In this episode of The Self Careapist Podcast, Dr. Hilary Hurst Bush shares insights from the upcoming Motivation Mindset Workbook (Guilford Press), inspired by Dr. Ellen Braaten’s Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less. Together they explore the APP Model — Aptitude, Pleasure, Practice, a compassionate and science-based framework for understanding what truly drives motivation in children, teens, and even high achievers facing burnout.

“It’s rarely a motivation problem — it’s a mismatch between aptitude, pleasure, and practice.”

---

What Is the Motivation Mindset Workbook?

Developed by Hilary Hurst Bush, PhD, in collaboration with Dr. Ellen Braaten of Harvard Medical School, this workbook transforms research and clinical practice into hands-on activities for ages 8–16. Each chapter moves through past → present → future, guiding families and clinicians to identify strengths (aptitude), authentic enjoyment (pleasure), and sustainable effort (practice).

---

The APP Model: Aptitude • Pleasure • Practice

Aptitude – skills can grow

Aptitude is ability plus potential — a living skill set that expands with feedback and repetition. It’s not “you have it or you don’t.”

Pleasure – authentic, not numbing

Pleasure is genuine engagement, not avoidance. Activities that leave you energized (not drained) point toward intrinsic motivation and aligned values.

Practice – time, space, energy

True practice needs protected time. Overscheduling and sunk-cost thinking smother motivation. Right-size commitments and defend white space.

---

Motivation vs. Mismatch: A Kinder Reframe

When someone “doesn’t care,” look for mismatch, not laziness.

• APP imbalance: skill + interest + no time = stagnation.
• Internal barriers: anxiety, perfectionism, fatigue.
• System barriers: conflicting family or cultural values.

This lens replaces blame with curiosity and opportunity.

---

High Achievers & Burnout: How It Affects Us All

The APP Model applies as much to adults as to adolescents. High achievers often over-practice, undervalue pleasure, and measure aptitude by output. The result? Burnout.
APP restores equilibrium:

• Re-discover authentic pleasure.
• Practice boundaries, not just skills.
• Redefine aptitude as potential — not endless performance.

Burnout affects us all—students, parents, and professionals alike. Sustainable motivation starts where value, joy, and capacity intersect.

---

Values Light the Way (ACT + CBT inside)

Rooted in CBT and enriched by ACT, the workbook connects motivation to values: what matters most. Gratitude tracking and pleasure inventories help families see which activities nourish versus deplete—critical in both therapy and everyday life.

---

Neurodiversity & Motivation

Autistic and ADHD learners often have deep, specialized interests—a strong pleasure vector. Recognizing and protecting those interests can reignite learning, improve executive functioning, and reduce anxiety.

---

Case Example: The Math-Art Mismatch

A teen getting C’s in math but thriving in painting isn’t unmotivated—they’re mismatched.

• Aptitude: check for learning differences.
• Pleasure: keep language neutral (“math takes work” instead of “math stinks”).
• Practice: add tutoring without removing art.

Pleasure time fuels resilience for difficult practice.