I have a sneaking suspicion you know where this is going.
And before we go there.
I want you to know this.
I care about you.
I want the very best for you.
I write because I love learning, teaching and sharing, but I also LOVE to help people have more joy, fun and happiness in their lives.
That’s pretty much my job.
Whether I am writing, presenting to an audience or coaching.
I want people to express their full potential in a way that is unique to them.
So, with that said, let’s see if we can get to where I want to take us.
When I was growing up in a country town in Australia, I would watch a show called ‘Playschool’.
And one of the tunes I can still hear in my head, 40+ years later is something like this…
“One of these is not like the others. Can you tell me just which is it?”
In the title to these Tips, there is one element that is not the same as the others.
Can you guess which word I am talking about?
Yep, you guessed it!
CONVENIENCE.
Convenience is often at the other end of the spectrum to things like full potential, optimum health, authentic success, inspired destiny, etc..
And when it comes to Decision Making Mastery (which I write about in my book), whether something is ‘convenient’ or not, is not the right question when deciding something important.
Or for that matter, even in the Top 5 questions when it comes to deciding whether to, or not, do something.
Whether something is convenient or not, will definitely not help you to spend your life in the TOP 10% of the bell curve for happiness, fulfilment., achievement,. self actualization and self love.
In fact, for me, it is probably the last question on the decision making mastery checklist.
Before I would ask that, I would be asking things like when making decisions:
- Does this align with my values?
- Does this support my growth?
- Is it in the direction of my ‘North Star’? (or purpose / reason for being)
- Does it optimize my health? (or does it adversely affect my health over the long term)
- Does it make a positive impact on the people around me, and the world at large?
Then probably another 5-10 more high impact and meaningful questions.
And maybe then, I might ask “Is this more convenient?”
But asking that at all – after the other powerful questions – makes it seem so irrelevant and puny.
Like the question the lizard part of your brain (lower brain) would ask.
Who wants the lizard running the show?
Not friggin me!!!
A Case Study that might (will) piss some people off, so dare to lean into discomfort
The reason it might piss some people off, is because sometimes ‘ignorance can feel like bliss’ and not knowing can be a great ‘excuse’.
We are going to focus on one of my main health concerns.
Especially if you experience anxiety, hyperactivity, foggy mind, over-reactivity, or are challenged with attaining a state of calmness.
The brain is still a bit of a mystery to different ‘scientists’.
What they can agree on is the subtle electrical signalling, which is part of its functionality.
There is biochemistry as well, but subtle electrical pulses can be used to stimulate the brain and create a physiological effect.
Plus a healthy brain is REALLY important for all of life.
Enter left of stage, the (poor) decision making tool of “convenience”.
Here is where I (might) piss people off.
Is it more convenient to stick things in my ears, that have no cable, than to stick things in my ears that are attached to a cable?
Boy that cable is sure inconvenient.
Of course I am talking about the ear pod things.
Sending and receiving signals, back and forth to a device, and most likely from one side of the brain to the other.
Hang in there.
I know some of you want to close your eyes about now.
I have been tracking the potential harm from non-natural Electromagnetic Radiation for about 25 years now, and I believe it is HIGHLY PROBABLE that using ear pods (while convenient) is likely to be disruptive to maintaining coherent braining activity, and a non overly stimulated autonomic nervous system.
Dave Asprey, author, bio-hacker, longevity expert, tech entrepreneur and the man behind Bulletproof Coffee, said in his latest book (Smarter Not Harder) that he will not use ear pods as he does not think there has been enough independent and rigorous safety studies, particularly on long term effects (he is also not a fan of brain implants at this stage either).
Now to finish this piece, let me say this.
I am not your mum or dad, and you are a grown up.
The choice is yours.
I am just using a very obvious example to highlight my point of view about convenience, not being a good yard stick of measure, especially when it comes to our health.
In Summary
I spend a lot of time with my clients – who want to be high performing and high achieving awesome human beings – challenging them not to make IMPORTANT decisions based on ‘convenience’ if they want to express their full potential.
Growth can be uncomfortable (think chin-ups or sticking out a tough emotional conversation with your partner).
Creating something GREAT is likely to be uncomfortable, challenging, confronting, and very likely inconvenient.
There is likely to be a whole lot of INCONVENIENCE.
That is where mastery is.
That is where optimum health is.
That is where your full potential resides.
So…
Do not use whether something is convenient or not, when it comes to making the big decisions in your life, as it is irrelevant (and may take you backwards).
My Parting word
I will keep this short as we had a longer (but very important) conversation.
Whether something is convenient or not, is not the right question to ask, or habit to lean into.
It is not on the path to a most awesome life.
Or the path to growth and self-actualization.
Whether it is convenient does not enter my mind when I sit down to meditate each morning.
What’s that got to do with anything?
Especially the important stuff.
Like you being the best you.
On that note…
Have a day guided by optimization, and a week where you choose awesomeness over convenience.
Take care,
Carl
PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be
