Good!:
I love this motto from Jocko Willink (the guy who said “discipline equals freedom”). “Good!” is basically a shortened version of Amor Fati. Anytime something bad happens, say “Good!” and decide how you can turn it into a positive. Jocko used this in his Navy Seal career.
“Phone battery died? Good! I can read a book.”
“Forgot my coat? Good! I can get some cold exposure and get stronger.”
“Hurt my ankle running? Good! I can take a week off and recover.”
“Can’t fall asleep? Good! I will get some work done.”
A funny one from a not-so-complimentary book review of Jocko’s newest book: “No one likes my book? Good! gives me a chance to write a better one.”
“Good!” is inherently and immediately positive and incites action. Try it today.
Minimum Effective Dose:
Ok it is time to present the most efficient, evidence-based, safest exercise routine I have ever come across. I do this routine 1-2 times per week. Dr Doug McGuff is an Emergency Physician who also runs an exercise facility in his town. His Body by Science routine takes 12-15 minutes. Here is a concise Men’s Health summary of the routine.
Five different exercises, one set each, 90 seconds per set, super slow movement, reach muscular failure. Dr McGuff has 80 year olds doing this safely, but it will wear you out at high intensity.
Recover:
In Stop Physician Burnout, instead of conceiving overall physical, emotional and spiritual energy as a gas tank, think of a bank account. Unlike a gas tank, you can overdraw a bank account to a negative balance. THAT is burnout. Dr Drummond says we all need to make deposits back into the bank account. To recharge, take a nap, drop everything and take your spouse to the park, go out to eat, watch a funny movie. He also says to use burnout as a positive, a turning point to make a change.
“I’m burned out (or nearing zero balance)? Good! I can make a change and get back on track.”
Reflect:
You don’t have to have children to be moved by this brief letter from a father to his son. Written by W. Livingston Larned, this appeared in a Reader’s Digest >100 years ago, and is in the first chapter of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. Just a beautiful, short letter that could be applied to any of us in how we treat others. Do not condemn or criticize others, instead understand them.
Give:
For everyone like me who still has a lot of Christmas shopping, check out this list of favorite purchases from high-performing professionals. Tim Ferriss asked a ton of people in his new book Tribe of Mentors about their favorite recent purchases below $100. Some great stuff here.
Quote:
There is no way to happiness – happiness is the way.
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Or put another way, happiness is not a destination, it is the journey..
