Good morning fine peoples.
Greg…
So, after a few (give or take a month. But who’s counting?) weeks off, I thought I’d write something.
And here it is.
What leads us to get shit done?
As in, how is that process started, in ourselves? And how does it actually turn in to action?
Nope, I’m not talking about nagging him until he finally pulls his finger out and puts those bloody shelves up, Lisa. Well, not specifically anyway.
And no, I’m not talking about getting the lawns done quicker so you can crack open a froth dog either, Byron…
Well, sort of. But those are not quite the highly ideal-ed examples I usually like to run with. And yes, I know that’s a lie.
So, we break it down.
What starts us towards doing something?
Is it a thought?
“A tattoo of Maggi chicken flavoured 2minute noodles that has the cooking instructions just next to it! So I can remind myself of the love I have for them AND never forget how to make them? Now THAT is a brilliant idea!!! Sign me up!”
Well, that’s… certainly a thought… Not one I’d recommend, but whatever floats your boat Kyler.
Is that going to be enough to get that tattoo done? Enough to overcome that pain and financial cost and potential embarrassment? I say potential, because maybe all of Kyler’s friends will appreciate the level of commitment to the absurdity of it, and admire the tattoo ironically. Maybe…
Anyway…
Okay, what turns that thought into actual action?
Well, the short version is emotional value.
We all think thoughts about how to make our lives better, the world run smoother, have things be just simply cooler. Why don’t we follow through with all that cool stuff? Well, because we haven’t invested enough emotion into it to overcome the acknowledged energetic sacrifice that doing said cool thing would require.
I want to overhaul the medical industry. It’s a model based on illness and capitalising on people pain rather than investing in peoples wellness. Which is a relatively cynical take, but not a unique one either.
Well, why haven’t I done that? Honestly… I haven’t reconciled myself with the god awful volume of effort needed to change something so invested in its current version of how things run, that’s integral to all sorts of other parts of the economy… And that’s not even considering the possible big pharma assassination attempts I’d need to dodge. Call me extra cynical if you must.
So, emotional investment is necessary to drive a thought into action. Cool.
So, how do we break that down into less annoying terms.
Thoughts are for direction.
Emotions are for driving.
Positive or negative, emotions WILL drive a behaviour. It just depends on how aware and conscious we are of those thoughts and emotions and behaviours that result from them, in that moment.
Are the thoughts intentional? Or reactive? If they aren’t intentional, you just might end up with behaviours you really didn’t want, long term.
Are you aware and acknowledging and in control of those emotions? Or simply reactive again? Overwhelmed reactions and detached reactions both create behaviours and actions that are unlikely to be based on something you are consciously wanting to change, and far more likely to be based on past experiences that got you to this place in the first place. How much fun are we having, doing that?...
So, actively choosing what you want, making that thought based decision, or responding to a circumstance that prompted an emotion with a thought-based decision, kind of matters.
Especially if you actually want what you think and feel you want.
Maybe you don’t want a noodle tattoo. Maybe you want… An Aston Martin DB9 (lets be honest, who DOESN’T want one).
Well, why? Why that car? I mean, its not cheap. Quite the opposite really. So, why exert all that effort and time and money?
If the answer is a slightly more elaborate version that “I would feel really awesome driving one” then you might actually follow though with that thought. But the want to feel really awesome absolutely HAS to be more profound than the feeling of reluctance to do the stuff we’d need to do to get one.
Again, thoughts are for aiming and direction.
Feelings are for moving towards that aim.
In case it needs saying, this can work in terms of moving away from something too.
If you don’t want to feel small and inadequate anymore because you can only bench 145 for 5, but Tough guy Terry over there can bench 180 without wraps for 5, then directing yourself towards behaviours that increase your bench max can help you avoid that feeling and, maybe one day, replace it with another, more positive feeling.
That said though, if you drive behaviour based on negative feelings, you probably aren’t inclined to change that source of motivation once you’ve out benched Terry. The more negative emotions tend to want to keep you on that negative reinforcement loop of avoiding feelings like inadequacy, rather than investing in feelings of worthiness. But I feel like I may have written about that in another blog. Once or twice before. Give or take.
So, in a far less long winded nutshell, getting shit done needs a nice blend of emotional reinforcement coupled with a well-directed and defined thought. Everything else… well, tends to be noise.
Everyone knows a Gonna. Gonna do this, Gonna do that.
What would you like to be?
Be kind, be smart, be your best you. No bar fights.
“There is no perfect place, job or life; we only have the present time. Love what you do, or do something else.” Rodolfo Peon