Running From Tigers
FABLES FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN
READING TIME: 2 minutes
Since the time of saber tooth tigers and mammoths, humans have been running toward something we want to catch or from something that wants to catch us.
At what point do you think we should run away from a saber tooth tiger? Many of us might say, “That tiger is pretty far away. I think I’ll still sit here for awhile until it gets closer, or maybe he’ll go somewhere else.” It seems we need enough impending danger or undesired consequence to build up before we’ll actually be motivated to run.
Throughout my life, I’ve known people who have struggled to act. In fact, I am one of those people. I’ve found the most common way to intensify motivation is to wait until the deadline draws closer so the pressure and fear of failure motivates us. Only then, do we finally run from that tiger. If we’re lucky, we manage to slop together some ruse that saves us. Then, surprisingly, something wonderful happens. Our tribe applauds our remarkable victory and we get a generous dose of dopamine for having escaped the tiger. It’s so thrilling!
Now hold that thought cuz here’s another one.
When do we seek safety from the tiger? Running away is something quite different from seeking safety. When you’re running for your life, it’s hard to focus on scouting the environment for suitable hiding places. If you’re distracted at the wrong moment, you might die. It’s always better to find shelter before the tiger shows up.
Sadly, there’s no cheering section and no parade when you calmly and uneventfully just survive. No thrill of victory.
I believe one of the most important things to learn in life is how to make incremental improvement - the kind you build little by little with commitment and discipline. Although there’s a chance you might win the gold on Game Day because the pressure gives you a boost, the smart money is on the guy that’s been training everyday.
So be that guy. Don’t repress the tigers that are already chasing you, be it homework, debt, bad health, a deteriorating relationship, an unhappy career, whatever. Don’t wait to act until you need to run away from something that wants to catch you. Instead, run towards something you want to catch. Even the smallest action counts. Remember, that incremental improvement? It works. No applause. No thrill. All you get is peace, happiness, and survival.
I love you,
Granny