Just stop talking about it.

What if you could accomplish your biggest goals by simply shutting up about them?

Maybe that comes across as sounding a bit rude…

But seriously, what if it were really that simple?

Let me explain.

I think we all know someone who talks about their new plans or hobbies but that’s as far as they get.

They brag about these grandiose ideas of how they’ll travel the world, or have a six-pack in two months.

But the next time you see them they’ve still got a beer belly and haven’t left their hometown.

Maybe you’ve been caught in this trap too.

I know I certainly have.

And it has to do with the simple fact that we’re tapping into the reward mechanisms in our brains before ever actually doing the task.

Because your brain has a hard time recognizing what’s real, and what you’ve imagined/talked about.

Therefore, by sharing your plans, you’re releasing bits of dopamine and triggering the feeling of already having done the thing, without ever actually doing it!

Now some of you may say, “That sounds like visualization to me.”

And well, you’d be wrong…

Visualization is a practice to get your mind used to a certain reality, sure.

However, it’s commonly used to make the transition easier as you progress towards your goals.

This implies that you’re doing the work to get there and you’re only sharing it with yourself. You’re not blurting it out into the world.

But what I’m talking about is different.

It’s when people haven’t even started or they’re just beginning.

They’ve made zero progress but they tell people anyway and get responses from friends, family, or strangers telling them how impressive it is that they’re going to do these things.

For example:

You tell someone you’re training for a marathon and their response is:

“Wow! That’s incredible, I could never run a marathon. Well done!”

Boom! You’ve now reached a point where someone is praising you for something you’ve never even done.

Then in waltzes the dopamine, the rewards, and for most, the slow dissipation of your motivation.

This is one of the reasons I was so hesitant to talk about my writing or my business to friends and family.

Not because I don’t think they would be supportive…

But because I knew if I spoke about it too much, then I would lose the drive to get it done.

Oh, and by the way, if this is the first time you’re hearing about this concept, just know that this isn’t a new idea.

The stoics have talked about it for centuries and Andrew Huberman has mentioned how they’ve proven the concept scientifically on his podcast multiple times.

But overall, this is precisely why I think you should keep things close to your chest.

You don’t need to tell the world about every itty bitty piece of your life or your plans.

Sometimes it’s not about telling people what you’re going to do.

It’s about showing them.

So, from here on out, I suggest you simply stop talking about it.

Until next week.

Your friend from the wilderness,

Michael “Keep It To Yourself” Mitchell