PROVE EVERYBODY WRONG - Jordan Peterson (Best Motivational Speech)

SecondBrainMay 31, 2023, 3:06 p.m.

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This is a motivational speech.

Jordan Peterson explains that we all have problems, and these are actually signs of our potential and growth. He also talks about the importance of moral orientation, attention, and ethical behavior in achieving success and happiness in life.

Main topics: personal growth, conscience, destiny, goals, happiness, envy, moral orientation, attention, ethical behavior, community ethic.

Secondary topics: problems, obligation, faith, meaning, Pursuit, virtue, discipline, animal behavior, intimate relationships, repeating games, selfishness.

1. Introduction
2. Not everything that could bother you actually does
3. Some things really bug you and can make you feel cynical and bitter
4. Your destiny is calling to you through the guilt over unfulfilled obligations
5. Instinct for growth and transformation is part of being human
6. Your conscience helps guide you in the directions to take
7. Developing a way to turn problems into goals
8. Your goals are your problems: solving them leads to a more fulfilled life
9. Happiness is not the proper pursuit in life; the pursuit should be deeper
10. Do not punish what you want to have happen
11. Classical economist principles may not apply in a repeating game situation
12. Being a good person is the most compelling argument for achieving everything you could want and more, including being self-interested
13. Conclusion

Reframing Problems as Goals: Jordan Peterson's Key to Personal Growth and Fulfillment

In a motivational speech, Jordan Peterson affirms that while there are things in the world that may seem unjust, it is our own problems that require our attention, as they present the opportunity for personal growth and transformation. Peterson suggests that it is innate in human beings to constantly be evolving and looking for direction based on our conscience, which is why our problems are constantly calling us. Denying or avoiding them leads to a meaningless existence. Instead, Peterson advocates for reframing our problems as goals, no matter how ill-constituted our understanding of the problem may be.

Furthermore, Peterson believes that punishing people for their virtues can be a major hindrance to personal growth, especially in intimate relationships. Rather than punishing, he encourages rewarding and positively reinforcing good behavior in others, as it paves the way for individuals to deliver what is desired of them.

Peterson points out that ethical arguments are not only the most compelling but also the most selfish strategy we can adopt. He explains that as an individual, our present and future selves are a community of selves across time and that acting in a manner that benefits this community through the passage of time is a win-win situation for us and everyone involved. Peterson concludes by urging individuals to reframe their problems, set them as goals, reward virtues, and act in ways that make their future selves and others win, promoting personal growth and fulfillment in the process.

The article focuses on the concept of personal growth and how addressing one's problems can lead to fulfilling one's destiny. The author suggests that everyone has an instinct for growth and that one's conscience can guide them in addressing their problems. The article also discusses the importance of moral orientation, paying attention, and rewarding desirable behavior in relationships. Furthermore, the article explores the idea that ethical behavior is not only compelling but also selfishly beneficial since our future selves are a community across time.

This information can influence other areas of knowledge such as psychology and philosophy. In psychology, the concept of personal growth and how to address problems can be applied in therapy sessions. In philosophy, the idea that ethical behavior is not only compelling but also beneficial can be explored in moral philosophy. Additionally, the article touches on the concept of behaviorism in psychology, and how rewards can reinforce desirable behavior.

What is missing from the article is a discussion of the role of external factors in addressing one's problems. While personal willpower and introspection are integral, external factors such as access to resources, support, and societal structures play a significant role in addressing problems. Moreover, the article does not acknowledge the potential contradictions between personal growth and societal norms. For instance, societal expectations may hinder personal growth, and addressing such problems may require challenging societal norms.

Question 1: Why do some things in the world really bug us?

Short answer:

Some things in the world bug us because our instinct for growth is calling to us in the form of guilt over unfulfilled obligations, and our conscience tells us at least in part what we need to address.

"there's lots of things in the world that aren't set right but some of them really bug you maybe they make you cynical and bitter you know oh God look at how the world is constituted it's so awful that I can't sustain my faith in the sight of that it's like well you've got something to do there guy that's your problem why who knows I would say the reason is that it's your destiny calling to you in the form of guilt over unfulfilled obligations you have an instinct for growth that's not a mystical statement it's part of Being Human we don't reach the limits of our potential"

Question 2: What is the best way to turn problems into goals?

Short answer:

The best way to turn problems into goals is by solving the problems you have, as that is where the answer is to be found.

"I'm not being flip about this it's it's that's where that's where the answer is to be found that's not happiness and happiness has those problems you've already described you know it's got this now focused impulsivity and and you know I've been hard on happiness as a Pursuit and perhaps too much so because I haven't had very much happiness because I've been so ill for the last while and you know I I it's possible that I've undervalued it perhaps not but it's possible in any case if it comes along you're a fool if you don't welcome it but but it's still not the proper Pursuit I suppose to some degree it's not deep enough"

Question 3: According to the article, how can envy impact our relationships with others?

Short answer:

Envy can cause us to punish people for the manifestation of a desirable virtue, like attractiveness or intelligence, and hurt both them and ourselves.

"you can do that with your kids too if you're jealous of them I mean maybe you have a kid is really bright is brighter than you it's like are you so sure you're happy about that and how do you know that you're not going to punish that child because you're jealous you know and if you think you're not that sort of person well you should think again because people are that sort of people and perhaps you can train yourself not to do it but Envy is a pretty common human emotion and the probability is that you're reasonably prone to it"

Question 4: How does the community ethic prevail in human behavior, even for those who want to act selfishly?

Short answer:

The community ethic prevails in human behavior because as soon as humans discovered the future, they became a community of selves stretched across time. Therefore, even if someone wants to act selfishly, they should act in a manner that would benefit their entire community across time.

"if you were enlightened and selfish you would act in a manner that would benefit that entire community across time and I don't think that's any different than acting on the best possible part for other people I think they're the same problem so I think as soon as human beings discovered the future we we know we were no longer singular individuals we're instantly each a community and then the community ethic prevails and the community ethic is I want to win in a way that makes you win that's the best possible victory"

Quiz 1: Understanding the Text

Question 1: What does the text say about the things that can bother someone?

• a. Everything that bothers someone is set right in the world.
• b. People are bothered by everything that could be bothersome.
• c. Some things bother people while others do not.
• d. Only cynical and bitter people are bothered by things that don't matter.
Correct answer: c.

Question 2: According to the text, why should people investigate and address what bothers them?

• a. To sustain their faith in the world.
• b. To fulfill their obligations.
• c. To avoid their destiny calling.
• d. All of the above.
Correct answer: d.

Question 3: What does the text say about the pursuit of happiness?

• a. Happiness should be everyone's main pursuit.
• b. Happiness is not a deep enough pursuit.
• c. Happiness is the only proper pursuit for humans.
• d. None of the above.
Correct answer: b.

Quiz 2: Relationships and Virtues

Question 1: What does the text say about rewards in relationships?

• a. Rewards should be given sparingly in intimate relationships.
• b. Punishment is a better way to encourage desired behavior in intimate relationships.
• c. Rewarding desired behavior can help improve a relationship.
• d. Rewards should only be given in exchange for goods or services.
Correct answer: c.

Question 2: How does the text advocate for being a good person?

• a. Being a good person is the most compelling argument for acting ethically.
• b. Being a good person is personally rewarding in the long term.
• c. Being a good person is the best way to get everything you want.
• d. All of the above.
Correct answer: d.

Question 3: How does the text recommend dealing with jealousy towards others' virtues?

• a. Punish others for their desirable virtues.
• b. Ignore others' desirable virtues completely.
• c. Reward others for their desirable virtues.
• d. None of the above.
Correct answer: c.

Quiz 3: Community and Selfishness

Question 1: How does the text define interest?

• a. It is what benefits oneself in the short term.
• b. It is what benefits oneself in the long term.
• c. It is what benefits oneself and one's community over time.
• d. It is what benefits others without benefiting oneself.
Correct answer: c.

Question 2: How does the text describe a person's community over time?

• a. It is a community of different people the person interacts with throughout their life.
• b. It is a community of all the people the person knows at any given time.
• c. It is a community of different versions of the person as they age and change.
• d. It is a community of all the people the person knows and their descendants.
Correct answer: c.

Question 3: How does the text advocate for being enlightened and selfish?

• a. Act in a manner that benefits only oneself in the short term.
• b. Act in a manner that benefits only oneself in the long term.
• c. Act in a manner that benefits oneself and one's community over time.
• d. None of the above.
Correct answer: c.

1. Identify your problems and turn them into goals - Instead of dwelling on your problems and feeling helpless, turn them into goals and work towards solving them. This can be applied in everyday life by making a to-do list and prioritizing the tasks that need to be done to overcome the problems.
2. Avoid punishing those who possess desirable virtues - Instead of punishing others for having qualities that make them appealing, reward them and encourage them to continue improving themselves. This can be applied in everyday life by praising someone for their hard work or simply acknowledging their efforts.
3. Develop a moral orientation - Having a moral compass will guide your decisions and actions towards the betterment of yourself and others. This can be applied in everyday life by reflecting on your values and principles to make sure they align with your actions.
4. Pay attention - Being observant and attentive to others' needs and emotions can help you build stronger relationships and understand the world around you better. This can be applied in everyday life by actively listening to others during conversations and being aware of your surroundings.
5. Be productive, straightforward, and generous - This combination of traits will make you an attractive person to be around and increase the likelihood of others wanting to work and play with you. This can be applied in everyday life by being helpful, honest, and efficient in the tasks you take on.

The best tip to include in daily life would be to develop a moral orientation, as it provides a foundation for all the other tips to be applied effectively. By having a clear set of values and principles, you can approach problem-solving, decision-making, and interaction with others in a more thoughtful and ethical way. This will create a ripple effect that benefits not only yourself but also those around you, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.