how to plan for our future success and happiness.
Life is all about the grind, right? Well, kinda... when we make time for the things that we LOVE, it gasses us up for all the other things that aren't as wonderful. Devote even a small amount of time and ENERGY to something that brings you pure joy. Also, can you find some small part of a tough task that you love and focus more on THAT???
Is your grade injured? Is your mental health injured? Is you motivation injured? Everyone knows what you have to do when you get a sports injury, specific & focused physical therapy! But it's the same thing for any issue when anything in life is "broken" or "injured". Take specific therapeutic actions every day that get you back to being fully functional and that slow process might just actually make you BETTER than before!
The podcast origin story: who is your host Rutherford, and why does he make this podcast?
Feel like you focus on the negatives too much? It's natural, but it's not helpful. Give yourself the positive feedback you need to focus on what you are proud of accomplishing, and the progress you HAVE made, even if you're not totally there yet. This positivity will be WAY more effective in pushing you to do more!
How your view yourself is your CHOICE, and it is so powerful. Choose to be positive, motivated, supporting, healthy. You will find that if you think you are a type of person, you will be that person- negative or positive, good or bad. It's so easy, so simple, and if you focus on being the type of person that engages in positive actions and thoughts, then all of a sudden it starts to happen!
Stuck in a rut? Stuck in your house or your room or a bad mood? Stuck in depression, anxiety, laziness? Failing classes? YOU have the power to get out of anything, either literally walking outside, or mentally moving on. It's so powerful, I DARE you to try it...
(Yes, we went there...) Maybe you're thinking about it all wrong, focusing on the wrong dates?! If something is due on friday, that means you need to start thinking about when you actually have time to DO it waaaaaay before friday. We're all busy, and our productivity can come in waves. You know what works best for you, so organize your stuff based on DOing, not the DUE dates...
If it's quick and easy, why procrastinate?? Trust me, I love procrastinating, and it's not all bad, but when something simple or urgent comes across your desk or your mind, maybe you can and then SHOULD just DO IT NOW. Not everything has to be planned or thought out. It's faster to just do it right now when you're thinking about it!
Productivity, college, good grades, health, nutrition, positivity, stress, calm, or a 500lb back squat. Everything we want in life is a journey, and by focusing on the journey instead of the destination we can make progress in becoming who we want to be. But how do we Journey? Start today! Take baby steps, always focus on the positives, and reach out to those around you.
Peer pressure can be GREAT, if your peers are doing the right thing! We as humans are heavily influenced by our community, our surroundings, the people around us. So surround yourself with positive, motivated, supportive people who are doing the things you want to be doing! And you have the power to be that positive person in someone else's life too!
you know it happens. so accept it. but you don't need to completely give up, make it worse, or draw it out. Identify the root cause/issue, figure out what you can control and do, and move forward.
Hate it when teachers give you due dates and deadlines? Parents do this too, what the heck? BUT, here's the secret: it's all fake! Teachers pick whatever due dates they like because the school hired us to. So what if you hired yourself to make up your own due date that works better for you? Obviously you can't turn things in late, but you know you hate stressing, you know you hate procrastinating, you know you have enough time. So be your OWN boss, and schedule your own due date to finish EARLY.
Ever notice that when you have nothing to do you don't get anything done? But in contrast, when you're super busy you're super productive?? Doesn't make sense... but it's true, right?!?! The more you have going on in life, the more focused and organized you HAVE to be, and so you rise to the occasion!
Bad day? Bad Week? Everyone knows THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, but that doesn't mean you give up. The idea of the struggle bus is that it is a VEHICLE. What do vehicle's do?? They MOVE. They keep GOING. We are defined by how good we can be when things aren't good. So own the struggle, and drive that bus.
Fun, Grit, Regret, Delayed Gratification. Not everything in life is fun right now, but does that mean you shouldn't do it? Or maybe you can just shift your mindset?
When fears paralyze you, it's time to do something. Fear is a feeling that you can't control, but you can use feelings to create actions that are good for you! The only way to make SURE you fail is to do nothing, so if you're afraid of failing, find some action to focus your energy on! Worrying is worthless.
Remember how hard it was to learn how to walk? Of course not, it's easy now. But trust me- it's freakin hard. The trick? JUST GET UP AND TRY IT. You will fall, fail, and barely go anywhere, but there's no sense sitting and fearing it, worrying about it, or planning. You have no idea until you just GO FOR IT!
What is holding you back? Maybe it's your environment, technology, emotions, or even confidence? Only once you figure out what it is SPECIFICALLY, then you can start to figure out how to get through it, around it, or break it down!
Need motivation to study or get stuff done? Use time to make it a game! Set goals for certain amounts of time, set alarms and timers, challenge yourself, and others! It's way more fun, and way more effective
Time is always moving, but can we control it?? The key is structuring and scheduling your time when you are motivated, and then sticking to it! Then, you only need to be motivated once, when scheduling!
Where to start? When to start? How to start? FORGET IT, just DO IT. No need to overthink it, it's time for ACTION. Something is better than nothing, take the first step!