Why Cause Greater Than Yourself?

Steven Kotler: Demystifying Purpose

1 min read · 5.7.2025

“Three levels of happiness according to positive psychology—

how you are in the moment happiness,

then there’s a high-flow lifestyle with enjoyment and engagement, and now

there’s a purpose and meaning which is a high-flow lifestyle coupled to a cause greater than yourself. 

“And the cause greater than yourself, by the way, so that we can demystify purpose, it works because

passion is so selfish it can be obsessive and dangerous –(a), and

(b), when you get the focus off yourself you need external focus—task specific focus—to generate flow, to generate high performance.

“If it’s too internal, that will screw everything else you need.

“So external focus gets you outside yourself, and, bonus, passion will give you a bunch of dopamine, which is a great motivator.

“But purpose gives you dopamine and oxytocin—and that’s a really big winning combo that lasts.

“So the purpose is super super super important but it gets really mystified but it’s actually simple—

it’s about where we put our focus and what neurochemicals we recruit.”

References:

Steven Kotler. Uncovering Peak Performance and Maximizing Human Potential with Dr. Michael Gervais. Flow Research Collective. Apple Podcast. Episode 10. 2021

Steven Kotler. Develop a Peak Performance Mindset with Dr. Michael Gervais. YT Channel: Steven Kotler. 2023.