These 6 โAversion Factorsโ Can Quietly Kill Your Progress (even when you care about the goal)
I was listening to Modern Wisdom (E1077 with Chris Bailey) and it highlighted something can be easy to overlook: We spend a lot of time trying to build motivationโฆ Yet not enough time looking at what weโre avoiding. ๐ Aversion is often the real problem. Because even when a goal matters to you โ something about it can still feelโฆ off. ๐ Chris breaks this into 6 common โaversion factorsโ and my goodness they resonated with me! - Boring - Frustrating - Unpleasant - Too far in the future - Unstructured - Meaningless (not aligned with your values) The good news? These arenโt personality flaws โ theyโre adjustable levers. Letโs make this practical! 1. Boring ๐ด If something feels repetitive or dull, you wonโt stick with it โ simple as that. This shows up with: - Eating the same meals on repeat - Doing workouts you donโt enjoy - Routines that feel like a chore ๐ Fix: Make the experience better. Try this: - Add variety (new meals, new workouts) - Pair it with something enjoyable (music, podcast, fresh environment) - Add a social element (walk with a friend, group class) You donโt need more discipline โ you need less boredom. 2. Frustrating ๐ซ This is a big one with exercise (and honestly, anything new). It can feel like: - โI donโt know what Iโm doingโ - โIโm so far behindโ - โThis is harder than I expectedโ So even if you want the resultโฆ Your brain associates it with discomfort and avoids it. ๐ Fix: Lower the barrier. Try this: - Start easier than you think you should - Follow a simple plan (remove decision fatigue) - Focus on consistency, not performance - Drop comparison โ your starting point is valid The goal isnโt to crush every session. Itโs to make it easy enough to come back tomorrow. 3. Unpleasant ๐ฌ This one is subtle. Itโs not always โhardโโฆ it just doesnโt feel good. Examples: - Meals that arenโt satisfying - Workouts you dread - A routine that feels restrictive ๐ Fix: Improve the experience.