Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

    My daughter says I need an intervention.  I have gotten a bit consumed with

watching old seasons of the tv show Survivor. I just love watching the drama

of outwit, outplay, outlast!  I love watching people fight to get the ball first or

the puzzle together first, so they can win food to eat and not have to vote

anyone out of the game.  I love watching them learn to make fire and find

food while they annoy each other and plot who should be voted out.  Is it the

weakest person?  The oldest?  The most annoying?  

    This is a lot like life. But the competition is not with others but with ourselves.

Personally, I have found that if I want to live a life I love, I have to learn how to

outwit, outplay and outlast my brain. My primitive brain is constantly telling

me that I can’t do things because they are too hard, I’ve never done them

before, or I’m not smart enough and talented enough. But I’ve learned how to

outwit it, by using my higher brain to imagine who I want to be and finding

evidence that I can be that person, and then just doing it.

    I have learned how to outplay my brain, by learning how to feel my emotions.

Nobody teaches us about our emotions when we are growing up. But learning

to feel and process our emotions is a skill that will help you avoid overeating,

constant bickering with your spouse or child, and pretty much everything

worthwhile in life.

    I have learned to outlast my brain by simply not giving up! By learning that it

is ok to fail at something or do B- work. I do not have to do perfect work on

anything. Done is better than perfect. Feeding my kids Campbell’s Chicken

Noodle Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches was better than not feeding

them because I couldn’t make a gourmet meal. Straightening my house a

little bit each night added up to an overall cleaner house with less effort than

doing it once a week. Taking baby steps consistently over time has produced

better results for me than trying to do things perfectly. And baby steps makes

it easier to keep going. It’s not so overwhelming. Thus, I keep going and

feeding my kids, straightening my house at night.