Rian Doris: How To Force Your Brain To Crave Doing Hard Things

Science reveals a hidden motivation switch deep in the brain that surpasses money, praise, or fame. This intrinsic drive compels you to crave hard work rather than avoid it, unlocking unstoppable motivation.

Motivation comes in two types: extrinsic, fueled by external rewards like money and status, which is temporary and depletes quickly; and intrinsic, fueled by curiosity, mastery, purpose, autotelic enjoyment, and autonomy, which is self-sustaining and powerful.

Intrinsic motivation works like fusion energy powering stars—long-lasting and efficient. It makes hard work feel easy and leads to flow states, where you lose yourself in deep focus and perform at your best, creating a virtuous cycle of motivation and achievement.

The five intrinsic motivators are: 1) Curiosity—the itch to learn and explore; 2) Mastery—the drive to improve skills continuously; 3) Autotelic experience—loving the work itself; 4) Purpose—connecting work to a bigger cause; 5) Autonomy—control over how and when you work.

When intrinsic motivators align and flow states become frequent, motivation becomes unstoppable. This alignment explains why figures like Elon Musk, Einstein, and Serena Williams sustain decades of high performance through curiosity, mastery, purpose, autotelic joy, and autonomy.

Purpose fuels persistence by linking daily tasks to a meaningful mission beyond yourself, increasing oxytocin and serotonin for social bonding and well-being. Autonomy enhances motivation by giving you ownership over your work choices, reducing feelings of being controlled.

To boost curiosity, engage in learning that directly impacts your work with immediate feedback. Mastery grows by deliberate practice on skills that advance your goals. Autotelic motivation thrives when you enjoy the core activities of your job without external pressure.

Increasing autonomy can be perceptual—viewing your current role as a stepping stone in your life journey—or literal—building skills and networks that create options and freedom, known as 'fu autonomy,' allowing you to thrive despite constraints.

Maximize motivation by assessing each intrinsic driver on a scale and raising the lowest first. As intrinsic motivation rises, extrinsic motivation fades, freeing you from external pressures and enabling a Zen-like focus on work itself, immune to distractions and burnout.

Ultimately, intrinsic motivation is about loving the journey, not just the destination. By cultivating curiosity, mastery, purpose, autotelic enjoyment, and autonomy, you transform work into play, wake up excited, and achieve peak performance sustainably.