Hunger is natural [stimuli] for our bodies, that drives us to seek sustenance, to keep biological functions running.

In a more abstract sense, “hunger” also fuels our pursuits. We only pursue, as much as we hunger or desire for a thing.

If you feel unmotivated right now, or feel like you’re not pursuing your goals as you should — the place to start your diagnosis is this: what do I hunger for?

One common delusion we have as spectators, especially when we see players not play well is assume we can do it better, if we were the ones on the pitch.

Firstly, that’s not true.

The worst footballer, from the weakest team in the competition is miles ahead of you [the spectator] on every metric that can be measured — even on something as basic as conditioning.

You simply have a different perspective from the player on the pitch, who’s involved in the game.

It’s the same thing with our endaevours — receive feedback from those watching, but don’t assume their feedback is always correct; you need to verify its veracity, always.

The spectator simply has a different perspective, and the benefit of seeing outcomes, but never has to make the tough calls in the heat of the moment.

Try, fail, learn, and grow.

No one cares how hard you tried; they care about your results.

Let’s shift the focus from everyone else to you — you’re more important in this equation; why? Because without the you making effort, there will be no outcomes, as effort cannot exert itself.

Someone once said: effort will never betray you.

With effort, you just might get the outcomes you seek, and find success.

BUT, even if you fail, you’ll at least gain mastery and learn something.

Effort will never betray you.

That simple thing is called cabin pressure.

The unknowns and uncertainties in our lives are scary, and almost seem unliveable — they sometimes take the air from your lungs; they seem like they’ll never end. There seems to be one new problem every single day.

You need to remind yourself of one thing: as unliveable as they seem, they’re actually just cabin pressure, and you’ll outlive all of them.

Since they’re cabin pressure, their only job [on your journey], is to help you get to your destination.

Strap up your boots, and move!

In some of those moments, we’re stuck in this cycle of

1. woe is me →

2. there is nothing I can do to help myself →

3. I wish I had X right now →

4. if it were Y years ago, I would have done P” → [back to 1]

It’s fine.

It’s fine to acknowledge we’re not where we would like to be.

It’s fine to lick our wounds and grieve… but it’s not productive, so we shouldn’t stay there too long.

If you look close enough, you definitely have something with you.

You definitely have something that can be used to take a step forward.

Whether it entirely solves the problem is secondary, it at least helps get you unstuck.

Success will meet you in motion; so, look closely, and take the next step.

This desire for more is what propels us, as people, to push ourselves. To attain what — at some point — was likely imagined to be impossible.

This desire is what has propelled civilization since GOD made all things.

Now, more is good, but like everything else, requires a balance.

In our pursuit for more, we end up in a place where our present state seems poor, below expectation, subpar [think of every other synonym that comes to mind].

We need to be circumspect; never get to the point where your desire for more causes you to think less of the journey so far.

Don’t forget, where you are right now is a part of your journey; more is likely the next phase, but more would not exist without what came before.

So, pause, take a breath and appreciate what you do have, right now, no matter how little it may seem.

The dreamless are hopeless

The dreamless simply drift

The dreamless know nothing

A dream is still a dream though; it’s a figment of your imagination — a world you alone can see.

To make others see it requires work [labour]; labour has a price.

Do you know the price of your dream? and are you willing to pay it?

The feeling of being “merely” afloat can be quite stressful; this is because we have this feeling which I’ll describe: “I’m barely surviving, but I desire/deserve/and can attain to more. So, why am I here?”

I believe strongly in listening to your internal monologue, but never to be driven/beaten down by it.

Afloat is enough for now

Afloat means you haven’t sunk

Afloat means you have one more moment/day to prepare for the future you desire

Afloat is also an opportunity

Never forget this; remember: it is also an opportunity, in spite of everything else happening in your life.

The other is more of a vector, it speaks not simply of the degree, but also an implied direction [for satisfaction] at which the degree must stop.

They’re both similar, yet different.

At every point, it’s important to know which you should optimise for; don’t optimise for one, when it should be the other.

Understanding the subtle differences in both is very important, if we’re going to do great work.

Interestingly, this phenomenon — if I’m allowed to refer to it as such — places the burden on the knowledge of what serves as a baseline, in this case “good”; since bad is, in a sense, the anti-good.

The clearer your definition of good is, for the circumstance, expectation, plan, e.t.c. is, the clearer your understanding of its bad.

Simplify, and drive for clarity in your definition of “good”, and “bad” will become easier to spot.

Let’s start with a base assumption that the teacher is “perfect” — unlikely, but let’s have that as a constant to simplify our small equation.

learning effectiveness ∝ receiver’s teachability

More than anything else, the question that needs answering is: how teachable are you?

Are you humble enough to admit ignorance?

Are you humble enough to admit when you’re wrong?

Are you humble enough to admit there are other perspectives besides yours?

Are you humble enough to discuss your differences in good faith, on the merits of the conversation at hand?

If yes to all the above, then great; if no, you know where to start.

We imagine: if the above were the case, wouldn’t life be so much easier?

It’s very true, for a while, it would be, then everything becomes banal.

Stuck, as a result of a tough decision, lack of clarity, uncertainties, e.t.c. bring some pressure, and quite a lot of stress — this is a fact.

Interestingly, it’s also what adds spice to your life.

It’s what makes the joy of “escape” or discovery worth so much.

Figuring it out, or surviving — as might be the case many times — is what give us experience that sticks.

Stuck is a phase, but something comes after it, and we need to accept that the reward for this journey, isn’t the outcome [whether good or bad], but the journey itself.

It shouldn’t be perceived in that manner.

Think about rest and work, working [pun intended] together to form a complete and perfect cycle.

GOD rested after creation, not because HE needs rest, but rather to set an example for mankind.

Rest allows us perform a very important function that drives up the quality of our work — something that is impossible if we only stay in the work portion of the cycle.

It is called “Reflection”.

It was stated that he exclaimed “Eureka” after his discovery, and ran through the streets naked, to tell everyone about it — he forgot to wear his clothes.

Like scholars of old, we’re “pioneers” in a sense — not so much in discovering new places, things or principles [even though it’s possible], but moreso in navigating the “unknowns” we encounter as we go through life.

We’re faced with the choice of “sticking to the normal/known” or trying something new, which we could potentially fail at.

The answer to the question below shouldn’t worry you, not in the least, it should only help you unearth your drive — it helps you be honest with yourself, so you can step forward more confidently.

The key question in your mind should be this: if the scales are placed before my eyes, where would they tilt — the fear of failure or the joy of discovery, irrespective of the pain.

Systems are inevitable because they provide a uniformity and social contract — or said another way, they provide the basis for the expectations of all participants within its boundary.

We can split them into:

• Formal: think of Government, the work place and everywhere else where there is a written document that defines these rules

• Informal: think of culture/tradition, church, an association of friends, e.t.c.

As with everything that involves people, they come with both pros and cons.

Because of how ever-present they are, it’s very easy to fall into the mindset of: “there is no better option”; you might be right, but how would you know if you don’t try something else?

This is hard for formal systems, so it’s easier to try this with volitional systems: when was the last time you evaluated your participation?

Does it benefit you [read as: help your growth]?

Or are you simply just “going along”, even though you derive no joy from it?

Participation is a choice; no matter how much it might seem like “there is no better option”, you might be better off exploring to be certain.

In programming, it’s something called a boolean — it can only have one of two (2) possible states: true or false — there’s absolutely no in-between state.

When people say “my truth”, they’re instead speaking of a belief, or at least, their personal belief of reality in the moment — since this is the case, call it exactly what it is: your belief or interpretation of reality.

As a christian, for me, the truth is more than just objective, HE is a person; which means, for me, at all times, I must strive to be on HIS side; if HE’s happy, then I’m good.

I’ll leave you with this: when speaking of truth, you should be able to tell apart the objective truth of reality, from your belief or interpretation of reality — if you’re able to do this, you’ll be fine.

In a sense, they both mean the same thing, so you wouldn’t be wrong in hearing it that way.

As we go through life, we meet people — this is the beauty of life’s journey. As important as meeting, there will be times when we have to part ways.

It can be painful, but it’s as much a part of life’s journey, as everything else.

When meeting, always prepare for the parting; to do this — answer this question: what effect can I have on this relationship, that will leave me without regret when we part.

This is something very interesting about communication: the words [and their combinations] we use, are only a part of the story.

High fidelity in what is transmitted is important, if we’re ever going to do great work, with the people around us — whether it’s family, friends, colleagues or community.

Strive for high fidelity in your communication.

People seem to want businesses to be “fair”; sadly, that’s not how labour, or the world works.

First, what is fairness? In your personal dealings, when you make choices — more often in what you believe to be in your best interests — are you always fair?

For-profit businesses are so for a reason; they’ll move costs in the direction of least-expense to optimise profit; to expect anything more would be you projecting, with little information.

You might not like that people “are subjected” to these conditions, and that’s fine — it’s not about you.

The labour market is like a hamster wheel, constantly moving, yet going nowhere, but you can choose to get off, if it doesn’t serve your interests.

They’re a leaning or inclination, usually rooted in our beliefs or experiences, and everyone has them.

As we go through life, we make many choices; the leaning of the next choice is going to vastly tilt in information from our lived experiences or annecdotal evidence from others.

We need our “beliefs” to anchor in reality as people — in fact, they’re necessary for steering.

In reality, your bias is simply a manifestation of these beliefs — we need to acknowledge this.

Like with all beliefs, we could be wrong.

When you notice a bias, it’s important to [or at least attempt to] question the underlying belief — we must embrace learning and new evidence, when available.

In summary:

1. Question your beliefs

2. Pursue truth