For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a single nail.
You cannot modify, alter or control time; it is our master. What you can modify, alter and control, however, is your effort.
Naturally, time cannot be ignored; it is a very relevant factor. But without consistent directed effort, you will achieve nothing, effectively rendering meaningless whatever time you’ve spent.
So when you are working towards achieving anything in life, you are best served by focusing your energies & attention on the quality & magnitude of the effort you are directing to the task at hand, rather than paying a great deal of attention to the time it may take.
The Scenario: You’re looking to the future. You want to make sound plans. You want to feel confident that you are making the right decisions based on…..expectation or anticipation?
EXPECTATION originates from assumptions based on a sequence of logic or strategy that certain outcomes will occur. Being rational – based on facts or data – the object of EXPECTATION is usually a possible or likely sequence of events.
Insight: EXPECTATIONS are an important resource because they dynamically fit into a network of future planning; you can guide your plans via EXPECTATIONS arrived at through some method of reasoning.
ANTICIPATION originates from hope that some positive outcome will occur, or worry that some negative outcome will transpire. Being emotional – based on impressions or associations – the object of ANTICIPATION is usually a single event or scenario or circumstance.
Insight: ANTICIPATION is not very reliable for planning, insofar as you must simply wait for an outcome to transpire, evaluate whether it was positive or negative, and then respond accordingly.
The Takeaway: Since an expected outcome is a sequence of events, EXPECTATION allows you to leap-frog ahead in planning; potentially very useful. But since the sequence of events that culminate in an anticipated outcome are static and closed-ended, ANTICIPATION often proves itself an empty vessel.
If you are an average person, you can probably run down the street quite capably without undue effort or stress. But this doesn’t mean that you automatically possess the capability to complete an Ironman event.
Pretty straightforward, right? But oddly enough, when it comes to thinking, people tend to ignore this simple rationale. They often expect to automatically be able to think powerfully & critically about a huge variety of extraordinarily complex issues, circumstances & ideas. And when they fail to do so, they are either shocked or disappointed or both.
Consider this: Having a body does not make you an athlete. And having many thoughts in your mind does not constitute thinking. Just because you can think your way through a typical day doesn’t mean that you’ve automatically cultivated the capability to think critically. So update your expectations, and don’t be surprised when you – or others – can’t seem to think critically.
My advice is to appreciate that powerful thinking requires both measurable time & energy. Thinking gets physical results because it is a physical act. And like any other physical act, it requires physical training in order to achieve excellence in it.
You can think critically – just accept that it requires consistent & deliberate effort on your part. Once you’ve trained yourself and cultivated your capability, capacity, skills & techniques, you’ll find yourself plowing through complex issues & ideas effortlessly.
And that’s when life gets a lot more interesting.
The Scenario: You just don’t feel like doing something that you know you really should be doing – especially for yourself. Are you simply being lazy?
LAZINESS comes from apathy born of a deep-rooted sense of futility.
Insight: Many people who feel themselves “lazy” are in fact quite the opposite! Unfortunately they often appear lazy when they are really just insufficiently trained to challenge their doubts. It is usually nagging doubts that whatever action they could take would prove ineffectual that prevents them from taking any action. Fact is, most people are not lazy, just afraid.
AVOIDANCE comes from avoiding conflict – either internal or external.
Insight: Many people who have a tendency to avoid conflict with other people also have a tendency to avoid internal conflict. Thing is, avoiding internal conflict can often prevent you from exercising the internal muscles necessary to overcome your doubts.
The Takeaway: It is important to never label your AVOIDANCE as LAZINESS. When you find yourself being too passive, don’t waste time & energy feeling guilty with meaningless statements like “I am being LAZY….”.
Instead, try this 3-step exercise: First, admit that “I am avoiding something!”. Next, figure out “What exactly is it that I am avoiding?” I guarantee that once you’ve gained insight & clarity into the third part, “Why am I avoiding it?”, you will find yourself invigorated with an unanticipated sense of freedom & power.
So shrug off AVOIDANCE and enjoy being excellent!
Assume you choose to live quietly within your Comfort Zone. You’re likely to encounter manageable challenges, and so you’ll be able to get along just fine while achieving nothing of substantive value.
But what happens if you choose to live in your Growth Zone? You invite a tremendous amount of pressure into your existence!
How so? Growth builds its own momentum, which I guarantee is significantly more powerful & rapid than any momentum you will ever experience in your Comfort Zone. In your Growth Zone any & every action you take or avoid taking is amplified and magnified tenfold.
Sounds kinda scary, eh? Well, at times it will be!
But in the immortal words of Nietzsche: What does not kill you makes you stronger. So isn’t living in your Growth Zone a worthwhile risk when you consider the terrifying alternative of just “surviving” in your Comfort Zone?
PS. Naturally, this kind of thinking is not for everyone, but if it appeals to you, make the effort, take the risk and enjoy the ride; you won’t regret it.
“Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” – Voltaire