|
Make the unknown known
What prevents us from doing what we know we should? What is the root cause of procrastination? Why is it that even when we can clearly see what needs to be done, still we're paralysed?
These are difficult questions. And of course, there's no simple answer. But I think a lot of the cause of procrastination lies in fear of the unknown.
Think about the history of humanity. Whoever or whatever designed us, we clearly weren't built with the modern world in mind. There's a lot of physical evidence showing for the vast majority of human history we lived a much simpler existence. Indeed, there are tribes of hunter-gatherers living such existences today.
That's what our designer had in mind for us - from a tribesperson in Africa to the head of a multinational corporation. To live a simple, tribal life. To see the same small group of people every day, and do the same tasks time after time.
But of course, most of us don't live such lives today. We're surrounded by strangers. Our jobs grow ever-more comlpicated. Our lives get filled up with so much stuff it's difficult to keep track.
All around us the unknown looms like a cold, black shadow. It may be that stranger who starts talking to you at a party, or the tax return you have no idea how to complete. There's so many complex things around us that it's easy just to shut-down and try to ignore them.
Yet tackling the unknown is where most personal growth lies. It's the most important path to success.
Once, Roger Federer would never have held a tennis racquet in his hand. He would have had no idea which way a ball would bounce at him as it came across the net. Everything about the game would have been alien to him.
Yet over years of practice, the millions of unknowns about the game of tennis became known to him. He tried again and again until he could predict with confidence exactly where the ball would bounce, where to hit it to disadvantage his opponent, and which position to stand in to maximise his power.
This analogy can be transferred to almost all learned skills. You have to overcome your fear and hesitation of the strange. You have to get over your pride and risk humiliation. You have to face the burning realization that you're an amateur - inexperienced to the point of hopelessness.
And little by little you must build up a structure in your mind of how a particular field operates. Whether it's attracting members of the opposite sex, getting a good job, or excelling in a sport, this is the strategy you must take.
Face the big scary shadow of the unknown. And push back on it until it lifts to reveal the landscape underneath.
 | Don't get sucked in by empty promises | | I was at a work function last night where we were all getting treated to free drinks and food. There was a very attractive girl there who was enjoying the attention of many of the men. |  | Take the initiative in establishing new relationships | | The world is filled with people who are dissatisfied with the state of their relationships. They think they haven't got enough others in their lives, or else they believe the others they have aren't up to scratch. Whether it's friendships that are missing or something more, a lack of satisfactory relationships is a common complaint. |  | Don't hate your body too much, it's the most amazing machine on the planet | | We live in a society fixated on machines and gadgets. The media obsesses over iPods, BMWs, laptops and phones. And we consumers gobble up every titbit of information available on those topics. | | Science is the closest thing to verifiable truth that we have | | Wait! If you're the type of person who reads the word "science" in a title then moves quickly on, then this is an article you need to read. I promise it won't be boring. |  | Become excellent at creating new opportunities | | The scouts have an excellent motto. It says simply “Be prepared”. Whether or not you have ever been a scout or a guide, this is a good attitude to have towards life. | | Incompetent people tend to overestimate their skill level | | Something interesting happens to me whenever I try to learn a new skill. I tend to underestimate just how hard it's going to be. For some reason, part of me thinks I'm going to be naturally talented at it, even though I have no evidence for that being the case. | | We're all just lost at sea | | Picture this. You wake up to find yourself aboard a huge old sailing boat. You can't remember who you are, or where you were before. You can't even remember what your name is. | | Perfect contentment leads to stagnation | | Have a look at how so many of us live our lives. We get up in the morning, go out all day and work, work, work. Whether in a rich country or a poor one, a good neighbourhood or bad, you can be sure that most of the people around you will be working most of the time. | | Find the right balance between improving your situation and enjoying it | | There's a funny scene in the film "Thank you for smoking" where the main character, a public relations shill for the cigarette industry, is asked how he can do such an unethical job. "Everyone's got to pay the mortgage", he replies. | | The world's best investment | | Many people don't think of it consciously, but much of our lives are spent deciding how to invest our resources. Families decide whether to move into a bigger house, or save their money and stay in the current one. Young women decide which man they should bet their reproductive potential on. Workers ponder what they should do with their holidays. And so on. |
New articles are being added all the time, so make sure you bookmark Paul's Tips and come back.
|
|