No Lamb For the Lazy Wolf

15Aug08

source: mythfolklore.net

All right, at the risk of pissing off my friend Friar, who is lying low because of all the touchy-feelyness floating around, I will start with this sentence: Among others, Brett Legree of 6weeks has really been a huge source of inspiration for me lately. For that I’m utterly grateful, and in the same breath I steal yet more inspiration — a Viking phrase from his post this morning, for my title.

Here it is in context:

Wake early
if you want
another man’s life or land.
No lamb
for the lazy wolf.
No battle’s won in bed.
- The Hávamál

Now last night, in my last email to Brett, I’d told him I planned on waking early to get going on my work today. But I was suddenly — thanks to our conversation and his enthusiasm regarding the look of EditQuest (only he got to see. He named the business, after all!) — compelled to start writing my own text for the site. I fought that, though. I really didn’t want to, at the same time. I whined to James. James gave me a spank and sent me back to my computer.

I gritted my teeth. And then I started. No lamb for the lazy wolf, indeed. Because not only did I start it all (all that site text that was so utterly daunting for so long and which I’d been putting off for weeks), but I finished it (early this morning. Hence the not waking early!). And I don’t think it’s all that crappy, either. [UPDATE: That's because I am not a web copy writer. Hence, the text needs to be totally rewritten! Things may take longer than planned.]

Why did I finally do it? Well, as I said, Brett helped motivate me and James made me. But there’s a bigger reason, I think, behind it all. In seeing my design yesterday, the whole enterprise suddenly became more real to me. I am going to be helping writers achieve their dream. I am going to contribute more to supporting my family. I am going to make my husband proud of me. I had some very powerful WHYs going on, all at once.

This is what I think: You can read all you want about productivity and motivation and inspiration. You can force yourself to do stuff. You can even let others force you. But until you find your REAL REASON for doing things, nothing you do will really shine the way it could. Nothing you do will be as inspired.

For example, Brett has a dream of working for himself and of becoming a published author. Just wanting to get out of his current job isn’t really enough of a reason to get these things going, as strong as the feeling is. A steady job with satisfactory income is still comfort in some sense. Neither is all of our encouragement, as heartfelt as it is, strong enough.

So no. His real reasons for working toward those goals, the reasons that will light a fire under his ass and propel him toward those dreams faster are these: he is utterly in love with New Zealand and he wants to move his family there and be joyous. I see dancing in his future, and the selling of many huaraches. Also, he loves his wife and kids and wants the best for them. He’s writing at least one book because he has the utmost respect and love for his wife. He cherishes and relishes freedom and the ability to expand his many ideas. He wants to be true to his soul.

Those are powerful reasons because they are attached to very strong emotions. Stronger even than hating his job, which is saying a lot.

So if you’re struggling with something because you’re procrastinating, stop trying to figure out why you’re not doing it. Instead, sit down and ask yourself, WHY do I want to do this? Why am I really doing this? Find the reasons that make your heart pound.

Then act on them.

Filed under: Inspiration   |  39 Comments
Tags: Inspiration, motivation, procastinating, reasons