Sunday morning at my gym. Lifting embarrassingly small shoulder press weights, a thought occurred to me. What if I were just a character in a role-playing game? I did not create the world. Somebody rolled the dice to set my initial character stats. A Game Master describes what is happening around me. What am I doing? I am interacting with the world. Putting my talents to work. Discovering. Exchanging XP for upgrades.
THINK. Willpower is an exhaustible resource. Well, that is a simplified version of light correlation between sustained mental effort and willingness to exert it further, on the same field or another. Depletion of self-control, it seems, is progressive. Human beings are not wired to grind their teeth and push through with no consequences.
The correlation might be loose, but hands up who never experienced mental or emotional fatigue at the workplace! Creatures of habit, we rarely disrupt ourselves into a continuous cycle of voluntary changes. Yet, we tend to change a lot, frequently, and passionately.
So, what makes us tick?
As I am reflecting on last two and a half decades of my professional life, a few things come to mind: inspired vision of a better future (carrot), awareness of an alternative (stick) or finally - curiosity mixed with lack of awareness of own limitations (huh... bravery?). Irrespective of the spark, willpower and resilience are in demand to keep the engine going.
FEEL. So, is the recharging of willpower even possible and if yes, how does one do it?
Well, you cannot just convince yourself intellectually to keep the stats high; using willpower to sustain willpower is an equivalent of Schroedinger's Cat paradox - both possible and impossible all at once. Sometimes despite best intentions, we struggle to stay motivated. Turning inward can only do as much.
So, the answer is - other people.
A vision of better future for me started from creating opportunities for my family that I did not have access to growing up. Never imagined moving countries, intense travels, pension plans (yes!). But I could see myself gathering experience and paying if forward, sharing ideas and lifting others. Energy and wisdom, when shared, multiply.
The lack of awareness of own limitations is sometimes the best tailwind there is. I do not mean jumping into a deep ravine with no safety rope. It is the palpable confidence that things are just going to work out; situational bravery and willpower to open the next door. Knowing there are people who can catch you.
A feeling of hope.
DO. People charge other people.
I was recently asked to spare an hour and tell a few stories to our teams in Casablanca site. 'The Power of Emotional Intelligence' turned out to be the most energizing moment of the trip. Yes, the conversation flew. Yes, the questions were thoughtful and relevant. Yes, a full audience of people deciding to listen to you is an ego-boosting moment.
But there was something else that left a deep mark.
Learning only begins when we start applying the things we hear about or contemplate. It that spirit, the entire audience was asked to engage in a simple exercise on expressing feelings. Speaking and listening. Nothing a teenager couldn't handle (except the listening part maybe?).
I have a cinematic memory that remained. The buzz fills the room. It is striking how loud some fifty conversations could be. Then it all filters out. I only observe body language and facial expressions.
All I see is the ocean of smiles.
