Brothers and Sisters, today let's allow a long-dead Englishman to admonish and advise us as to how to get things done in our lives.
"Men's thoughts are much according to their inclination; their discourse and speeches, according to their learning and infused opinions; but their deeds are after as they have been accustomed."
To clarify-
Our thoughts often run to our internal disposition, if we're cheery sorts, we have cheery thoughts, if we are morose ones ditto.
When conversing, our education and absorbed information hold sway-and keep in mind education is not simply what you learned at school or university, it is every bit of spoken and written word you take in daily that continues to make your education.
With that in mind, we must ask ourselves what school-texts are we currently using: Social media posts or something with a bit more bite, binge-television or maybe something with a wee bit of substance.
It's always our call as to what we school ourselves in, and tastes and goals are indeed personal... but don't under-estimate the power and effect of your self-chosen daily curriculum. Just as our waistlines can reflect the food we consume, our conversation does the same with our mental diet.
Our actions/our deeds are after our habit or custom. It is for this reason that deeds not words, less talk more action, more lighting in the hands and less thunder in the mouth and similar advice rings through the ages.
We all know what we should do, or would like to do but when the rubber hits the road- our habits tell our tale. Our claims and good intentions mean nothing.
Part II of Mr. Bacon's Lesson.
"Therefore, since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor, to obtain good customs."
On the money, changing our thoughts, changing our moods, changing our speech, chasing just one more perfect article on how to train, just one more lecture on raising self-esteem will not stand in stead of adopting the deed(s), habit(s), custom(s) we desire.
The custom or deed or habit comes first, and with regularity the mindset, and the speech follow.
Action precedes all. Heroes are all people who have done something, no one remembers or reveres someone who read about doing something, or thought about doing something, or talked about doing something.
In the act is life, the supposition inside our skulls is a fantasy not acted upon.
So, a few centuries before Nike, Mr. Bacon tells us all "Just do it!"
