It’s easy to identify what’s wrong with the world, especially if that doesn’t involve the self.
The much harder thing, the one that deserves much more attention, is to focus on solving the problems we identify. And by solving, it means really understanding the problem, and considering possible alternatives to solve the problem.
So what are we solving today?
Sometimes, when you’re busy toiling away, it’s hard to see the finish line. When the journey is long and new, it might also not be easy to know whether there is progress or not.
At times like these, I can’t help but think about the sailors who dared to go offshore, a little further each time. Had they stopped at what they knew, would we have this world of today? Probably not.
So when the end is not in sight, it should be our cue to keep moving.
When Jesus was approached by someone who wanted to follow him, he told the man that he needs to commit to the journey, and that without commitment, he cannot be on the journey with him.
Commitment comes at a price, and it is at this point that the man, like us, had to ask himself whether he wanted to pay that price.
As we are reviewing the week or whichever period that was, it is also useful to assess whether we are fully committed to the journey were on. If we are, what’s stopping us?
So often I have found that lack of knowledge makes the challenge seem more daunting than it is. Whether it’s a minor repair I need to do, or a major project I want to pursue, a bit of research and taking the first steps can get me moving in the right direction.
Yet, on a new day, I start at the same position, struggling with overcoming the inertia. So maybe, the best thing is not to stop, but to keep moving once I start. Worth a shot.
In his song “21 Questions,”, 50 Cent tells a girl that it is easy to love him when he is on top, and asks whether she would love him if he was down and out. Of course, it is difficult to know what transpired in his case. Not that it should matter to us.
What does matter though is that we also form, or hope to form good habits. We tell ourselves that we need these habits to be better people, for whichever goals we have for ourselves. And maybe, in our case, we are not left wondering like 50 Cent, but we do drop ourselves when the tide turns against us.
Building good habits is hard, and I am sure there are many more people much more skilled than me to offer good advice on the topic, but what I can vouch for is repeated practice. Reduce the volume of work when time is constraint, or you’re feeling a little worse, but keep on exercising.
That way, next time you are down, you will have the memory that you felt like this before, and you got it done that time, just like you will this time.
Random Walks 