跟读练习: Why Life Feels Boring (And Skyrim Doesn’t) - 通过视频学习英语口语

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Why is it that we can spend hours walking around games like Skyrim, completing quests, and improving imaginary skills,

yet we struggle to apply this same motivation to our real life?

I don't believe that games like this are only fulfilling for us because they are a form of escapism,

they also satisfy one of the most essential parts of human nature, that is, the will to power.

This is a term made popular by Nietzsche and it describes the desire to pursue challenges.

It is that drive in us towards self -actualization.

And this is exactly what is at the heart of video game psychology.

Think about one of the biggest differences between real life and a game like Skyrim.

In a game, there is always a path forward.

You may not know exactly how you are going to defeat Alduin, take out the Emperor, or whatever quests you choose to do,

but you do know that you can.

You are the protagonist.

The game itself holds your hand and guides you to succeed.

And I believe it is that certainty that changes everything.

You are a lot more willing to take risks

and to put in the effort to develop skills because you know that you are going to succeed.

In real life however there is no such thing as certainty.

We have too much freedom and I think as a result of this we don't always know what we want to become.

Even when we do have a goal there is no quest log

that tells us the next 10 steps we need to take in order to achieve it.

Nobody tells us you need to go to this place, speak to this person, or improve the specific skill in order to progress through the story.

Games also present us with challenges that are perfectly calibrated to the level we are at.

It is always a push for us, but still within our reach.

In real life, we don't know what is too difficult for us or what is within our reach.

And I think we can very easily attempt things that are outside of our skill level.

And when we fail, we think that we are not good enough and we just give up.

However, I find that there is one other thing

which I believe has the biggest impact on how motivated we feel within a game versus real life,

and that is the use of contained boredom.

In games, you are usually given the freedom and time to explore on your own.

It is up to you to seek out stimulation.

I've noticed that when I play, I really enjoy just walking around, sitting in an inn and talking to people,

taking in the atmosphere, but once I've enjoyed it enough, I am very eager to head back out and do something,

to take on a new quest.

And in that world, what else would I do?

If you imagine Skyrim as a fully immersive reality,

you are sitting in a little wooden house and there is literally nothing to entertain you.

There's no phone, no TV, you pretty much have books and farm work,

you would eventually be bored out of your mind and it is that boredom that drives you to just do something.

Now imagine introducing something like TikTok into that world.

Instead of having to travel across half the land to do some tedious quest,

you can stay at home and just scroll and get instant entertainment every few seconds.

You would no longer need to seek out challenge, novelty, or achievement?

Why would you put in the effort to seek out stimulation when you have it on demand?

And I think that's very similar to how many of us live today.

I notice it in my own life.

As a student who mostly works from home, I can spend days within the same four walls just staring at my computer screen all day.

And sometimes I really wonder, if I didn't have all of these very easy distractions, how bored would I be?

What would I seek out to do instead.

We are really living in the age of instant dopamine, where any moment we feel bored, there's something new waiting for us within arm's reach.

Usually achieving goals in real life is what releases dopamine, or more specifically, it is the anticipation,

the pursuit of goals that releases it in order to help keep us motivated.

However, a lot of modern distractions, such as social media trigger

that same release of dopamine without having to put in any effort or struggle in order to receive it.

And because of this, we become stagnant, unable to motivate ourselves to do anything more difficult in comparison.

And I think this is what becomes so dangerous because the threshold is on the floor.

It is so low because we no longer need to put in the effort to pursue anything to be rewarded.

You can just sit there on an app like TikTok and any second you feel disinterested, you scroll and you have something new served up.

You're just like that rat hitting the dopamine button while it starves, even if it's ruining its own life.

But the thing is, this isn't just a waste of the finite amount of time you have in your life,

it also has a far worse effect.

It lowers the threshold of how much you're willing to struggle in order to succeed.

So why do we need challenge in the first place?

Why should we seek out challenge instead of just being comfortable?

Well, how many of you have played games where you have everything you want and everything is perfect,

easy, and comfortable? probably no one so why is it then

that we are drawn to challenge and difficulty

and overcoming struggles why do we choose to do this with our free time

and why do we gain enjoyment from it one of the

most basic human instincts is described in the will to power it is the desire for more

but it isn't just about the attainment of our desires because

that would then leave us without an object to desire

that would just be boredom it is the desire to pursue our desires it's what's also described as self -mastery

or self -actualization humans are made to desire to always want more

and that is what games understand

so well at the beginning of a game you are weak you have limited skills

and equipment and you are in a world full of things

that can easily defeat you but through Through every challenge you overcome, you grow stronger and you're eventually able to take on challenges

that would have been impossible for you to do at the beginning of the game.

The reward isn't just the loot, but the feeling of improvement you get from it.

And this is exactly why we enjoy the process of playing the game more than the completion of it.

It's the age -old paradox how with any game, you can only gain enjoyment from it if you have a genuine desire to win,

but the moment you win, you lose enjoyment because the game has come to an end.

The will to power is found in that in -between.

It is the process of striving before you have reached your goal.

It's why the most fulfilling goals can never be attained once and for all.

And if you attach yourself to a specific goal that you want so badly, often when you achieve it,

you are back in a state of apathy or boredom.

You may feel disappointed even, and it's because it was the pursuit of it that gave you fulfillment.

I feel like this is also reflected really well in Alan Watts' concept of the dream of life,

and I want to read you just a few lines from it.

Let's suppose that you were able every night to dream any dream you wanted to dream, and that you could, for example,

have the power within one night to dream 75 years of time, or any length of time you wanted to have.

And you would, naturally, as you began on this adventure of dreams, you would fulfill all of your wishes.

You could have every kind of pleasure you could conceive.

And after several nights of 75 years of total pleasure each, you would say, well, that was pretty great.

But now let's have a surprise.

Let's have a dream which isn't under control, where something is going to happen to me

and I don't know what it's going to be

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and you would get more and more adventurous and you would make further

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and further out gambles what you would dream

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and finally you would dream where you are now you would dream the dream of living the life

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that you are actually living today this is something i have thought about

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so much and i find it to be very true it's

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that very idea that we don't just want happiness or the eternal fulfillment of all of our desires.

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What we want is to test ourselves against challenges.

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That is ultimately what is play for us.

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And just think about it.

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This is what makes any story interesting to us.

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Even as kids, when we use our imagination, there are always stakes involved.

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There is nothing but boredom in the attainment of all of our desires.

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What we truly want is challenge.

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So what does this mean for real life?

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How can we use this same framework to apply to our own life?

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To live as the main character, to go after our goals and overcome challenges while finding enjoyment in it?

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I've broken this down into three mechanisms that games use that you can also apply to real life.

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The first thing is boredom.

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Boredom creates the kind of Skyrim environment that leaves you seeking out adventure.

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Last year, as an experiment, I did what people would probably call a dopamine detox,

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but really, I was just trying to remove any and all easy distractions from my life.

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It was exam season for me, so for a few months, I really wanted to try to get my focus back,

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and I still used my computer for study and work, but everything else I avoided.

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I left my phone on airplane mode, I didn't use any TV, social media, even listening to music,

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all of those kind of little things that I would just use to fill my time.

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And admittedly, the first few days were awful.

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I found it incredibly hard, which I didn't actually expect, and it made me realize how dependent

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I had become on this kind of instant stimulation to fill any moment of boredom or silence.

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But the good news is that after those first four days, it completely changed.

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I instead felt dread at the thought of having to use any kind of device.

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After just a few days of this, I also noticed that I started to become a lot more productive, even though I didn't even mean to.

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It was just because as soon as I would finish what I was working on, I would close my computer, and all of a sudden,

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I realized that I would just sit there

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and look around the room for maybe 10 minutes look out the window

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and i would get so bored that i would naturally get up

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and find something to do i started

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so many creative projects in this time i started working out more i actually enjoyed doing things

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that took more effort cooking dinners

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that were more complicated than i usually would make

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i did a lot of writing in the time i enjoyed reading so much more because it really felt like a reward.

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Everything felt more vivid

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and I also noticed how much my attention span improved just by not having any quick entertainment to pass the time.

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And it's funny because I was also the most productive in that month that I had probably been in the whole year,

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even though I wasn't actually trying to be.

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It wasn't hard, it wasn't a matter of having to lock in and force myself to be disciplined,

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it just came down to the fact that I would choose to do something over doing nothing.

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Without all these kind of distractions, it really felt like in Skyrim, where you just wander around until you find a quest,

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which seems kind of interesting to do.

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But this experiment really made me realize how much all these distractions

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and quick dopamine are ruining our natural desire for adventure and pursuing our goals.

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So instead of trying to force yourself to do the things you know you should be doing, use boredom just like games do.

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If you have nothing else to do, you will naturally reach for those things you've been avoiding.

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Now the second thing is quests.

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In Skyrim, you are given a direction.

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You have a main quest, side quests, skills to improve,

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places to discover, you always have a clear sense that there is always more waiting for you to do.

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However, real life doesn't give us that.

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We aren't told that we are dragonborn, handed a map, and then told where to go and what to do.

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We have freedom, but that freedom can just become uncertainty because we don't know what we're supposed to be doing, and even if we do,

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we might not know what the next steps are.

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So you have to start creating quests for yourself choose a big goal you have this is your main quest

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and look it doesn't have to be perfect this doesn't have to be your lifelong dream

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because even in games or stories we read a main quest is more often than not something

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that is placed upon a character but they can still find fulfillment through pursuing it

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because at the end of the day we just need any goal to strive towards

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This can be completing a degree, building a business, or choosing to become really good in your craft.

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Next, you want to create side quests.

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This is something I've been doing for a few years, and I really, really recommend.

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You want to keep a list of any little thing that you have wanted to do.

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And this can be a lot of fun if you sit down and you just create a big,

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long list of anything that's ever caught your interest.

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Maybe you want to learn an instrument, maybe you want to visit a certain place, a few spots in your city.

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All of these kind of things will go into side quests.

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And the reason why this is important is because we can get

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so stuck in routine that we stop living and enjoying life.

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Side quests are there for us to seek out novelty.

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When we get bored of working on the main quest, we can choose something

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that will give us new experiences side quests are what keep life interesting as the main quest develops slowly

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now you can also think of skills for your character alongside

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this what skills do you need to develop in order to reach these goals

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and finally we have rewards in a game you complete a quest

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and you are rewarded

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you may receive experience loot access to a new place a new weapon whatever it is what matters is

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that it followed effort.

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I remember the first time I ever played Skyrim, I played on someone else's account and I didn't realize that it was heavily modded.

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So I started the game with pretty much all the best items already from the get -go.

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And I remember feeling really disappointed about this

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because it felt like it had ruined

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so much of the value of these things for me because now that I already had them, they were worthless.

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It didn't mean anything to me and now I wouldn't get to experience the enjoyment of pursuing them for myself.

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If you already have everything that you will desire throughout the game from the start, then there's no point of playing it.

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And this is the problem with, in real life, giving ourselves rewards before we have the chance to actually earn them.

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We tend to only value things for the effort it cost us to get them,

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and this is a really good thing because it means it's something you can use in your favor.

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Like I mentioned earlier about dopamine being released in the anticipation and pursuit of a desire, this is the part we enjoy the most.

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In real life, we can use delayed gratification to bring back this sense of anticipation.

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This is something that I have always loved doing and I think I unknowingly had used to motivate myself.

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Because especially when younger, anything that I really wanted,

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I would hold off on getting it in order to savor it and make it feel more special.

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This could be a movie that I really wanted to watch, a little thing that I wanted to buy,

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anything that made me excited at the thought of it.

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I would save these up and then I would use them as rewards for myself

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when I've done something I don't want to do.

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This way, not only do I have something to look forward to, but I also enjoy it so much more when I actually get these things.

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So try to make a list of all of these things you can think of

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that you would want or that you would enjoy, such as episodes of a favorite show, a snack, any little thing like this,

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a little gift to yourself.

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And keep these things as rewards when you've done something to earn it.

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Think of them as the rewards you get at the end of a little quest.

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Obviously, the bigger the quest, the bigger the reward you can give yourself.

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So to sum it up again, remove instant dopamine and create boredom use quests to pursue your goals in life,

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and finally, use rewards and delayed gratification.

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Games feel meaningful to us because they simulate the arc we want in our real life, beginning from nothing, overcoming challenges,

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growing stronger, and having a purpose to pursue.

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And I'm pretty sure many protagonists you admire will have this exact same arc.

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It is the self actualization arc.

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I think this is why so many of us feel unfulfilled in life, because beneath all those distractions and the uncertainty,

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we know that there is more potential inside of us.

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That is why it's worth taking game psychology seriously.

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You can take all the same mechanics that make you want to explore

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and overcome challenges and get stronger and apply them to the one project with real stakes, which is your life.

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And sure, it will be harder and it will take longer, there will be more distractions,

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and there's no guarantee that you will get exactly what you want.

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But this is what also makes it more meaningful.

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You have to start seeing your life as the most real open world game you will ever play.

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And it's up to you to decide what your character is going to become.

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In games, anyone can start playing and experience the thrill of adventure

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and developing their character to become exactly who they want to be.

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But in real life, we often neglect this, even though it is our nature to do exactly this.

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It is normal that we will always want more, and that is because one of our greatest needs is the need for self -actualization.

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We want to pursue and overcome challenges in order to grow.

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And while this might not be comfortable, we can find enjoyment in the challenge.

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It can be incredibly fulfilling for us.

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I think people often mistake happiness and comfort as the goals in life, but that is very different from fulfillment.

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Fulfillment is what makes us feel alive.

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It's like Camus says, the purpose of life is whatever keeps you from ending it.

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Now, I've obviously had to rephrase that for YouTube, but it's the same idea.

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And I really believe this.

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I think it isn't as pessimistic as it seems.

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It's in fact incredibly hopeful.

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It is that very existential task of creating your own project in life

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and giving it meaning

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because we live in an inherently meaningless world every game you play you are choosing to take seriously

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and to give meaning and

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that is why you find enjoyment from it you can do the exact same thing for your own life

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so i hope you enjoyed this video i would love to hear your thoughts on this as well

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so please let me know in the comments and i will see you next time Bye.

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FOR YOU

本课的词汇与口语要点

这节口语课以视频“Why Life Feels Boring”为素材。这段视频共有 246 个句子、3503 个单词可供跟读。讲话部分时长为 20:00。说话人语速自然，每分钟约 175 个词，接近日常对话。 86% 的单词属于英语最常用的 3,000 词，其余的词建议在练习前先学一下。

视频中的重点词汇

视频中 15 个值得学习的单词，附发音和释义：

单词	发音	释义
quest 名词	/kwɛst/	探索, 尋求 /寻求
reward 名词	/ɹɪˈwɔɹd/	報酬 /报酬, 獎勵 /奖励
pursue 动词	/pɚˈsu/	追求
enjoyment 名词	/ɪnˈd͡ʒɔɪ.mənt/	享受, 愉快
overcome 动词	/ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/	征服, 克服
bore 动词	/boɹ/	煩擾 /烦扰
adventure 名词	/ədˈvɛn.t͡ʃə/	奇遇, 冒險 /冒险
instant 名词	/ˈɪnstənt/	瞬間 /瞬间, 剎那 /刹那
fulfill 动词	/fʊlˈfɪl/	履行
motivate 动词	/ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/	激发
ruin 名词	/ˈɹuː.ɪn/	遺址 /遗址, 廢墟 /废墟
pursuit 名词	/pɝˈsut/	追求
stimulation 名词	/stɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/	刺激
earn 动词	/ɝn/	掙 /挣, 賺 /赚
happiness 名词	/ˈhæpinɪs/	幸福, 快樂 /快乐

视频中出现的短语动词

单词	发音	释义
get up 动词		起床
give up 动词		投案, 自首
look around 动词		環顧 /环顾
look forward to 动词		期待, 向往
look out 动词		当心, 小心
sit down 动词		坐下, 坐
take out 动词		取出
work out 动词	/ˌwɝk ˈaʊt/	計算 /计算, 算出

值得反复跟读的句子

视频中简短而完整的句子，可以直接用在日常对话里：

You would no longer need to seek out challenge, novelty, or achievement?
Why should we seek out challenge instead of just being comfortable?
However, real life doesn't give us that.
I think it isn't as pessimistic as it seems.

视频中的语法

说话人最常用的结构，并附上视频中的原话：

结构	视频中的用法
现在完成进行时 have/has been + -ing — 以前开始、现在仍在继续的动作	you've been avoiding · I've been doing
现在完成时 have/has + 过去分词 — 过去发生但与现在仍有关联的事	I've noticed · I've enjoyed · have played
被动语态 be + 过去分词 — 强调发生了什么，而不是谁做的	are usually given · be rewarded · are drawn
定语从句 who / which + 从句 — 补充说明人或事物	student who mostly · stakes, which is

需要注意的发音

说话人用了 39 次缩略和弱读形式，例如 don't, didn't, I've。请按听到的简短形式来说。

“th” 音: threshold /ˈθɹɛʃ(h)oʊld/, beneath /bɪˈniːθ/, worthless /ˈwɜːθ.ləs/, thrill /θɹɪl/, apathy /ˈæ.pə.θi/
“sh” 和 “zh” 音: distraction /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/, anticipation /ænˌtɪs.əˈpeɪ.ʃən/, stimulation /stɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/, threshold /ˈθɹɛʃ(h)oʊld/, examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
长单词——注意重音位置: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, incredibly /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/, anticipation /ænˌtɪs.əˈpeɪ.ʃən/, stimulation /stɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/, disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/

中文母语者容易读错的音：

/v/ — 不要读成 /w/，上齿轻触下唇: overcome /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/, adventure /ədˈvɛn.t͡ʃə/, motivate /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/, productive /pɹəˈdʌk.tɪv/, strive /ˈstɹaɪv/
词尾辅音 — 要读清楚，后面不要加元音: quest /kwɛst/, reward /ɹɪˈwɔɹd/, enjoyment /ɪnˈd͡ʒɔɪ.mənt/, instant /ˈɪnstənt/, motivate /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/
/r/ 和 /l/ 的区别: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, incredibly /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/, explore /ɪkˈsploɹ/, threshold /ˈθɹɛʃ(h)oʊld/, scroll /skɹoʊl/

如何用这段视频练习

先完整听一遍视频，不要开口，记下不认识的单词。
先用 0.75 倍速逐句跟读，熟练之后再回到正常速度。
录下自己的声音并与原声对比，特别注意 quest, reward, pursue 这类单词。

什么是跟读法？

跟读法 (Shadowing) 是一种有科学依据的语言学习技巧，最初开发用于专业口译员的培训，并由多语言者Alexander Arguelles博士普及。这个方法简单而强大：您在听英语母语原声的同时立即大声重复——就像是一个延迟1-2秒紧跟说话者的影子。与被动听力或语法练习不同，跟读法强迫您的大脑和口腔肌肉同时处理并模仿真实的讲话模式。研究表明它能显着提高发音准确性，语调，节奏，连读，听力理解和口语流利度——使其成为雅思口语备考和真实英语交流最有效的方法之一。

影子跟读法: 阅读完整分步指南 →

跟读练习: Why Life Feels Boring (And Skyrim Doesn’t) - 通过视频学习英语口语

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