Edition #5: Maxing Our Your Current Settings
Welcome to the Hail Mary Friday Club, where we talk about how to live with more boldness, courage, and joy…and then every Friday we go out and do something about it!
“You can’t polish a turd. But you sure can roll it in glitter”
- Unknown, but possibly Shakespeare if he was born in Gen Z
The Problem: Sub-Optimization
Maybe I would if I was more talented …
I could spend time worrying that I’m not talented enough…or I could get rolling in glitter and max out what I already have. Because until I can say I’ve made the most of every resource at my disposal, worrying about talent is not a good use of my time.
And it starts with the basics, like optimizing my physical potential. For example, I don’t need a degree in physiology to work out that aspects of my personality, performance, and motivation are connected to what I eat.
Stef on low blood sugar is an entirely different beast to the caffeinated and well-fueled version. Well-fueled Stef can handle a 2 hour delay on the M1 without a meltdown. She can deal with a client changing the brief the day before the conference. She can wait patiently behind the trainee truck driver doing a cautious 30mph in a 50mph zone with nowhere to pass.
Whereas the other Stef… you don’t want to meet her and you certainly would never hire her for a motivational keynote!
The Solution: Take your user manual seriously
Max out your current settings…
You wouldn’t expect a petrol car to run on diesel. And it’s crazy to expect it from yourself. How are you doing with the basics?
Fuel
Sleep
Exercise
Connection
Purpose
Spirituality
I’ll make the point with fuel. There are strict rules around substances like alcohol and drugs because we know they significantly impact brains and behaviour. And so does food.
Possibly in ways we haven’t yet considered. Like the discovery that what you eat for breakfast can impact your tolerance for risk!
The point is, we are not ethereal floating spirits. We have bodies with physical needs, like movement, sleep, and forest bathing. Taking those needs seriously (or not) significantly impacts our ability to be at our best.
The Application: Cake Thursday
When the cake is calling your name…
For the past 4 years, I have been practicing the sacred ritual of Cake Thursday. Once a week I head to my favourite cafe and have a massive piece of cake for lunch. It brings me huge amounts of joy while creating a healthy boundary. I am weak, and therefore cake is not allowed in my house.
I will confess there have been other days of the week when I wanted a slice bad enough to get into my car and drive the required 10 minutes. I figure if I wanted it bad enough to take on the inconvenience, then I probably needed it.
But 99% of the time, I’m too lazy and the craving passes.
I promise that you are not unmotivated or undiscipined. The problem is that will power is limited and convenience wins every time. So harness your laziness and create an environment that forces you into success!
What’s a long term investment you can make in yourself?
You are a marvellous and wonderful creature that requires regular investment. Making bold choices is hard. Making them while tired and hangry is even harder! Catch you in your inbox on Oct 9th!
- Stef
PS. I have intentionally left out anything proscriptive when it comes to diet and fueling because:
I’m not a nutritionist.
Most of us don’t struggle with a knowledge gap around nutrition. The challenge is time, capacity, and priorities.
You are an expert on yourself. Experiment, listen to your body and figure out what satisfies and fuels it.
