The Opposite of Productive Struggle - Issue 8 - 8th May 2022
If I am encouraging you to embrace struggle, then what should I be encouraging you to avoid? This is not quite the right question to ask but instead, what behaviours or habits should you be aware of? What are their dangers?
We should be aware of behaviours that inhibit some form of pleasure without a productive result. Weighing up this pleasure/productivity balance is tricky. Activities that embrace struggle generally should be productive and produce some form of pleasure afterwards. For example, I just plunged myself into a bath with a bag of ice for ten minutes. It was not a pleasure-filled ten minutes but I feel incredible now that I have done it. So to figure out what activities to be wary of, simply reverse the pleasure/productivity balance. If an activity produces more pleasure than productivity it’s probably an activity that shouldn’t be repeated often. An example of this would be fast food. Eating fast food is very pleasurable but it certainly is not productive due to its high fat, high sugar or high salt content. So eating fast food should not be repeated often. Another example could be binge-watching TV; it may be pleasurable whilst you watch but a few hours later, you have nothing to show for your time other than getting to the end of Is It Cake?
Now I’m not saying to completely avoid these behaviours, habits and activities; just be wary of their dangers. Especially be wary of behaviours and habits that imitate reality on a grander scale:
Social media being an aggressive version of social interaction, fast food being an exaggerated version of natural food, pornography being a hyper-version of sex.
Additionally, shopping should be considered here. Relying on materials for fulfilment and happiness is a seemingly never-ending road but I can assure you that that road is a dead-end. As soon as you find yourself thinking “I’ll be happy when I buy these clothes” or “I’ll feel fulfilled when we have a bigger house,” stop what you’re doing and re-evaluate what you truly value. These material possessions provide fleeting doses of happiness and fulfilling just as heroin produces fleeting doses of contentment. Sooner or late, withdrawal will come knocking aggressively requesting that you inject another dose of heroin or those new shoes you have your eye on. As soon as money is being relied on for happiness stop what you’re doing. With regards to the pleasure/productivity balance, shopping can weigh heavily on pleasure and produce nothing productive except a few minutes of happiness followed by withdrawal and a yearning for what’s next.
All of the above are all behaviours that send the chemicals in your brain into overload because your brain was not built for this kind of exaggerated, aggressive and hyper-stimuli. Therefore, these behaviours should be utilised with caution as these are all extremely pleasurable but also extremely unproductive.
The answer? Put your faith into meaningful, productive and difficult tasks and behaviours. Activities that weigh heavy on productivity as well aspleasure. If you want to carry out an activity but can’t be bothered or are avoiding it because it is a struggle, put the phone down and get to work. Stop putting your faith into materials, virtual approval, sex on a screen or unhealthy foods and put more faith in meaningful, difficult and productive activities, tasks and behaviours.
Keep On Struggling,
Gregor
Documentary I Loved - Roadrunner
As many of you will know, I love Anthony Bourdain. This documentary by Academy Award Winner Morgan Neville was an honest, raw and heartwarming view of his life and times. There was a lot of vulnerability in Bourdain that I wasn’t aware of that just adds to his unique character. His philosophy of world travel and character shine through in this film so I would recommend watching this as a reminder of what’s truly important in life. Here’s part of the description: “Filmmaker Morgan Neville examines the uncommon life of world-travelling chef, writer, and icon Anthony Bourdain, who lived his life unabashedly.”
Watch via Netflix now or watch the trailer below.
Song I Love - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? By Moby
This song came on randomly the other day while I was driving and it hits me every time, however while the title insinuates that it will be a sad listen, I actually find it very heartwarming. There’s certain songs that I find make me feel introspective, make me consider life or just give me goosebumps. These songs, I put in a playlist entitled Life which I’ll share more from in the future but this song is worth a listen.
Listen Below.
Show I’ve Seen Twice - Derren Brown Showman
My partner and I recently went to see this show for the second time (first time in Blackpool) at The Edinburgh Playhouse and it was incredible. Of course, Brown performed some unbelievable tricks and hypnotics but the whole show had a profound theme that ran throughout bringing tears to my eyes. Obviously, due to the nature of the show there’s a limit to how much I can divulge but I would recommend everyone, if possible, to see this show as you’ll come out with a new perspective on life and what’s important.