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How to Effectively Get Yourself Unstuck Using Application Brute Force Hack
A productivity and habit forming practice to help you move towards goals
John Paul del Rosario
August 04, 2023
What do we know for sure? You got one shot at this life and you’re going to spend 1/3 of it asleep. So what you choose to do with the remaining 2/3s? That is the only question that matters.
The desire to become the best version of ourselves is universal.
When we accomplish any tasks, big or small, our bodies release a surge of dopamine, giving us a sense of reward. It’s nature’s way of making us feel good about our achievements.
You can observe this process happening in things like playing Tetris, cooking, sports, business and more.
But dismissing dreams and passions has become the norm in our world. Then we convince ourselves to think our current path is enough to live by or that it’s too late to switch gears.
Then we cover the pain by using TV or social media for cheap dopamine hits.
But hey, let’s not forget that normal doesn’t always mean it’s the natural or fulfilling way to live.
A New Hope
The internet or social media has become the great equalizer.
It provided a platform for online personalities to express shine and thrive at the same time.
If we look closely, we can see they are all typical humans, exactly like you and me.
The only difference is they chose a different direction away from the common person.
(According to William James) The reason we’re not living into our potential is we are not in the habit of living our potential. We have automatized the wrong processes. We are playing the wrong game and that is bad.”
Do you feel lost and unsure of how to move forward in your life?
Have you ever wondered how people make it big doing what they love?
Unsure how to discover your life’s passions?
If you answered yes, let me tell you what happened to me and how I fixed it.
I was uncertain about how to change and where to go.
Instead of pursuing real achievements, I sought cheap thrills from movies, Netflix, YouTube, political shows, and animes.
One day, I was telling my uncle about a friend back in college who urged me to do business instead of studying. Things happened, and we parted ways. And now he turned out to be super successful.
And my uncle replied with these words:
“You know what? You don’t have the guts!”
I was slapped with reality so hard it shook me to the core and, boy, it was not comfortable at all.
It felt like I was gasping out of air while trying to reply as defensively as I can.
At that moment, my mind had no choice but to submit to the truth.
For months, these words stayed with me, getting stronger every day.
It made me feel depressed, and I resorted to watching more entertainment contents until I was sick of it.
I felt gross about how bad things got, so I totally turned my life around.
I used my computer knowledge to solve the problem by using a systems development framework. Here is a complete breakdown for you:
The Framework
Step 1: Define the objectives/mission/goals
Explore these critical areas of life that matter most to you: health, wealth, relationships, and happiness.
List down the consequences of not addressing the problems in these four areas.
What I did: Here's the list I came up with:
Happiness: My son is on the autism spectrum. I want to ensure he has everything he needs and our family enjoys life to the fullest before I die.
Wealth: I hate that I’m not making enough money and spend time with my family. I need to create more sources of income for both the immediate and distant future.
Relationships: Living far away for four years, my wife and I can’t connect in person and my child needs his father to help with his development.
Health: I need to become bigger, faster, stronger, smarter and wiser to complete my goals and live a long, fulfilling life for my family and myself.
Define Goals:
Quick project to help my finances: Change my business media solutions to a subscription-based model for video, graphics and landing page design.
My long-term goal is to be an online creator and share all the things I'm super passionate about, like self-development, nutrition, movement, spirituality, video editing, graphic design, web design, music, dance, martial-arts, and more. I need to develop skills in writing, speaking, marketing and sales to make this happen.
Step 2: Issue and Pain-Points Identification
One thing we all need to realize - the fear is in your mind. The fear is what we have created. If we created it, we have the antidote to destroy it!
Determine the root cause and analyze the data to determine the next steps. An honest/objective inventory is imperative for this process.
Because, as they say, the truth will set you free.
I figured out two big things that kept me stuck:
1) Fear
Fear is the biggest hurdle most of us cannot overcome. We get stuck ‘cause we’re scared to mess up or don’t know how to succeed. This is always true unless you’re being held hostage or in some weird situation.
I realized that fear is just a green light to achieve our goals.
Most of us grew up coddled with the affirmation “it’s ok” to give up when the going gets tough.
2) Irresponsible & Unconscious Self-Programming
I knew I was consuming contents to numb away my frustrations.
And on top of that, we also unconsciously absorb programming signals all day, every day.
We can compare information to food, with varying nutritional benefits and drawbacks.
In eating terms, we have the power to control what we eat since we’re the ones putting the spoon in our mouths.
What I did: System overhaul- I did a complete hard drive reformat: Stop and clear all unnecessary inputs
I stopped consuming any content not conducive to my goals. If it doesn’t help with my progress, then I will not consume it.
Step 3: System Solution Design Hardware & Software Requirements
Design Solution:
Similar to a computer system, there are 3 key things we need to address: the hardware, operating system, and software.
Hardware Optimization:
Hardware requires optimized components for challenging tasks: fast memory, hard drive, processor, GPUs, and cooling. Our level of health determines our capacity to perform. In biological equivalent, these will be our various body systems (nervous, digestive, endocrine, muscular, skeletal, and others). We should identify the ideal food, workout plan, mindfulness, gratitude practice and sleep routine for our well-being. And note that none of the items here are optional.
What I did:
I found that the Carnivore Diet was key to my optimal health, providing me with a balanced and steady stream of energy for both my mind and body.
Worked on better sleep hygiene
Engaged in breath-work and meditative practices
Included Zone 2 training together with strength training.
Health tracking devices can help, e.g. smartwatches, Oura, Whoop, Fitbit and others
Operating System and Software Upgrade
To find a solution, we must understand how our own mind works, how we use it (or it uses us) + what our beliefs, principles, limitations, and behaviors are.
What I did: I searched for 2 personalities who can help with my 2 issues: fear and not knowing what to do.
I analyzed that I have a hardheaded-combative personality, and I didn’t want my brain to reason out of my goals.
The only way this can happen is to use more authoritative voices who will drown my bullshit out with stronger and logical messages.
I picked 2 people who are a perfect fit to help me with this change.
For Operating System Upgrade:
David Goggins: the hardest man in the world and known for his catchphrase “Stay Hard”. One of the world’s most inspirational people. He was perfect for programming my mind to make sure that I develop solid resiliency in the fastest way possible.
For Software Upgrade:
Dan Koe’s mix of evolutionary psychology, business, marketing, health, design, music, and spirituality resonated a lot with me. His teachings, philosophy, and business know-how helped view life and business from a different perspective.
Step 4: Operating System and Software Installation Procedure:
The key to your ability to absorb the new operating system and applications upgrade to produce better results lies in this crucial process.
The usual way is to practice using materials at a comfortable pace.
But if you're like me and want something unique, you can try something more radical like what I did below:
What I did: Application Brute Force Installation
I created a simple routine every morning that involved drowning, drilling, and imprinting my brain with 2 contents for 3 straight weeks:
From the moment I wake up, I listen right away to Dan Koe’s “Get Mad at Where You Are in Life”. You may watch the podcast episode on YouTube using this link: https://bit.ly/getmadatyourlife
I then I go for a run while listening to David Goggins compilations. You watch my playlist on YouTube using this link: https://bit.ly/stayhard2
Step 5: Execute the Program
Proper incubation and assimilation of our mentors' teachings through real-life application is crucial to effective learning.
What I did:
I only listened to their stuff while doing projects or working out to develop and change faster.
Even with the same 2 materials, I learn something new every day as my awareness grows and limitations lessen.
This is the same reason I could sustain this ground hog day like process to my advantage.
After some time, I saw that my brain had adopted them a lot. My thoughts, feelings, and words changed so much that I say them automatically.
David Goggin’s messages get me fired up even when my gas tank is already empty. I learned to crush any limits my mind creates.
Dan Koe’s contents create so much pattern connections in my mind of the possibilities I can do with my projects and other future ones.
Reflections & Results
Having a new Operating System and Software enabled me to tackle new challenges and activities for towards my goals.
I now have this power the enables to prioritize to push more into challenging situations I would have given up in the past.
Here are some discoveries, projects and activities I gained from this process
The Resilience Compass: Whatever my mind tells me, I do the opposite.
Running is something I dislike doing, so I started doing it every day.
Speaking and writing is not my forte, and I took a course on effective writing and speaking.
I started building a subscription model graphics and landing page design + video editing service.
Overthinking the negative effects of social media made take a hiatus for 3 years. I’ve realized that social media is a tool, similar to a hammer, whose usefulness depends on the user’s intentions. And now I am back full blast learning to be a creator.
To improve my overall well-being, I incorporated weightlifting, running, meditation, and gratitude practice into my routine.
I now play ultimate frisbee to boost my competitive, analytical and social skills, while enjoying myself.
To summarize the complete process:
Step 1: Define the objectives/mission/goals. What are the main purpose or goals in your life in the areas of health, wealth, relationship and happiness? Why you need to make this change?
Step 2: Issue and Pain-Points Identification
What is the reason you can’t apply change to your life? You must stop the root cause and identify the roadblocks stopping you from progressing towards your goals.
Step 3. Design the solution for Hardware, Operating System and Software Upgrade
Hardware: You must feed and train the body with the proper nutrition to handle the challenges ahead. Find the best diet, fitness, mindfulness and sleep routine that will work for you.
Operating System: Your mind’s operational structure must be remodelled to become a different and better version more suited to your objectives.
Software upgrade: Your new tools to enable to execute new possibilities and generate next level results.
David Goggins and Dan Koe might not be your cup of tea, but you must find those mentors who will guide you to this process.
Step 4. Installation Procedure:
You can take a pace suited for you, or do an “Application Brute Force Installation” like I did.
Step 5. Execute the Program
Simultaneous learning and applying action towards your goals to enhance your health, wealth, happiness and relationship will help the change process to progress faster.
Having completed the 5 steps, productivity, creativity, resilience, and change will flow and momentum will be in your favor.
You now have an operational system to increase productivity and fulfill life’s essentials: health, wealth, relationships, and happiness.
The infinite Game
But this is just the initial phase. There's a lot more to come. You will still need to continue doing more activities to make sure your momentum doesn’t stop.
This is a lifelong activity, which means more struggle, more growth and more rewards in life.
Remember, we only have one chance at this life, and living without realizing our full potential would end in a regrettable outcome. Let’s embrace change, break free from limitations, and create a life that aligns with our true purpose.
Do not worry if you don’t have that full determination to change. Do not believe what your mind is telling you. Own it and make it do the things you want in life. Focus on the positive feelings you’ll get from accomplishing tasks. You can manufacture motivation and determination from 0 to 100 by working on it, staying in the game, grinding daily, and staying hard.
Motivation is what gets you into this game; learning is what helps you continue to play; creativity is how you steer; and flow is how you turbo-boost the results beyond all rational standards and reasonable expectations. That, my friends, is the real art of impossible. Welcome to the infinite game.
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