Self-regulate!

A simple way to build motivation (and resilience)

I have been thinking about motivation in terms of self-regulation.  I cycle about 30km twice per week for fitness.  The practice I have always done on a long hill is to choose a marker 50 metres away and then go hard for it, then set another marker 50 metres further and then go hard for that and so on to the top of the hill.

I discovered recently what this practice is doing.  We have an adrenaline ‘circuit’ and as we go hard the adrenaline level mounts until we feel we cannot go on any longer.  However, when we reach a goal, we get a dopamine hit that reduces the adrenaline level and we can go again.

Apparently, the selection process for special forces soldiers selects for this capacity for self-regulation. When we have it, we will go on no matter how hard things get.

Seemingly, some people have it some do not, but it is clear to me from my own experience that this capacity for self-regulation can be learned through practice and improved on over time.  Practice can be spread across all domains where the ability to keep going is important, not just the physical but also, studying, completing a project, meeting deadlines and so on.

The earlier we can learn to self-regulate in this way the more ingrained it will become and whatever the world throws at us will not put us off our stride.

I find it fascinating what neuroscience can teach us.

John Corrigan is an expert in helping individuals to bring their whole of mind to their daily life and increase their effectiveness and the effectiveness of those around them. This expertise scales from the individual to the team to the organisation. At the core of this work is the practice of encounter.  Earlier blogs can be found here.

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