Part 9/13:
Optimizing Effort and Reward Perception
A key insight is the relationship between effort and reward. External rewards can sometimes diminish intrinsic motivation and pleasure derived from effort—a phenomenon demonstrated by studies where children who were rewarded for drawing subsequently drew less when the reward was removed.
Dr. Huberman advocates cultivating a growth mindset: learning to derive intrinsic reward from the process of effort itself. This involves actively reframing challenging work as something pleasurable, engaging the prefrontal cortex to access dopamine from perseverance. When effort is appreciated as its own reward, motivation becomes more sustainable and resilient.