Steven Kotler on The Art of Impossible

On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different, we’re kicking off one of the greatest hits from the podcast with one of our most powerful conversations: a deep dive with renowned author and peak performance expert Steven Kotler.

The conversation centers on Kotler’s book, “The Art of Impossible,” which explores the relationship between motivation, neurobiology, and the pursuit of extraordinary achievement. It’s the kind of episode listeners keep coming back to, and we’re bringing it to the front of the feed because the insights are as useful now as ever.

You’re listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let’s go.

Understanding Intrinsic Motivation

Steven Kotler begins by unpacking intrinsic motivation, which he identifies as a crucial driver of human performance. He highlights five key elements: Curiosity, Passion, Purpose, Autonomy, and Mastery.

These components not only fuel our desire to excel but also sharpen our focus and engagement. Kotler emphasizes that these motivators are hardwired into our biology, so when we align our actions with them, we can achieve remarkable results with less effort.

He illustrates the point with the neurochemicals involved in passion and love, particularly dopamine and norepinephrine. He recalls the intense focus and attention that come with falling in love, a heightened state of awareness that arrives effortlessly. This natural pull toward passion and engagement, he argues, is evidence of a biological design that favors extraordinary achievement.

The Consequences of Not Going Big

One of Kotler’s boldest assertions is that not striving for greatness can damage our well-being. He argues that human beings are inherently wired for extraordinary accomplishment, and that failing to pursue big goals can lead to negative outcomes. This challenges conventional views on motivation and success, suggesting that complacency can be harmful.

Kotler points out that many problems in modern society, such as depression and anxiety, can be linked to a lack of meaningful work and engagement. He identifies eight major causes of depression, two of which, genetics and severe trauma, get the most attention. But he emphasizes that these account for less than half of the equation. The rest are rooted in our biology and motivation, particularly the absence of work that aligns with our values an