Yeah, Yeah, I Know... "Languish" is a Good Word for it...
Monday, November 9, 2009 at 10:27PM 
Hey, I bet you're surprised I updated here, ain't ya? Well, it's not like you don't have a hundred better things to do than to check this site... I mean, once you've seen all the funny videos, and taken a quick peek at the devotional and the scripts (without reading any of them, mind you) and skimmed the blog archive (which I haven't updated either), what's the point?
I may have grand plans for this site, but unless I actually do something about it, what good does that do you, O Random Lurker? I need to find a way to trick myself into working on the site more... perhaps hold out a reward or something, or maybe actually pay myself to work on it somehow... otherwise the site will slip into that netherworld inside my mind where worthwhile projects go to die of neglect.
I need inspiration! I need a muse! I have *no clue* where to find it/her! I leave unfinished projects in my wake at an alarming rate! Dear Lord, please don't let this site be one of them!
Speaking of unfinished projects, I also hope the fantasy novel I'm writing doesn't become one of them. Again, a worthwhile, enjoyable project. Again, I'm going great guns on it, like I normally do. Right now, the fire is there, and I'm running with it. I must must MUST find the self control, discipline, honor, resolve, whatever, to see it through.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT!
I hate to sound all negative, but it's a very disappointing, distasteful, distressing aspect of my personality, and I don't know how to change it. How do you deal with the parts of you that you don't like? Is everything about us changeable, or are some things set in stone, and we just have to deal with them?
I'm an inquiring mind, and I want to know...
- Dave
Reader Comments (2)
"Is everything about us changeable, or are some things set in stone, and we just have to deal with them?"
Dang, Dave, that's a heavy question. Too heavy to promptly answer on a whim. On one hand, I think that we have the potential to change, but we never can change to perfection. Look at Paul, who begged for his thorn of the flesh to be removed, but endured it his whole life. Sadly, I think that everything about us is changeable, but not everything is changeable enough to notice any differences.
Great question. And good luck with your website. Maybe once the new year rolls around and your not blogging everyday you can work more on Wagnervana.
Here's my two cents. (Okay - two dollars.) This is the quote I go back to again and again on this subject, from Aristotle: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Our life is built upon habits. EVERYONE has strong habits - it's just some are strong ones that evolve you, and others are strong ones that do not. Anyone who never exercises has a great habit of not exercising. This gets embedded in every cell as we go along - so you get into the "trap" of why we don't feel like doing this or that ... and in that state of the downward spiral we point out every other nugget that supports why there's something wrong with us, or with others, or just with life.
The short answer is - get off your but (Sean Stephenson's brilliant book ... which by the way would be a great video to post - his show is on the Bio channel. You can't watch him and then say you are not motivated to do anything.)
From a constructive standpoint though - to substitute the "muse" needed - there needs to be a kickstart of the brain. There is a FASCINATING book out called "Brain Rules" that has 12 key observations and discoveries about the brain, and why it is wired the way it is, and how to dramatically improve problem solving, inspiration, creativity, memory ... here's one that won't surprise anyone - exercise. Not a lot is needed, but it goes into why it makes a profound impact on attitude and the results it can produce.
Another great resource - The Power of Full Engagement. A book that describes the "habits" that lead to optimal performance in any field. That mainstead now of work for 90 minutes, take a 15 break, then do another focus session, comes from this book. The rituals/habits that help you manage your energy (much more important than managing time) are in here. And that's ultimately what you are asking here ... how can you get the energy to get it all going.
As far as whether people can change - absolutely. Usually it comes uninvited. A tragedy, a slap upside the head by God to pay attention to what you have - to be grateful, or to take action. A loss of a loved one. A heart attack. A loss of a job. That changes people. The bigger question is can you change yourself in a positive way without needing that SLAP. That's harder. Though many people complain about their own worlds ... it is rarely so bad enough to make them get up the effort to change it. They are more comfortable in the misery they know than what they don't ... or they try to make changes and others influence them to stay where they are at (their comfort zone).
That change can happen though. Starts first with you - then creating an environment to support it, and people to support you. It takes new habits. But absolutely it is possible. People who say people never change are usually using that as their own cop-out to never make changes in themselves ... "that's just the way I am." No ... it's the way you choose to be.
So ... pick one area you want to change - commit in a blog you are going to being a new habit to create into your life daily (peer pressure works wonders) - and let us watch how you do. One thing. Something that will have an impact on other areas. Like no flatulance in the house.
Well .. maybe you need to start on an easier one... that would cut too much fun out of your life. :)