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Notes -
When I would go on day-long fasts, the only way I could get myself to complete it was to look forward to my large meal at the end of the day. And I had to look forward to the enjoyable part of the meal, not the vegetables but the buttery pasta or tasty chicken. If I didn’t have this enjoyment to look forward to, or even if I didn’t already plan exactly what I would be eating, I would invariably lose motivation and quit the fast early. When it did come time to eat, the eating was much more pleasurable and relaxing than usual (imagine being hungry and stoned at the same time).
Is this a larger phenomenon that can be generalized or just a bug in my brain’s code? Do humans work better when they have a determined, concrete enjoyment that they are 99% sure awaits them? The knowledge of “fasts are good for me”, “my hunger will go away”, “this is making me stronger” wasn’t nearly as motivating as simply knowing and anticipating a half-hour of enjoyable eating.
Speaking as someone who finds it very hard to envision positive events in the future or be positive about the future at all, it isn't very fun, and though I do push myself through tasks it's unpleasant. So yeah, I think this is a behavior that can be generalised.
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