What's your biggest motivation in life?

It’s just that motives aren't exactly matters of conscious choice—in fact, the most powerful drivers are often completely irrational, sometimes even running directly contrary to one's own self-interest... it’s all incredibly murky and convoluted. Perhaps, if a person can actually become aware of these internal impulses, they might manage to mitigate them—at least if those motives lean toward the positive side—but if they aren't... well, then it's just a matter of being at the mercy of them.

The real question, though, is how one goes about changing those inner inclinations and mindsets—those core motives. If that is what truly drives, directs, and dictates our behavior in both the short and long term, then the ultimate goal should be the ability to reshape them—to dictate them to ourselves...

Here’s the thing: you’re always going to be better off if you can stay as independent as possible without feeling like you have to explain your every move to everyone else.

Look, you don't really owe anyone an explanation—because if a person's internal inclinations and motives are all pulling in one specific direction, then they’re essentially just following a pre-set path toward that destination. And if that destination happens to be hell itself... well, wouldn't it be a relief if we could actually recalibrate our internal compass?

It seems to me that what drives us from within—our core motivations—dictates nearly everything about how we exist. It shapes our behavior, our opinions, our speech, our agreements, and our actions... both in the mundane day-to-day sense and in the grander, long-term sweep of a life. In this view, individual behaviors aren't really independent events; they're just momentary details serving a larger narrative that inevitably leads to a certain consequence.

If you take a closer look at the internal mechanics over any significant period, it becomes obvious that almost every action, every thought, and every pattern of behavior—in any sense of the word—is conditioned by these underlying motivations and orientations that we haven't consciously chosen... (with the exception, perhaps, of purely mechanical, practical tasks dictated by immediate necessity—like, I don't know, using the restroom, walking up a flight of stairs, parking a car, or carrying a heavy box. Though, even then, one might wonder why you found yourself in that specific parking lot, where those stairs were leading you in the first place, or why you were tasked with carrying that load at all...) Essentially, every result, every circumstance, the very act of living itself, is tethered to these subconscious drivers.

It also becomes clear that while choice exists, it isn't exactly transparent, nor is it easy—and frankly, it isn't always even possible. Even when a choice *is* available, it often runs directly contrary to our deepest desires. At that point, there simply isn't a desire strong enough to counter the primary one; there's no willpower greater than the existing impulse, no motive capable of overriding the original drive.

Furthermore, the whole thing relies heavily on some sort of internal authority—a sense of inner sovereignty—which, it appears, is frequently lacking, fragmented, or simply devoid of strength.

And so, everything just unfolds according to these "motives." Life just happens. When you look back at it, it feels as though someone—or something—has been puppeteering you, moving you along like a character in a stop-motion animation...

placidwolf27 said:Look, you don't really owe anyone an explanation—because if a person's internal inclinations and motives are all pulling in one specific direction, then they’re essentially just following a pre-set path toward that destination. And if that destination happens to be hell itself... well, wouldn't it be a relief if we could actually recalibrate our internal compass?

It seems to me that what drives us from within—our core motivations—dictates nearly everything about how we exist. It shapes our behavior, our opinions, our speech, our agreements, and our actions... both in the mundane day-to-day sense and in the grander, long-term sweep of a life. In this view, individual behaviors aren't really independent events; they're just momentary details serving a larger narrative that inevitably leads to a certain consequence.

If you take a closer look at the internal mechanics over any significant period, it becomes obvious that almost every action, every thought, and every pattern of behavior—in any sense of the word—is conditioned by these underlying motivations and orientations that we haven't consciously chosen... (with the exception, perhaps, of purely mechanical, practical tasks dictated by immediate necessity—like, I don't know, using the restroom, walking up a flight of stairs, parking a car, or carrying a heavy box. Though, even then, one might wonder why you found yourself in that specific parking lot, where those stairs were leading you in the first place, or why you were tasked with carrying that load at all...) Essentially, every result, every circumstance, the very act of living itself, is tethered to these subconscious drivers.

It also becomes clear that while choice exists, it isn't exactly transparent, nor is it easy—and frankly, it isn't always even possible. Even when a choice *is* available, it often runs directly contrary to our deepest desires. At that point, there simply isn't a desire strong enough to counter the primary one; there's no willpower greater than the existing impulse, no motive capable of overriding the original drive.

Furthermore, the whole thing relies heavily on some sort of internal authority—a sense of inner sovereignty—which, it appears, is frequently lacking, fragmented, or simply devoid of strength.

And so, everything just unfolds according to these "motives." Life just happens. When you look back at it, it feels as though someone—or something—has been puppeteering you, moving you along like a character in a stop-motion animation...

why look back?

It’s difficult to prevent—honestly, almost impossible—but if you approach it with intention, maintaining a sense of objectivity, you end up gaining a certain kind of insight... you start noticing the patterns within the patterns, processing the mechanics of what you are as a system. In truth, that is what a conscious experience actually feels like...

placidwolf27 said:It’s difficult to prevent—honestly, almost impossible—but if you approach it with intention, maintaining a sense of objectivity, you end up gaining a certain kind of insight... you start noticing the patterns within the patterns, processing the mechanics of what you are as a system. In truth, that is what a conscious experience actually feels like...

Oh, absolutely. Those "loops within loops" are definitely noticeable. And when you mix that with nostalgia or even those moments where everything just goes blank? Yeah, that can get pretty confusing.

jadewolf16 said:Sex is the goal, but honestly? Everything else is just figuring out the best way to get there!

quietnomad13 said:Love.
Honestly, everything else is just noise.

I’m greedy—I want both. 🤣

Jokes aside, there aren't enough ways to boil this down... you can't just pin a single life motto on yourself.

I’m just done with motivation. Honestly, I’ve moved way past it—it’s all an illusion, really, and honestly? It’s just regressive for anyone trying to actually be human.
My life has basically been a series of different phases, kind of looking like this:

Ages 16-20; Sex, romance, chasing feelings... (not that I regret it, that's just biology at work, you know?😍)
Ages 20-30; Money, survival, hoarding every useless thing I could get my hands on... (yeah, I actually regret this one. Total waste of years...👎)
Ages 30-37; Personal growth, self-improvement, finally ditching all those fake societal standards everyone tries to force on you... (hands down the best years of my life.🙂

But once I finally, *finally* let go of all those "motives" and "goals," everything changed. Like, drastically. Physically, mentally, spiritually—everything.
The stress? Gone. I basically reconnected with that inner kid. Just pure curiosity, playfulness, living for the moment... right here, right now. And funny enough, it's actually manifesting itself in a weird way,
where all those old "goals and motives" from my younger years are actually happening anyway. Everything feels accessible now. Sex, romance, cash, material junk, "social status"... it's all just there.

Still, I've lived enough to know it's all just ego traps. And the ego? It always tries to drag you back down (but not anymore). My ego used to run the show, but today? No chance in hell against my true core,
which I think I've built up to its absolute limit—with a little help along the way. And it's not just my spirit; my mind and my body are right there with it. I'm finally whole, finally full...
I don't even know where I'm headed, but frankly, who cares?

It's about the journey—not the destination.
It's about the way you live—not the motive.

ironrider11 said:it's just like they say... as above, so below...

man...
That’s getting a little deep for a simple PDF, don't you think?

But... honestly? Yeah, that’s exactly it!
It’s just... how many people living in this stereotypical American bubble actually have the guts—the actual time and mental strength—to realize that all that external stuff we chase is really just a reflection of what's going on inside us?
It took me like 30 years to finally wrap my head around that... and then another few years just to start seeing the payoff...

Rachel Williams18 said:I’m just done with motivation. Honestly, I’ve moved way past it—it’s all an illusion, really, and honestly? It’s just regressive for anyone trying to actually be human.
My life has basically been a series of different phases, kind of looking like this:

Ages 16-20; Sex, romance, chasing feelings... (not that I regret it, that's just biology at work, you know?😍)
Ages 20-30; Money, survival, hoarding every useless thing I could get my hands on... (yeah, I actually regret this one. Total waste of years...👎)
Ages 30-37; Personal growth, self-improvement, finally ditching all those fake societal standards everyone tries to force on you... (hands down the best years of my life.🙂

But once I finally, *finally* let go of all those "motives" and "goals," everything changed. Like, drastically. Physically, mentally, spiritually—everything.
The stress? Gone. I basically reconnected with that inner kid. Just pure curiosity, playfulness, living for the moment... right here, right now. And funny enough, it's actually manifesting itself in a weird way,
where all those old "goals and motives" from my younger years are actually happening anyway. Everything feels accessible now. Sex, romance, cash, material junk, "social status"... it's all just there.

Still, I've lived enough to know it's all just ego traps. And the ego? It always tries to drag you back down (but not anymore). My ego used to run the show, but today? No chance in hell against my true core,
which I think I've built up to its absolute limit—with a little help along the way. And it's not just my spirit; my mind and my body are right there with it. I'm finally whole, finally full...
I don't even know where I'm headed, but frankly, who cares?

It's about the journey—not the destination.
It's about the way you live—not the motive.

👍

Rachel Williams18 said:man...
That’s getting a little deep for a simple PDF, don't you think?

But... honestly? Yeah, that’s exactly it!
It’s just... how many people living in this stereotypical American bubble actually have the guts—the actual time and mental strength—to realize that all that external stuff we chase is really just a reflection of what's going on inside us?
It took me like 30 years to finally wrap my head around that... and then another few years just to start seeing the payoff...

Most people never get it. They stay stuck in the material stuff, the sex, the romance... most people never truly know themselves, they just follow the crowd. They exist—breathing, drinking, eating, defecating, and eventually dying. That's it.
But regardless of all that, everyone has the right to choose their own path, their own motives, their own goals, whatever they want.

Motivation is entirely a matter of character.

For some, it's all about career climbing and status. For others, it's family, kids, or their inner circle. There are endless variations on that theme.

As for me? My drive comes from everything combined—plus a whole lot more.
Family, work, knowledge, solid friends, traveling, finding people you actually click with, loyalty, trust...
That's what keeps me moving.
I don't let a bad day get the better of me.

I find joy in the small stuff. It’s actually pretty nice being an observer when you know how to appreciate the view.
Life is good. You just have to be smart enough to notice.

Jeffrey Ramos4 said:👍

Most people never get it. They stay stuck in the material stuff, the sex, the romance... most people never truly know themselves, they just follow the crowd. They exist—breathing, drinking, eating, defecating, and eventually dying. That's it.
But regardless of all that, everyone has the right to choose their own path, their own motives, their own goals, whatever they want.

Well... look, that’s fine too, I guess, provided the person actually has some self-awareness. Like, if they realize that hedonism is (only) just a trigger—something that hits those glandular mechanisms first (you know, activating those subtle centers at a finer level)—which then basically
floods the system with all that "good chemistry"...

I mean, you can build it that way... starting from the physical body (pleasure), moving through the mental, and up to the subtle body. But man, those are some seriously intense techniques. You need a solid theoretical foundation and a damn good mentor to guide you. And honestly, this PDF isn't the place for that. Not even in the USA (props to the few who get it), because if you mention something like that to a "regular Joe," they'll immediately label you a "Satanist, an occultist, whatever..."
That "black hat" influence out there is just too strong. People are totally oblivious. It's hard to wipe that influence away from someone when it's been shoved into their archetypes for centuries...

Real satisfaction? You can't force it through pure hedonism. Not without understanding who you actually are... as, like, an essential, spiritual being.
Otherwise, you're just committing physical terror against yourself...

Sure, you might be able to... (slightly) inflate the ego that way. But in the end, it's gonna backfire.
The person will just end up further away from the actual goal... the one we're all really chasing anyway.
In other words; you're heading straight into the abyss again.

And yeah, I'm a hedonist (always have been).
But indulging—or let's call it what it is, being a slave to those animalistic urges—won't give you any
real benefits unless you've established a strict hierarchy, based on the principle of spirit -> mind -> body. Anything else is just a waste. The subtle level doesn't "drive" motives. The subtle level *is* the creator of motives. To put it another way;
If you've neglected your spiritual body—you're never gonna have that primal, powerful motivation.

And that kind of motivation is the only thing, for sure, that actually leads to the goal!