From the Stoic perspective there are three main areas of our lives that require dedicated attention and energy to develop. They are our desires, our motivations, and our ability to reason. Increasing our capability and capacity in each of these areas enables us to make decisions that enable us to live the life we want to live.
Desires are the things we want in our lives, or the things we want to avoid in our lives (aversions).
Motivation is the felt need to put energy or effort into something.
Reason is our ability to use reason and use logic.
When these systems work together well the result is sound judgement, effective decision making, and behaviors that help us live the life we want to live.
If they are out of alignment we start to run into problems. Here are some examples.
When we operate from a position solely based on our desire and motivation we might find ourselves living in a “keeping up with the Jones’ dilemma.” We might see the new car in our neighbors driveway, get jealous or envious and then make some poor financial choices to go and get one regardless of our financial situation.
When we have desire and reason but no motivation we might find ourselves saying things like “I know I should quit smoking but I don’t feel like it.” We might have the desire, we even understand the consequences… but we lack the felt need for change.
Motivation and reason by themselves is the driving force behind the classic “Rat Race.” The ceaseless pursuit of advancement through the daily grain without any real emotional attachment or joy associated with the daily grind.
What is truly optimal is to effectively engage all three systems so that we know what we want, are driven to get it, and take rational actions to get the results we are looking for.
