I had hoped to get this out on Sunday but life gets in the way. Hopefully, everyone had an awesome Labour Day and enjoyed the sun wherever they are in the country.
Samuel Parnell fought hard to create an 8-hour working day, and as so often with New Zealand, we were among the first in the world to claim that right. Labour Day wasn't officially created until 28 Oct 1890 to celebrate what Samuel Parnell helped create.
I spent Labour Day reflecting on my labour, or in some cases the lack of it. Since my injury and the instant end of my basketball career, I have struggled to find the same sense of purpose for anything else.
I think because sports is the closest thing to a meritocracy we have. If you are good you play, if you are not as good, you don't play. Your last name or connections doesn't help you on the court.
I was listening to the Rich Roll Podcast where was interview Dr Andrew Huberman, and the theme of the podcast is that that mood follows action. I get wrapped up in all the negative self-talk or pessimistic view that the things I am creating are going to suck or they are not good enough.
This leads me to give myself a reason to not do things and so then I spend time watching YouTube, reading books, or listening to more podcasts, yes I am a nerd. I try to reason with myself that these things are growing my knowledge base, and it's true, but they aren't going to give me motivation.
The evidence points to actions make you feel better and the more you do the more you feel motivated to do more.
The fancy way to say what I have been going through is failing through omission rather than failing from commission. If I don't create something, apply for something, do the work then I am failing immediately (not giving myself a chance to win) rather than doing the work and if it doesn't work then I know its failed.
When I head Mood follows Action I thought of many times I had heard the same idea.
Do the thing and you will have the power - Ralph Waldo
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step - Martin Luther King Jr
It's a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time. - Winston Churchill
Maybe the reading does have some benefits.
But it all comes down to just doing more stuff, like writing this blog, which I put off for days. It was so hard to start, but then when I finally did I don't know how to finish it because I want to just write more stuff.
So I will finish with the Indian Mystic Sadhguru:
“Your suffering is always about that which does not exist, simply because you’re not rooted in reality, you’re always rooted in your mind […] You’re lost in your imagination, that’s the basis of your fear. If you were rooted in reality, there would be no fear […] You must decide whether you have come here to experience life or to avoid life.”
So I am going to try to fail more by trying so that I can learn and grow. Hopefully, you will join me.
Mood follows action.
Shave well, be awesome, go grab someone you loves arse (consensually of course).
Luke
