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Have you ever wondered why all that positive visualization hasn't transformed your life? Despite your vivid daydreams of success, you find yourself still sitting on the couch, no closer to your goals? Motivation science has the answer, and it's not what you might expect.

This eye-opening episode dives deep into Gabrielle Oettingen's revolutionary research on motivation as explored in her 2014 book "Rethinking Positive Thinking." We uncover the counterintuitive truth that simply dreaming about your desired future can actually make you less likely to achieve it. When we engage in pleasant fantasies about our goals, our brains experience a false sense of fulfillment that drains our motivation to tackle real-world challenges. As Oettingen explains, "By fooling our brains into thinking we're already successful, we lose motivation and energy to do what it actually takes to become successful."

But don't despair! We explore Oettingen's powerful alternative technique called "mental contrasting" - a method that transforms wishful thinking into actionable energy. Rather than abandoning your dreams, mental contrasting teaches you to pair your positive vision with a clear-eyed assessment of the obstacles in your path. This balanced approach has been scientifically proven to significantly increase motivation across numerous domains, from weight loss to academic performance to business negotiations. Through mental contrasting, you can become both a dreamer AND a doer - someone who not only imagines a better future but takes concrete steps to create it.

Ready to stop daydreaming and start achieving? Visit teammojoacademy.com where we've gathered everything discussed in this podcast along with additional resources to help you apply these concepts immediately. Let's put theory into action and get your mojo on!

Key Points from the Episode:

• Merely visualizing success puts us in a state of "bliss, calmness and lethargy" that saps our energy
• Fantasizing tricks our brain into thinking we've already achieved our goals
• "Dreamers are not often doers" - positive visualization without reality awareness doesn't work
• Mental contrasting is the solution: visualize both dreams AND obstacles standing in your way
• This technique energizes us by creating "the necessity to act"
• Studies show mental contrasting has helped people quit smoking, lose weight, improve grades, and enhance relationships
• The key is becoming both "dreamers AND doers" rather than just dreamers

Check out our show page at teammojoacademy.com for everything discussed in this podcast and other great resources to help you get your mojo on.

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