Drive: How To “Get More”
You are a high-powered machine.
Productivity — it’s a hot topic in today’s world. It seems people are always seeking out new methods to “get more.” Whether it’s to get more done, get more creative, get more motivated, or anything along those lines.
Bottom line, you and I want more out of ourselves.
How?
Play along
To help you visualize throughout this article, I’ve created two parallels:
- Your body is like a vehicle.
- Your mind is like an engine.
The body is more than just a fleshy sack of bones. Your body is a permanent space for which you travel through life. It’s a way of maneuvering. It’s an instrument you and I use to achieve the things we desire.
Just like a real car, your body needs a source of power — something to push it in the right direction. That’s where the mind comes in.
Your brain is like a high powered engine. With ideas, emotions, and ambitions, your mind creates the necessary force that moves the person who thinks them. The engine is absolutely central to our performance.
Without an engine, the car never leaves the garage.
Breakdown
We all hit moments of exhaustion or fatigue. I find myself going through these dry spells every now and then. There are times when I feel stuck. There are times when I am not moving at a speed or direction I originally planned for.
These are the “get more” moments.
How to get more
Common sense tells says us “in order to get more, we need to do more.” When we want more out of ourselves, we literally try to take more out.
We attempt to travel faster. We warrant less rest stops and assume we need to realign ourselves in the proper direction.
We push the pedal to the floor.
We exert more effort from within, in order to reach new heights. “I have to work harder and smarter” we say… This is wrong.
Maintenance
Contrary to the “do more, get more” mantra, I find it somewhat counter intuitive over the long haul.
If you want more, don’t attempt to pull more out, rather focus on what you’re putting in.
I can’t really stress how important it is to put good in — to give your mind and body the proper resources. Support is a precursor to sustained success.
Imagine you wish to travel across country. Do you just hop in and go? No way. (If you do, it’s unlikely you’ll make it.) You have to make sure everything is in working condition.
You should check your fluids, pump the tires, and assess if you can go the distance. You may need repairs or an oil change; you’ll definitely need fuel along the way.
My point is, people are like cars. We require a certain level of maintenance and up-keep. We constantly have to add, rearrange, and provide fuel in order to sustain our drive.
You can’t constantly demand performance without any kind of service or nourishment. You will fall apart before you reach your destination.
You have to take care of yourself.
Next time you are running low, take a moment and look at what you’re putting in.
- AZ
