You’re a binary.
A binary usually refers to a system comprised of two parts. Like computer code is comprised of just two numbers 1 and 0. I’m borrowing on this idea a lot lately because, as a metaphor, it helps to illustrate this dynamic of what it is to be human and how success and failure defines us.
This whole duality in motivation thing is discussed rather succinctly in a wonderful TED talk by author Daniel Pink.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkrvAUbU9Y[/youtube]
In my work with H.E.R.O. when I say that a human being is a binary I’m referring to the fact that these two parts of you, which reside in one body, are often in conflict. In religion the body is seen a egoistic and the soul as realistic. This idea goes back to the ancient Chinese who referred to this duality in humans as the “Yin” and the “Yang” many centuries ago.
That’s about how long managing to get these two distinct attributes to work together has been a motivational nightmare. In my new soon-to-be-released video “Immune To Failure” you’ll hear me speak of two natures: One that is physical and one that is ethereal. When it comes to mindset this fact is made clear: Authenticity in motivation is all contained on the ethereal side and leads to greater happiness and productivity in the workplace and in life.
We can also assign placement to these natures. The physical can be located on the “outside” now more commonly described by researchers who use the adjective “extrinsic” to describe it. On the other hand we have the ethereal nature where they use the adjective “intrinsic” when referring to it.
Most of us know intuitively that creative thoughts, spontaneous actions,and gut feelings fall into the “intinsic” category. Conversly, we also know that ego, pride, and sex are all connected to the physical. The “extrinsic” attribute.
These things form a basis for my theory of the “new Immunity” in which I attempt to describe a self-correcting system that has remained hidden from researchers and most all of those who market personal development courses and services. It is the reason I talk about the traditional industry of self-help as being so covertly broken that even those who deal in it don’t yet know it.
Yet now it seems that science is stepping up to the plate and finally realizing that those things that we all hold dear like love (to another person or to a task), gut feel, and creativity are the things that produce the best most authentic motivation there is and that traditionally incentivized functions don’t.
Maybe science is finally on to something.