plenty of people are having a shit time and a short time,
Absolutely - but I think there is something worse when it is self-inflicted.
For me, "it's good for you" just isn't enough of an incentive...
I don't think it is enough incentive for most of us, which is why we fail. So, what does incentivize it enough?
There are some people who want to live longer - then there are those who want to suffer less. However, I feel that the yolo life leads to increased suffering, or "postponed" suffering perhaps. How long can it be put off for?
Because I've met a few people sacrificing constantly for the ever-elusive tomorrow, who ended up getting nothing.
Maybe it depends on whether there is a family. I don't mind not getting anything from my hard work - but I don't want my family to suffer from my lack of work.
I also think our society is designed in such a way to breed depression and helplessness, and many of us will do anything, no matter how nasty and unhealthy, to temporarily alleviate that.
This is the profit-seeking business model.
I think it varies. I think it's a lot to do with mentality, also. Like, I cleaned up my act (and diet :D) for health reasons. Not any real problems, but I kept hearing about more natural diets and how they can help fine tune health issues. Gave it a try, and kept to it long enough to alter my taste system a bit, I guess. For me, the motivator rn is that I prefer what these healthier foods taste like. I was just talking to a friend about sugar - she asked oh, you're staying away from it? I said no, I literally don't enjoy sugary shit. Like I don't want it. Don't know what would motivate me if I didn't have that going, though.
I don't know when that happened. We're always talking about making healthy choices as a sacrifice (e.g. cutting carbs, sugars, processed foods). I mean, if you're going into it thinking it's going to be a constant struggle...
In diet, particularly true. Sure binging Diet Cokes might look fun and harmless when you're 20, but you'll probably be regretting it in your 40s and 50s, you know?
That's actually wonderful, my friend. it's very beautifully expressed. :)