3 Motivational Quotes That Make Me Want To Throw Up in My Mouth
Please stop with the fake deep BS, already.
Let me preface this by saying this shit works for some people.
I am not that person.
That’s ok. Those people can do their thing. I’m gonna write this list.
1. Work hard, play hard.
I have so many issues with this phrase I don’t even know where to start.
Actually, I do. You can’t pour a six-pack of beer on your burnout and expect it to actually help. If anything, when I did that I found it made me way MORE anxious. And depressed. Which then made the burnout worse. Which made it harder to get up and go to work. Hm.
In research, it’s said that correlation doesn’t equal causation — but in this case, I’m arguing that working till you feel like you need to sledgehammer your brain with alcohol and drugs to forget about the week you just had is….related.
This quote reflects the idea that in order to keep killing yourself at your job, you need a reward. Something desirable dangling on a stick in front of you. Buying drugs, alcohol, expensive pottery, clothes, toys (batteries included), books, nice shoes, a new pair of boobs and more will provide a hit of dopamine, but none of those things could ever replace the serotonin hustle culture is stealing from you.
2. No more sad shit. Boss up.
Denying negative emotions leads to longer-lasting negative emotions. That’s a straight-up fact.
Also, ever heard of depression bro? You can’t just fucking boss yourself up out of that, and any narrative that tells you otherwise is dumb and problematic as hell.
Why is being sad not associated with being a boss? Oh right, because having emotions makes you human, and leaders are supposed to be strong, which in our culture often translates to being emotionless. If I sound salty, it’s because I am mega pissed off that I spent so much of my adult life so far believing that winners cry in the bathroom, not at their desk. I feel really lucky that I’m working at an organization that values vulnerability because I think that’s the tonic to this type of toxic BS.
So, in summary, this quote is insensitive, stupid AND factually inaccurate.
3. You’re gonna die.
Until then, you’re gonna live. Gary Vee said this so IT MUST BE GOSPEL RIGHT?!
I wrote an entire piece ripping apart and exposing why it seems motivational, but it’s really just…direct.
I did a poll on my Instagram and here are some other “inspirational” phrases people don’t seem to like:
- Everything happens for a reason.
- Everyone has the same 24 hours.
- Live. Laugh. Love.
- The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
- If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best.
…And so on.
I’ll unpack some of those another time – I’ve already lost enough brain cells.
This is your reminder that not every inspirational quote is meant for you.
