We had an event for colleagues in London earlier this year, around the time of the Chinese New Year, for which our manifestation was the fortune cookie. Oddly, the two statements I got have stuck in my mind – oddly given the tendency of these things to be platitudinous, crass or pretty feeble. Think of Christmas crackers.
One of them said ‘Man does little by instruction, much by passion and most by habit.’ As a prognostication it’s not up to much but as a truism it’s pretty spot on I reckon. It reflects one of the elements I have been trying to address over the long years – the removal of over – analysis from decision making.
It may sound fairly rudimentary, but I think there is a great deal of importance to being able to operate effectively by making instinctive decisions. The lack of that ability sows doubt into everything you do – because it’s a contagious mindset that undermines confidence by calling into question your capability at any point. The mindset in itself becomes a habit – exacerbated both by the instances of grim mentality and the question of the disabilities.
Habit doesn’t mean operating like an automaton, but it does mean you don’t have to stop and evaluate the pros and cons every time you choose your lunch., slowing everything down. Eventually you seize up with the exhaustion of trying to work out what you can and can’t do, should and shouldn’t. Everything becomes a calculation.
So, part of my thinking is to make my passions my habit – and do those things regularly without thinking too much about them…
And the second? ‘You will be in line for a promotion’. Now that’s more like a prediction!
Tags: Onwards, Philosophy
