I believe that the things we pursue in life is done because of one of these three reasons*: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
A. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 / 𝗘𝗴𝗼 / 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿
These are the questions that plague me:
Who’s like me?
Is my team/family/people I affiliate with or am loyal to, winning?
Are we better than ‘them’ (whoever the opposition is)?
Am I better than others?
Am I more good looking, famous, richer, more influential… than other people?
Am I 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗥 than other people (i.e. everyone else is WRONG)
I will work hard to prove that I am stronger, better, faster, <insert other superlative adjective here> than other people in every metric that matters to me.
B. 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆
Who’s a threat to me and mine?
Are we safe?
How do we get to a safe space?
What protections and walls must I put up to create that safety?
Perhaps it’s that job, promotion, marriage and alliance, attitude/persona, the yacht, the money, the social network…
I will do anything to protect me and mine.
C. 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
What are the things that matter to me?
Solitude, comfort, contribution, psychological safety?
In seeking the meaning of my life, does it feel more in tune to my values for it to be an intrinsic or extrinsic quality?
I will seek to create meaning in my life such as by growing and learning new things, being true to myself, contributing to the community and being kind.
I don’t believe in judging, and I know that it’s human to pursue any of the above at various points in our life.
That’s the glorious part about humanity.
However, it pays to be aware of the 𝗪𝗛𝗬.
🍩Why are you getting the 25th cert?
🍩Why are you dead set on getting that MVP or Golden Hoodie?
🍩Why are you so angry you lost that position to your ‘inferior’ colleague?
🍩Why are you so crushed at not getting the university spot for the medical degree you actually didn’t want?
The first step to being happier is to be more self aware, and to really understand the ‘why’ behind everything you say, think and do.
Right now, I’m trying to answer ÜberHub’s query:
“You’ve just hit 260kg on the leg press. Why are you trying for another PB? What are you going for?”
I don’t really know 😁
My initial goal was to be able to squat 90kg so I can haul ÜberHub out of a burning house but have surpassed it to do 115kg.
Why do I keep pushing?
Maybe I just like the idea of being a She-Hulk.
OK, yeah for this, (A) is definitely the answer to his question! 😎
Maybe so I can stuff myself with 🍩 guilt free!!
How often do you analyse why you do what you do?
#SundayMusing
#OnThePeiroll
#EmotionalIntelligence
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* is there a category I’m missing? Let me know!!
