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“No Pain, No Gain”
“Work Hard, Party Harder”
I’m willing to bet a lot of money you have heard these quotes multiple times. Maybe seen them hung up on posters on the wall? Or stumbled across them as you scroll on Instagram.
What do you classify them as? Motivational? Inspirational? Encouraging… maybe not so much.. How about pushy? Harsh?
Maybe you have used these motivational quotes as a wallpaper for your phone, and you get pumped up for life as you feel like you can overcome any problem by working just a bit harder.
But the reality is, motivational quotes can actually do a lot of harm. The problem with motivational quotes is that they overgeneralize, promote unhealthy thinking styles, distort reality, and can also lead to more stress. Ultimately, motivational quotes can actually decrease your motivation. Ironic, right.
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1. They Don’t Recognize Different Personality Types
One time I was sitting in a cafe where the wall was covered in motivational quotes. What I didn’t understand, though, is that while one said “No pain, No gain,” another said “Do the best you can.”
“You are enough just as you are.” or “Love what you do” or “Believe you can and you are halfway there.”
I didn’t understand should I be working hard, sweating tears and blood (figuratively), or should I be happy with my work? Is pain a sign that I am going to achieve success or does it mean that I should be finding something else I enjoy?
Is belief the biggest ingredient, or is pain the biggest ingredient?
And then my friend told me: it depends what kind of person you are. That makes so much sense. See, some people need a push. They lean towards comfort, and they need to reminded that a little discomfort is necessary to grow. That is where something like “Work Hard, Party Harder” can help.
But I am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I am a workaholic, Type A, always pushing, pushing, pushing.
The problem with motivational quotes is that they make blanket statements, that all of humankind should follow. The reality is, there are different personality types!
A type A person who already is a workaholic will take these quotes to an unhealthy level. Sure, it can be okay for people who are really lazy and need a push to succeed. But the people who are exhausted working hard, and then told “don’t stop when you are tired, stop when you are done” will probably end up burning out. Which leads me to my next points.
2. Harsh and Extreme Standards
Most motivational quotes are extremely harsh. They set ridiculously high standards and negate any opposing view. According to motivational quotes, there is only one right way of living life: working extremely hard and succeeding.
I am all for having big hopes and dreams. Overcome limiting beliefs that you can’t do something, yes!
But,
what if you are happy where you are? What if you want to slow down and appreciate what you already have?
What if you want to work towards success with inspiration and joy, not with the feeling that there is a fire behind your ass?
You are allowed to celebrate your achievements! Even if you don’t win, or hit all your targets, you can still enjoy what you HAVE gotten done! And you should!
The focus on being successful and winning is so pressurizing. “No pain, no gain”? Really? That ultimately creates a limiting belief that you HAVE TO work extremely hard to succeed. But can’t you instead work SMART?
- “Whatever you are, be a good one.” ― Abraham Lincoln
- Work hard, party harder
- “Work like there is someone working twenty four hours a day to take it away from you.” – Mark Cuban
- “Hustle in silence and let your success make the noise.” – Unknown
- “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
- “Invest in your dreams. Grind now. Shine later.” – Unknown
- “Hustlers don’t sleep, they nap.” – Unknown
Why you should celebrate your wins: 3 myths around productivity and self-love
3. Encourage Unhealthy Lifestyles that Will Lead to Burnout
Unfortunately life can pass by and according to motivational quotes, you shouldn’t stop till you succeed. So you will keep working working working. And then what? Maybe you “won” but what if you are now sick? What was the point if your kids grew up and you never saw them? If your friends grew apart? If you are alone?
If your ‘success’ leaves you unhappier than before, then what is the point.
If you are successful but have nobody to share it with, what is the point?
“Don’t stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done.”
I almost laughed out loud at this “motivational quote”. When you are tired, your body is telling you it needs a break. When you are tired, you need to pause and refresh. And if you don’t? Your productivity will drop like crazy. So you could keep working until you are “done”, but why not rest, and work faster and better?
The problem with motivational quotes is they disregard the negative effects of overworking. Not only will you burn out, but your mental and physical health will suffer.
Read: 10 Reasons Why Working Too Much does more harm than good
4. Promote Cognitive Distortions
Don’t even get me started here. Most of us have a lot of cognitive distortions already. This is a huge cause of mental health problems, and one significant type therapy is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that helps us change the way we think.
Unfortunately, the problem with motivational quotes is that a lot of them portray life through a distorted lens. Our brains are already distorted. We don’t need quotes to live by that will further distort our brains.
SHOULD statements
- “We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” – Marie Curie
- “If you have an idea of what you want to do in your future, you must go at it with almost monastic obsession, be it music, the ballet or just a basic degree. You have to go at it single-mindedly and let nothing get in your way.” – Henry Rollins
- “If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success.” – James Cameron
Black and White/All-or-Nothing Thinking
- “No pain, no gain”
- “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.” – Beverly Sills
- “The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson
- “Entrepreneurs average 3.8 failures before final success. What sets the successful ones apart is their amazing persistence.” – Lisa M. Amos
Overgeneralization
- “Only the paranoid survive.” – Andy Grove
- “The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
- “Hustlers don’t sleep, they nap.” – Unknown
- “If you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien
- “Always go with your passions. Never ask yourself if it’s realistic or not” is one by Deepak Chopra
Personalization
- “Fortune sides with him who dares.” – Virgil
- “Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” – Chris Grosser
- “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
- “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Kurt Cobain
- “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
Conclusion
Motivational quotes are good, but the problem with motivational quotes occurs when they are followed blindly. Sure, reading “no pain, no gain” might lift your spirits on a particularly bad day, but it doesn’t mean that you HAVE to have a painful day to succeed at life.
Being mindful and self-aware is key to knowing which motivational quotes can inspire you and when to let go of the ones that cause unnecessarily overwhelm and unhealthy stress.
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I agree motivational quotes should definitely be taken with a grain of salt just like anything else! Awesome post!
Exactly! Thanks a lot 🙂
Interesting read! I can definitely see how some of these quotes could lead to massive problems. If we always lived by the credo “no pain, no gain,” we’d end up seriously injured.
Haha that is so true! and that is exactly the problem with these quotes!
I agree with this. My husband is one who could work himself to death so these quotes would be harmful. As I’ve gotten older I’m better at relaxing but I’m inclined to overdo things too
Haha your husband sounds just like me! That is the problem with these quotes, is that whereas they might help one personality type, they can be quite harmful to another type.
This is a really interesting perspective I never though about this. I guess for me I take what resonates and leave the rest. Beautifully written piece!
Great article. This speaks to modern life in general. We reduce so much to a quick quote or meme, and never delve into the real issues. Thanks
Indeed! We like to oversimplify a bit too much… glad you liked the article!
I’m sorry, but I completely disagree. But we are all entitled to our own opinions.
Yes of course!
I personally enjoy reading motivational quotes but totally get your point! We must remember that these quotes are from people too, and are just sharing pieces of advice from their own experiences in life that they think are beneficial to others. As with all things, it’s up to us on how we take it. We can choose to take it literally, or just the essence of it! 🙂
Yeah, I get it, I love motivational quotes too… but then i realized something was wrong when I started feeling unworthy and not good enough because of some of them. You said it perfectly… they are all from human beings, just like us.
It is best to have a good overall view when using motivational quotes. Good Read!
definitely! Thanks a lot 🙂
Interesting read! I never thought of it this way.
Very nice article. I have never thought about motivational quotes with this point of view. Thanks for the article.
thank you! it is so important to be mindful of what we consume, even if it is ‘motivational’.