–By Andrew W. Scott, CMA (AAMA), CPT (NASM)
“I want what I want, and I want it right now.”
I’m sure we can all identify with that statement. I’ve often wondered what kind of person chooses the more difficult path when an easier one is placed right in front of them. If I check into a hotel and get to choose between a king-size memory foam bed in a private room with a big-screen TV and an air conditioner, or a fold-out sofa next to a wall shared with an ice machine, why, oh why, would I choose the latter?
The answer lies in the difference between short-sighted thinking and playing the long game.
Human beings are naturally reactive creatures. For most of our history, surviving the African savanna or the wilderness of Northern Europe depended upon quick thinking and immediate action. As a result, we are wired to respond reflexively to our environment. My amygdala has entirely too much authority over my body for comfortable 21st-century living.
So how does one overcome reflexes and give the frontal cortex a little more influence over decision-making?
I’ve found that a little meditation goes a long way.
Back when I was more of a gym rat in my thirties, I noticed that some of my best thinking happened during the rest periods between intense sets. When my adrenaline was depleted, my glucose reserves running low, my breathing ragged, and my mind no longer racing toward future events, I found myself fully present in the moment.
I would come up with brilliant ideas for inventions (which I would, of course, forget five minutes later). I would think about forgiving people against whom I was holding grudges. Oftentimes, the person I needed to forgive most was myself.
What I eventually realized was that a still mind attached to a fully occupied nervous system tends to make responsive decisions. An idle mind attached to an idle nervous system, however, is usually just bored enough to search the cosmos for chaos and mischief.
The idle mind is impatient. It wants everything delivered in a neat little package so it can feel safe from the things it does not understand. It appears during times of uncertainty, whispering doubts about whether our chosen path will actually deliver what it promises.
But the only thing I know for certain about shortcuts is this: I have never met one that delivered what it promised.
Cutting corners almost always leaves you with a clipped-up version of the thing you were hoping to achieve.
If we still our minds long enough and apply critical thinking, we begin to notice that nearly everything in our universe is built upon complex systems. And complex systems rarely come with simple answers. They do not produce meaningful results overnight, and the twists and turns of the road rarely come equipped with mirrors that allow us to see around the next bend.
Patience, young Padawan.
Try a little reverse engineering. Start with the result you want, then ask yourself what the most difficult path to achieving that result might be. Next, ask a simple question: if there truly were an easier and equally effective way to achieve the outcome, why are so many successful people still taking the long road?
If you meet someone whose life looks remarkably similar to the one you hope to build for yourself, and they voluntarily chose the sofa bed over the king-size mattress, there’s probably a reason.
In the meantime, I’ll just sleep in my car. I’ve got heated seats.
—Drew, The Weapon
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