Underline This Podcast

I’ve had profound thoughts over the past couple of months centered around “floating.” In Napoleon Hill’s book Outwitting the Devil, one of the tools that the devil weaponizes often is complacency. Tricking someone into thinking they’re okay as they are.

There’s no need to think, plan, pursue dreams, or take action. On the lifeboat each of us has been given, the Devil prefers we float. Let the currents, the elements, existential chaos dictate our course. How are we tricked into this?

Action or effort is a waste. Someone will come and save you. Life’s too dangerous anyway. (self-pity)

All of these points are lies. To combat drifting we need to plot a course, take strategic action, and start paddling.

The damning of action comes from self-pity. Self-pity is an addiction. It’s an insidious drug that conquers the heart and mind. Like any drug, it’s best to steer away from it before letting the poison enter your system. Combat it with action.

To take action, again, one can never go wrong with improving relationships, your physical health, or self. Calling a friend, catching up with a family member, or joining a club. For physical health: start moving. Go on a walk, a run, go to the gym, or start exercising in front of the TV. To improve one’s self: meditate. Journal. Thoughts will pour onto the paper as one cares into your mind.

We’ve identified the sickness, given the medicine, and now to self-diagnose:

Do I have clear goals that I’m progressing towards? Do I make decisions with purpose, or do I tend to let others decide for me? Am I actively improving myself? Do I procrastinate? Do I confront challenges or hope they resolve themselves? Can I clearly articulate what I want from life? Do I heavily rely on luck, fate, or external forces to make my life? Do I consume more? Do I spend more time consuming entertainment than creating value (for myself or others)? Am I driven by fear, insecurity, or laziness more than vision, passion, and discipline? If I repeated the last 6 months of my life for the next 6 years, would I be happy where I end up?

These questions will help guide, assess, and create targets of where we are meant to be. Good luck on outwitting the devil on your journey.

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