In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night

Willpower.

We all want more. We all want to be 'that person', the person who has pushed themselves physically and mentally to a level we feel is unattainable. If only we had the will...

What got me thinking about the topic was not an evening watching the Green Lantern film (title reference), nor was it my constant battle to get out of my warm bed to face another day. It was the annual glut of articles talking about how everyone had succumbed to temptation and abandoned those life-changing New Year resolutions. Roy Baumeister, generally recognised as the world-leading expert on willpower must love this time of year. Journalists the world round pull his papers from the archives and churn out another article on why we were all doomed to fail from the start.

Here are a few of the articles I came across that got me thinking:

Zen Habits: When Willpower is Trumped by Bad Habits

Zen Habits: Three Effective Ways to Enhance Your Willpower

The Guardian: Why willpower matters - and how to get it

Psychology Today: Self Regulation Failure (Part 2): Willpower is Like a Muscle

Men's Health: Improve Your Willpower - Instantly!

Basically they all say that willpower is like a muscle. Exercise it and it will become stronger. Overwork it and it will become weak. Glucose gives it a boost.

Do you believe it? I certainly do. Since I started making myself resist the little temptations like a caramel waffle with my coffee, I've improved my control when it comes to things like putting off chores or putting off my run to later in the day. It's amazing what little things like making yourself sit up straight when you catch yourself slouching (I'm certainly doing this a lot more seeing as incorrect posture in the gym has much more immediate negative effects than in the office) or leaving the half-price luxury biscuits on the supermarket shelf can do for willpower in the long term. It certainly gives me the (possibly false) belief that I'm not as weak-willed as past me.

What the articles do cover quite nicely is that there is no perfect solution. You have to work on it slowly, over time, and be aware that the willpower will weaken when overused. This is not an excuse to guzzle a packet of biscuits to get the helping hand from the glucose. Just a reminder that, as with so many things in life, willpower ebbs and flows. Be wary of the lows - temptation'll get you!

This talk of willpower is all very well, but I think proper motivation is more important. You might not need to sap those reserves of willpower if you've got motivation spurring you on. But that's a topic for another day...

February is Here!

Saw this xkcd comic and thought of me! Here to bore you again with my rather sporadic blog posts.

How did the January goals go?

Mental: 'Upcycle' (hate that term!) the two old shirts in my room. What will them become? Stay tuned!

They're approximately 25% complete. I don't have a sewing machine and haven't dedicated the necessary time to hand stitch the lounge pants I've planned. Maybe I'll get bored enough for this during the coming month.

Physical: 100 squats a day. Goal is a bit of a cop-out, just repeating the press-up thing, but the legs are looking pretty weedy...

Met the 3,100 squat target for the month but not on a daily basis. Late target setting and a busy weekend resulted in a 300 squat finale but I made the target. Easy target!

Spiritual (1): Continue to meditate (I know this was a mental goal before - there're no guidelines as to how I class the goals).

Faltered on this after the first couple weeks. Meditation in the traditional sense still seems to be beyond my hyperactive brain or exhausted body. I find simple breathing exercises whilst relaxing somewhere much more effective. To each their own, though I'm still curious about the meditation others experience. What makes their meditation so much more effective?

Spiritual (2): Read a Zen Habits (http://zenhabits.net/start/) article each day. Who knows, enlightenment may lie just around the corner...

Another simple target. A fun blog to read but riddled with little inconsistencies if read out of order. I think the blog is much more effective if read in order. The blog represents a man's quest for zen, step by step. The writing is easy to digest and inspirational. Lists are used often to help things along. Can't say I agree with all the points (can you have happiness without sadness? Not all negative feelings should be zenned away in my opinion) but you should give it a read.

February goals:

Mental: None

Physical: (1) Follow the 'slow carb' diet

(2) Run a half marathon

Spiritual: None

Not feeling inspired this month!

Unlocking Life

Can a list change your life?

Only you can answer that. I think they can be a useful start - masses of information condensed down into short, compulsive reading, easy to digest. They can serve as inspiration to start changing or to learn more about certain methods to improve yourself. But user beware! Anyone can make a list and post it to the internet. I could post a list of 'unexpected health foods' which included bacon cheeseburgers, lard smoothies, and fudge with some rubbish as to why these might be good for you. Some people might take it as gospel. Be sure to take lists with a pinch of salt - these things may not work for you. They might even be bad for you.

That said, let's get on to the list at hand: www.highexistence.com/life-secrets-and-tips/

I've taken their comments out and added my own. Check out the link and make your own mind up!

1. Memorize something everyday. A good shout. Good for the old grey matter, good for the banter. Good luck actually managing it!
2. Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions. I agree. Don't let your possessions own you. Try to curb that hoarding impulse.
3. Develop an endless curiosity about this world. Another agreement here, but I was once a scientist so have some bias with regards to this point.
4. Remember people’s names. Just common courtesy, no?
5. Get fit! One of the most important points on the list. 'Nuff said.
6. Learn to focus only on the present. I disagree. Learn from the past (don't dwell on it though!) and plan for the future (without getting obsessed). Perhaps focus more on the present but not to the exclusion of all else.
7. Even more specifically, live in THIS moment. Cheap rehash of the previous point for emphasis. I still disagree.
8. Smile more often. Fine, but don't be false about it. To me, this is no better than saying 'be happy more'.
9. Drink water. Yes. Do it. Do it lots.
10. Don’t take life so seriously! Yeah, lighten up grumpy-guts!
11. Think positive thoughts. Bit similar to the last one.
12. Read books. Get smart, have fun.
13. Get in the sun. If you can! It's called Vitamin D...
14. Help others. Makes everyone feel good. You do get some arseholes though.

15. Set aside a specific time to worry each day. What happened to the positive thoughts and living in the moment?
16. Be honest at all times. So true!
17. Sleep less. Lies! Sleep in less - seize the day - but be sure to sleep enough for good health, physical (to get fit you need it) and mental.
18. Read “Bringers of Light” and “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch. I wonder if the author gets a commission? They might be good books but this really comes under 'Read more' for me.
19. Figure out what your goals and dreams are. Thinking about the future again? This list seems inconsistent.
20. Start your day off right. They say meditation. I say a good breakfast. Porridge.
21. Utilize ‘The Burning Method.’ Getting rid of negative thoughts - see a theme?
22. Travel.
23. The Rubber Band Method. Another way to rid yourself of those pesky thoughts. But if you had the thought it's already too late to stop it! Bit repetitive.
24. Learn to be unaffected by the words of others. i.e. Don't think negative thoughts because of someone else. Or don't listen to anyone. Depends on how you read it.
25. Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss. Another book plug? Really?
26. Develop the ability to forgive. True. Take the high ground. Move on.
27. Be the person that makes others feel special. By remembering their name, for one.
28. Learn to lucid dream. This seems to be not quite being asleep. Or tripping.
29. Visualize daily. This is just visual goal setting. Repeat in my book. *Yawn*
30. Meditate everyday for at least 20 minutes. I have tried this. Not getting much out of it yet but might not be doing it properly. 20 minutes is quite a long time. Got to build up to that.
31. Learn to control your mind. They keep saying this. I know it's important!
32. Learn to control your emotions. See above.
33. Take a class in speed reading. I disagree. Relax. Enjoy the reading. Absorb it. Relish it.
34. Relax!
35. Work on making good first impressions. Please, please, please learn to shake hands properly!
36. Learn to use your eyes to their full potential. What? For a better life? This is important enough for life in 50 points? I'm not sold.
37. Be mysterious. But don't be a prick about it.
38. Come up with a life mantra. 'S**t happens' is probably not what the author had in mind...
39. Get good at something. Everybody likes a talent.
40. Work out those abs. Why is this not under get fit?
41. Keep your brain sharp. Mental agility is pretty important.
42. Read something inspirational right before bed and after waking. More reading.
43. Do what you love. If you can. If not, love what you do.
44. Choose your friends wisely.
45. Don’t burn bridges. It really inconveniences people who have to cross rivers.
46. Keep a journal/diary. Helps on the journey to those goals.
47. Read “New Pyscho-Cybernetics” by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. Another book.
48. Learn to use and trust your subconscious/intuition. Tricky one to master, that.
49. Develop a charismatic personality. Be cool.
50. Love is all there is. Not sure about this but I think everyone should try to believe. Discussing this fully would require a whole new blog post. Or a book.

It's a good list. Quite long. My condensed version:

1) Be healthy

2) Be happy

3) Get smart

4) Know thyself

5) Learn to interact with others effectively.

Only you know how to achieve this. Use the lists as inspiration. Take action.

Life Defies Resolution

Another month done. Another year done. We all know what the end of the year brings, don't we? Resolutions. The bold goals never to be met, the promises never to be kept. I once made (and failed to keep) New Year resolutions. But it eventually dawned on me that New Year is nothing more than an arbitrary point on one of the many calendrical systems invented to pass the time. Why wait to this day to make a resolution, set a goal? And why make it so large? Success is more likely if smaller goals are set as and when enough will-power (or self-loathing) is conjured up to make it happen.

The goals I set for myself on a month to month basis are not resolutions. They are not designed to be life changing. If one happens to fall into that category, awesome, if not, no sleep will be lost. These are designed to amuse myself, others, and provide an incentive to step out of the comfort zone that we all so quickly settle into.

It has occurred to me - mostly through a profound lack of inspiration for January goals and poor performance through December - that I may be setting too many goals. The number of goals should be allowed to ebb and flow alongside my own life. As such, I have decided to make goals according to my inspiration come the end of the month. Some months may be without goals, some peppered with trifling goals.

Having vented those thoughts (this is stream of consciousness writing folks, don't expect much. If you want some more eloquent writing, check out http://lesliemabon.wordpress.com/) I will now cover my results from last month:

Mental: Learn to meditate

Result: Not there yet. In the interests of blogger integrity I must admit that I did not focus enough on this one. Seems almost ironic. I plan to do a bit more this month, perhaps allotting a time slot in my mornings for consistent, effective meditation. Fell asleep during some of the late night meditations in December. Effective was of achieving the difficult task of emptying the head of thoughts! I'm not there yet on the technique and so not yet reaping the benefits that some claim meditation brings - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16406814. Seems that I timed that goal well!

Physical: (1) Maintain the same weight throughout the month (as judged by my good friend, Wii Fit)

(2) 100 press-ups a day, every day.

Result: (1) Achieved, amazingly! Not for want of the usual Christmas bingeing...

(2) Also achieved, at the cost of a sore left moob (man-boob for those who don't speaka da lingo) and more than a few funny looks from friends. Some nights this goal was left a bit late (memorably pushing out 80 press-ups in the final half hour of the day) and the whole affair has left me heartily sick of dropping down to repeatedly touch my nose to the floor. Not as sick as Paddy Doyle must be though - his record of 1,500,230 press-ups in a year is sickening.

Spiritual: Do some volunteering. 'Tis the season to be giving, after all!

Result: I'm counting this as a failure. Not enough effort expended! I've put my name down for 4 different volunteering schemes. Two will have to wait for the spring. The other two have not been in touch following my form filling. Guess I'm not their type! I'm planning to see these through, will no doubt mention it on the blog here if they ever come to pass.

So what's on the cards for January?

Mental: 'Upcycle' (hate that term!) the two old shirts in my room. What will them become? Stay tuned!

Physical: 100 squats a day. Goal is a bit of a cop-out, just repeating the press-up thing, but the legs are looking pretty weedy...

Spiritual (1): Continue to meditate (I know this was a mental goal before - there're no guidelines as to how I class the goals).

Spiritual (2): Read a Zen Habits (http://zenhabits.net/start/) article each day. Who knows, enlightenment may lie just around the corner...

A final note to all those who have made New Year resolutions: Don't mind what I say. Stay focussed. Stay strong. This year you'll make it happen. 2012 is your year.

End of Month Summary

So how'd I do on those goals for the month then?

Mental: Learn as much as possible in the new job

Passable performance, but I still don't feel well versed. Bit of a cop-out, this goal.

Physical: Work out an affordable method of keeping fit in the frozen wilds of the north

Done. Joined a gym and running club and have been doing home workouts and long runs to top it off.

Spiritual: Find a way to settle into my new situation

Still settling in, still need to meet people, but am feeling a little more set. Not unpacked (going to move whenever my room gets finished) but getting to know the town.

So where to now? Goals for December:

Mental: Learn to meditate

Physical: (1) Maintain the same weight throughout the month (as judged by my good friend, Wii Fit)

(2) 100 press-ups a day, every day.

Spiritual: Do some volunteering. 'Tis the season to be giving, after all!

30th November 2011

Final pic! End of Movember!

29th November 2011