How to access the hidden menu of Reality.
And the first habit of highly successful people.
This is a screenshot of Final Fantasy Legend. In the game you wandered around a map and with every step there is a chance you would encounter a monster. And when you did you would be offered two choices.
In his book “The 7 Habits of highly successful people”, Stephen Covey states that;
There is a space between stimulus and response.
If life was a game I think that space would look like this screen. And just like in the game life always seems to offer these two options, Fight or Run.
But just like in the game these are never the only two options. Picking from the available options is a habit and most of the time that is enough to overcome the monster.
There are other buttons on the game boy. Other options. If you press pause you can access even more options. You could turn of the game boy. You could play another game. You could put the game boy down and go for a run. Or call a friend.
The potential for creative action is unlimited, and the canvas for that action is the space between stimulus and response. In that moment before you pick ‘fight’ or ‘run’.
Bring proactive, acting creatively in the space between stimulus and response is the first of the 7 habits of highly successful people.
It’s way to access the hidden menu of reality.
Be Proactive.
SIDE B
All November I’m writing daily on the topic of Habit. To make the experience more visceral I’m pausing one of my most ingrained habits for the month.
I survived without coffee yesterday. When working on my night shift in the studio, my wife suggested if I’m sleepy (stimulus), or crave coffee (stimulus), jump around. (response)
I did.
This morning, I didn’t bother to make tea to replace my usual coffee. Tea just doesn’t give me the reward that a strong cup of coffee does. I did jumping jacks instead.