Do you love labeling and alphabetizing things? Is that all there is to it? Is there no clutter around? If you’re a pile maker, can you find what you’re looking for in the pile? That’s getting closer.
If you were out at sea and a situation arose – a change in the wind, the sudden appearance of unwelcome weather, whatever. You would need to change tactics, you might need a tool, a rope, or some certain thing. The questions is: is that certain something at hand at the time that you need it? If it’s there, you were prepared … and organized!
There are some things that are different about life at sea than the life that we are so used to experiencing here on the land. The lack of discernible and reliable landmarks can be disconcerting for some out on the seas. The danger of not being able to survive in the water for days on end without the assistance of a vessel underneath you to simulate the land and to give you a buffer from the depths below, can cause anxiety.
I guess it depends on what I’m talking about. The best time to sleep? The best time to talk with me? The best time for me to focus and work? The best time for me to relax and cut up? Those might all vary to a greater or lesser degree.
Let me start with the main intention. When is your best time to get the most important things in your day done? For me, the early morning is my time of focus and when I feel the most alert and thoughtful. Also for me, my day job isn’t where my passion, focus, and interests are. I am currently working so that I can live and provide. My work is not exactly aligned with my greatest desires. I’m going to hazard a guess that this is true for many of you too.
So I’ve talked a bit about akrasia before. Procrastination is one form of akrasia that I recently noted on Facebook is one of my super powers. Or maybe it’s a weakness, I’m not sure.
But if procrastination is a problem for you, then here’s a little tip you might enjoy. Let’s look at what’s going on when you procrastinate.
It’s now May and I actually published a first newsletter. I’m not saying this because I’m particularly proud of myself, but I’m just surprised at how high the barrier to action can become.
Originally, I was wanting to publish on April 1st. That way any failure could be seen as a joke. But that didn’t happen and I just committed to myself that I was going to put something out in April. I did publish just before 11pm on April 30th.
Let me start by laying this out there. My son is at a place in his life where he is not very sure that there is any value in books and reading. Graphic Novels (we used to call them comic books…) are fun, but all those words with no pictures? A story is better told by a movie. Harrumph! Where did my boy get such a perspective!?
One of my favorite quotes is from a man named Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, which says, “You are the same today as you’ll be in five years except for two things: the books you read and the people you meet. ”
I know I wrote this down somewhere, I’ve just misplaced it. What’s all this about “Set of Sail”? What does it mean, and who wants to hear about it?
Here’s the poem that was the original inspiration. It was written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in 1916. It’s entitled ‘Tis the Set of the Sail -OR- One Ship Sails East
But to every mind there openeth,
A way, and way, and away,
A high soul climbs the highway,
And the low soul gropes the low,
And in between on the misty flats,
The rest drift to and fro.
Hmm, things seem a bit dusty around here. Better spruce the place up. I’ve told a few more people about this little Shangri-La of a blog. Don’t you have to clean up before company comes? It seems to make more sense to me to clean up after they leave. But in this crazy world you end up having to do both.
I’m one article shy of posting out my first Set of Sail Newsletter. I already have 5 subscribers! (2 are me (for testing), 2 are family members (do family member have to support your crazy schemes? Sorta?) – and one is Lisa from school, shout out her!).
I’ve discovered a new word lately. That is not really exceptional, I’m always interested in finding a new word (I wish I was as interested in being able to spell the words I do know..).
However, this word was very insightful for me and I’ve been examining it and rolling it around in my brain for some time now. It has direct application to the way I do things, and I think maybe it could have some application for you too. So what’s the word?
Akrasia
Well I just found out I’ve been pronouncing it wrong. I’ve been saying a-cra-see-a. But evidently that’s how a lisper would pronounce it. The Internet says it’s more like a-cra-zia or a-cra-ja. I think it would end like amnesia, but I can’t remember.
I guess it’s not so important how it sounds as what it means. It means: “lacking command (of oneself)” or, to make that less cryptic … doing something against your own self interest.
So why pick such a weird old word like akrasia, when you could just say stupid? Well hold up there, I resemble that remark…
Akrasia is a topic that is dealt with in the writings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle – so it must be important, or at least worthy of our consideration. So what was the big deal? Why all the fuss about this weird little word?
Well, the thing is – it’s a part of our shared human experience. We all suffer, at one time or another, with this malady. We all have, do, or will succumb to akrasia. Basically we do something that, if we thought about it we wouldn’t. And this of course includes inaction. So “procrastination” is one form of akrasia. Tax day was yesterday, here are my forms (signed and in the envelops… come on, I’m not completely behind – well, I guess as of today I officially am) on my desk. I know better, I know there could be dire (and financial) consequences to not making the (graciously extended) deadline. But still here they sit – why?? Akrasia my friend, it’s an attack of akrasia.
I did not get in this situation because I’m stupid. If I were to sit down and weigh out my options and think about the consequences and rewards of the different course of action – I would clearly reason myself into a different course. But, see, I didn’t. Why? It really is a fascinating thing to wonder about. What is the cause? And more practically – is there a cure?
Well we’ll pick up more on this next time, but for now your assignment is to become more aware of your akratic behavior. When do you do something and you think D’oh! (<< that is the theme word for the akratic! Homer is riddled with it (yeah, not the Greek author Homer, that other one)). There was a better way, if only I would've thought things through. And right there, that regret, makes me 2nd guess next time and while I dither and consider, the opportunity to act is past and I've done nothing when I should've done something. Oh, another victory for akrasia. Do you see how involved this concept is to everything you do (or don't do)? Think about that for next time.
I ran across this little video clip. It’s about a Chicago Nanny named Vivian Maier. In her spare time she would travel around with her camera in the streets of Chicago (and around the world apparently) and take pictures.
I guess the thing that amazes me is that we only know about her because a man bought a box of her negatives from an abandoned storage locker. That box contained about 10,000 negatives. He went back and bought more boxes off of the other auction goers. Now there is a collection of over 100,000 negatives. She took all these pictures, documenting her life and her journey – but not making a big deal out of it.
The year is at an end. 2010 is in the books. What was done, is done. Any achievements are completed. Any unfulfilled dreams have to be moved forward to 2011′s list or left behind as “what might have been’s” or as anchors tying you down. (Have you ever thought of unfulfilled dreams as things that you should’ve dumped long ago to make room for what matters?? Think about it now…)
This is an illustration from a book I read. Illustrations have a lasting effect and help us to cement a concept into our brains so we can retain in for a long, long time. The principle is a combination of “get up and do something” and “it’s really hard to keep at it.”
Here’s the basic premise – try this challenge: Pick an activity to engage in. Make it a relatively small or insignificant one. For example, decide to pick up a piece of clutter and put it in it’s place. Or how about emptying a trash can, or doing one push-up, or even moving a paper clip from one location on a desk to another. Once you’ve decided on a task, see how many days in a row you can consistently complete that tiny task. It sounds easy, but try it and you might find it’s harder to remember, or to rationalize why you’re persisting.
So what do you do during the times in your life when the wind isn’t discernible and your sails lay limp against the mast?
I’ve felt a little like that over the last week or so. My productive time is in the early morning, but lately (including today) I’ve had to go in to my 2nd job to get a few things done before I have to be at my 1st job. What, did you think I just sat around and philosophized in blog posts for a living?
I’ve read and read about the need to set goals, to make a plan – to chart a course even!
Is it really necessary though? I wonder. When you learned to walk, did you sit down and map it out? “First I’ll just get some leg strength by standing there holding on to the coffee table. Then I’ll try to move over and slide along the edge of the couch. I’ll do a little bit of ‘free standing’, and finally I’ll take a step when mommy notices and crouches down and holds out her arms.” Maybe you’re too young to remember if you did or not.
Are there times when you can’t see your way through? When you aren’t sure where you are going? Or maybe there are times when you don’t even know where you are! How do you navigate through times like these?
Since our sense of sight is so integrated with everything we do each day, we not only depend upon it – we definitely take it for granted.
So what do you do when your sight is clouded by situations, such as weather, or by natural deterioration or injury?
I had a thought on how to express the fact that no one is perfect, it goes like this.
I once came across a group of perfect people, unfortunately they wouldn’t let me join them. I won’t bother telling you about them, because they wouldn’t let you join them either.
Is that mean to say? Or does it help bring home the point that I’m not perfect, and it’s likely that you aren’t either. Does it have the right impact.
I am paralyzed by the concept of perfection. I struggle to produce an article, book, picture, audio, video, or software program, because “it could’ve been better.” That kind of attitude keep great thoughts and ideas from being shared into the marketplace. The ability to get something “good enough” and get it out there, along with self-discipline and consistency… wow I have some things to work on in my life. Hey, how about a better attitude, a cheery disposition, and a little less grumbling and complaining while you’re at it?
This episode is a bit of an experiment. I was out of town when the podcast was scheduled to air, so I pre-recorded it and scheduled it to post at the regular time. I’m very excited to see how that turns out. That means if I got really organized I could schedule lots of things out in advance. Hmm, how does one become organized to do such things? Maybe we’ll find out! Take a listen.
This week has been crazy – too much caving in. I’ve had some encouraging thoughts sent my way though. One was this song performed by Stephanie Wilson (who I still see in my mind as a 6 or 7 year old little girl…) and her friend Savana Seals. I think her parents video taped it and I grabbed the audio. I sure hope I don’t violate any laws doing that, but it’s done – so enjoy it.
For better or worse, I’m finding myself squeezing in another episode. Maybe I should listen to this one again myself. I talk about the things that you have to do right in front of you to reach the destinations that you want to reach “some day.” You can’t complete a journey without launching out. That first step is a requirement to getting there. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Here I am in my basement again for another episode. This time I talk about the idea of trying to set out alone on a solo adventure. How does that compare to working together with others, joining in community, banding together – give it a listen and chime in with your perspective. Oh, by the way, I’m aware that I’m huffing and puffing … a windscreen of some sort needs to be my next acquisition. Be forgiving and give a listen.
In this episode I try to loosen up a bit and start sharing some of the obstacles I’m confronting at the moment. Even though the things I deal with seem to circle back around and wallop me again, it doesn’t make it any easier. But I should be more prepared, shouldn’t I?
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Episode 3 is out! And you can get it through iTunes now. No, I don’t have a handy link button yet, but it’s comin’. Last time we talked about the environment of the water. This time we’re talking about the environment you bring with you wherever you go – your character, your skills, your knowledge, your force of personality. How do you accumulate those things?
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This episode goes a little mobile with a new recorder. I wander through the house and see what’s going on at the time of recording. Then I settle down and talk a bit about how the world at sea has fundamental differences from the land lubber world we are so used to.
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This is my third attempt to get a post up onto the blog. My original topic has left my mind as I’ve been trying to figure out a way to accomplish this task.
There are many skills to be learned that can be an asset to us and serve us well in life. As I kept trying different things I came up with this idea, and I asked myself – can a person learn to be more resourceful? Or do some people have this as a trait and others don’t? In fact there are many abilities that could be considered traits of a person… but are they really?
Here it is! The very first podcast episode! It’s shorter that I planned, I guess I didn’t have as much to say as I thought I did…
This inaugural episode has some introductions, some welcomes, and a few audio artifacts that a windscreen could probably clear up. I could’ve used those few imperfections as excuses to do yet another take (I think I did three in all). But I decided against it. I needed to get it out to you, warts and all. Be gentile in your critiques and remember, I’ve got room to grow! Take a listen:
One of the biggest challenges with making a significant change is the committing to do it. If you are like me, there are things you think you ought to do or things you think would be good for you to do. Most of these tasks or ideas become wistful dreams. They are never acted upon and often forgotten until one day when you see that someone else has done what you wanted to do and you say to yourself, “Oh, I was going to do that – they stole my idea!”
Multi-tasking … it almost sounds like a super-power, like telekinesis or water-breathing. However recently I’ve started seeing blog posts and articles about how it might not be all that it’s cracked up to be. This idea has come home to me recently as I’ve been trying to organize my online life / presence / identity. You see, I have many different interests: online business, seeking to be the best I can be, to encourage others to get out of the rut and see their potential, religious considerations of all kinds, political punditry and opinions, desire to be a better father / husband / friend… the list could be much longer. These are all areas that I’ve participated in forums and different online endeavors under a number of different labels and names.
When talking about concepts and principles in life, if you listen for bits of wisdom, you just might find that many of these are similar. I’ve found this encouraging that certain thoughts have been highlighted by various teachers and philosophers in different circumstances and at various times. Even the idea that ideas aren’t original for the most part, isn’t, well, original.
Dave Ramsey describes many of his financial teachings as “nothing new, just packaged well.”
It sounds like the saying, “Everything Old Is New Again.”
Solomon would also add that there’s nothing new under the sun.
So, I’m starting to wonder if that thought is even original with Solomon… see what I mean?
It was at the end of December of ’99 when my father-in-law called me and told me I needed to pick up a book and give it a read. He thought I’d like it.
That book was “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”
It’s not a particularly well written book. But the literary prowess of the author wasn’t the point. The point was that it challenged me in the way I thought about money, success, “the evil rich”, having a J-O-B… it often made me mad enough that I had to put it down for a day or two to cool off. But once I got into the swing, my mind had been reshaped – I started thinking bigger thoughts.
While considering the prospect of reaching into the lives of others in the attempt to help people generate positive change in their lives, there is a need for some self reflection. Who do I think I am to offer such advice – is it sage? Does one need to be perfect in a sphere to offer opinion, counsel, or guidance?
I would like to share a concept I call the Bennett Syndrome. It’s named after author and commentator Bill Bennett who wrote the book “The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories.” After having this book publish and after speaking about about immorality and growing amorality within our so called modern society, it was uncovered that Mr. Bennett was a gambler.
What causes you to move? What spurs you into action?
Is it the ticking clock or the day on the calendar with the red circle around it? Is the deadline looming before you?
Is it the dread of missed opportunities in the past, or disappointment you’ve cause others by your unwillingness to get going?
Is it a hunger or deep seated desire that burns from within that drives you on?
Is it a transcendent moment of inspiration that causes you to look up and away from your circumstance and see something higher and more beautiful, and you don’t even notice that your feet have begun to move of their own volition?
There may be others as well, but I have to stop at this last one. It’s what brought me here to share this with you.
We are headed into the month of November, the seasons are in full display. Our tree in the back yard that runs right up against the house was so confused that it was budding, while the huge burning bush we have in the front went in two days from a gigantic fireball of crimson to a tangly mass of twigs. The year is winding down.
As the winds pick up and the temperature drops, it almost seems natural to pull your coat a little tighter and turn in on yourself philosophically as much as physically. This year is almost spent, where did it go? By that I mean, what did you do with it? More personally what did I do with it? It is a natural time to ask those type of questions. Recounting and tracking the past are good and worthy exercises.
Are you an organized person? How do you know?
