The Motivational Triad: Pleasure, Pain and the Path of Least Resistance

In this solo episode, Kari unpacks the Motivational Triad - a powerful psychological model explaining why we avoid things we want to do. We’re wired to avoid pain, seek pleasure, and stay comfortable. But here's the twist: that wiring often sabotages our goals, habits, and even our identities.

Kari shares:

• How our brain’s default setting creates resistance—even to the things we love
• The effort paradox and why pleasure isn’t enough to motivate us
• What “activation energy” is and how to lower it to make change easier
• Why values and identity are the real keys to overriding your brain’s ancient programming
• Real-life strategies to set up “easy wins” and overcome resistance in your daily life

This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck, procrastinating on goals, or craving greater consistency in the areas that matter most.

Key takeaway: Your brain is doing what it's designed to do. But when you understand the Motivational Triad and lower the activation energy, you take the power back.

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