Weekly digest 5: Why aren't you running to do what your nature demands?
Get Up, Take Action, Live Fully!
I’ve always hated getting out of bed late. I’ve always hated being awake but continuing to lie in bed, not having something that excites me to get up straight away. During those periods, I often lacked clarity and purpose. On the other hand, when I was deeply engaged in projects that aligned with my passions and goals, I found myself leaping out of bed, eager to start the day. What you are reading is an embodiment of this, whereby the majority of Rise Above Mediocrity is planned and written between 3:30-6am.
Reflecting on these experiences, I realise the importance of knowing what I want and having a clear purpose. Here’s a passage that captures the essence of purpose and the importance of aligning our actions with our natural inclinations and responsibilities.
“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’ ‘But it’s nicer here’ So you were born to feel ‘nice’? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands? ‘But one needs rest’ Agreed. But nature set a limit on that—as it did on eating and drinking. And you’re over the limit. You’ve had more than enough of that. But not in your actions, though, not any longer: here you stay below your capability.” - Marcus Aurelius
Finding your morning motivation
1. Discover Your Purpose
To harness the power of a purposeful morning, it's essential to identify what drives you. What are you passionate about? What activities make you lose track of time? Your purpose doesn’t have to be grandiose—it just needs to be something that ignites your enthusiasm.
2. Set Clear Goals
Once you've identified your purpose, set clear, actionable goals. Break these down into manageable tasks that you can tackle each day. This will give you a roadmap to get up and get moving.
3. Cultivate Morning Rituals
Create a morning routine that prepares you mentally and physically for the day ahead. This could include activities like meditation, exercise, journaling, or reading. A consistent routine can help you transition from sleep to action more smoothly.
What works for me currently is incorporating a morning workout and focused session or writing. These are two things I care about and are my immediate reasons to get out of bed every morning. Fulfilling these tasks creates sense of achievement early in the day, setting a positive tone for the hours to come.
Embrace Your Role as a Human Being
Aurelius reminds us that, like the plants and animals around us, we have a role to play in the world. Each day presents an opportunity to contribute, to grow, and to fulfill our potential. Staying in bed might feel nice, but it keeps us from experiencing the richness of life and achieving our goals.
The Balance of Rest and Action
While it’s important to push ourselves, it’s equally important to recognise the natural limits of rest and activity. Quality rest rejuvenates us, but excessive rest can lead to stagnation.
In Summary: Rise to Your Potential
Remind yourself that the task at hand is not just a job but a fundamental duty as a human being. The phrase “I have to go to work—as a human being” underscores the idea that our primary duty is to fulfil our roles and responsibilities as humans.
Marcus Aurelius challenges the inclination to complain or resist the day’s tasks, emphasising that these tasks align with one’s inherent purpose. He contrasts the diligent efforts of plants, birds, ants, spiders, and bees, which all contribute to the order of the world, with human tendencies to avoid action.
Aurelius also acknowledges the need for rest, emphasizing that, like eating and drinking, rest has its natural limits. He critiques the tendency to exceed these limits, noting that people often fall short not in their actions but in not utilising their full capabilities.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
Insights - on my mind this week
A reminder that winners win
This week, I’ve been thinking about a video in which Dr. Andrew Huberman discussed studies with rats that highlight the psychology of winning and losing:
Winning and Losing Rats:
In a tube, two rats push each other until one wins by pushing the other out.
The winning rat has a higher probability of winning again when faced with a new competitor.
Conversely, the losing rat tends to lose again when paired with a new opponent.
This result is consistent even when controlling for factors like strength, size, or testosterone.
Brain Stimulation Experiments:
Stimulating the brain area responsible for this makes a rat win consistently, regardless of its previous status.
Inhibiting this brain area results in consistent losses.
Enhanced brain activity leads to more repetitions per unit time and effort.
Learning and Skill Acquisition:
Perform as many repetitions as possible, especially when learning a new skill.
Errors during high repetition phases are beneficial as they trigger the nervous system to correct and adapt (increased neuroplasticity).
Continued engagement, even when making errors, positions the brain for improvement.
Correct patterns, once achieved, are reinforced by dopamine release.
Summary:
Start with small wins to establish a winning mindset.
Perform many repetitions to accelerate learning.
Embrace errors as they boost neuroplasticity.
Keep engaging at a high rate, even when making mistakes, to foster brain adaptability.
That’s all for today. If you enjoyed this newsletter, feel free to like it or subscribe! Be sure to take the poll to reinforce your understanding.