Doug Cartland's Four-Minute Leadership Advisory
Doug Cartland, Inc.
12/03/2013

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I wonder if I do birds a disservice by feeding them.

 

I have a bird feeder in my backyard. I put seed in it. The birds eat there. If the food I put out wasn't so readily available, they would have to hunt for their own food. And they would probably find it too.

 

Hunger pangs have a way of driving up effort.

 

But then I feed them and the hunt becomes so very easy. What effort does it take for them to find my food? None. Heck, most of the little gluttons park their feathery butts and fat bellies right in the middle of my bird feeder, pecking, nibbling and sunning their days away. Tough life.

 

The question I have is this: what happens to self-discipline when things come too easy? After all, self-discipline is to be valued and nourished. It's the bedrock of all good character.

 

We are a pill popping people. But, worry not; this is no diatribe about our penchant for medicating most anything and everything in our society. That's been said and written about ad nauseam.

 

Quite to the contrary, I'm very happy for the breakthroughs of modern science.

 

I've been associated with clinically depressed people, for example, who have no recourse but to take a pill to right their listing minds. It's a physical, chemical need. I can't imagine the torture past generations of depressed people endured with no remedy except for well meaning people telling them to, "Buck up."

 

I'm grateful for the blood pressure medicine I'm on. A hundred years ago, I would have had to live with high blood pressure and very possibly die because of it.

 

No, there is a need for drugs. They serve a wonderful purpose in many cases.

 

I guess the rub for me is when pills are taken out of convenience instead of need.

 

I'm not above having popped a sleep-aid every now and again-you know Nyquil or something of the sort. No different than past generations having a glass of wine before bed, I suppose.

 

At the other end of the spectrum, I've also knocked back a Five Hour Energy for a pick me up especially when I have a long drive home after days of training. I'd prefer getting home to driving into a bridge embankment. The stumpy little cocktails are like downing a condensed Mountain Dew without the calories.

 

I've also had this thought, though: Am I eroding my self-discipline when I take a sleep aid or an energy drink?

 

It's for this reason I fear taking them too often.

 

If I didn't take them what would I have to do? I'd have to apply my mind when I'm driving, willing and disciplining myself to stay alert. (Or stop and take a nap.) Or discipline my mind to put away the cares of my day so that I can sleep.

 

Am I atrophying my mental muscles when I artificially aid them? If I worked out and had someone lifting the bar for me when I bench-press I'd never build any muscle-someone else would be doing the real work.

 

As it is with pills.

 

As it is with my bird feeder.

 

I have no real answers for this, just the question. But I think it's a legitimate one.

 

One I will contemplate deeply and thoughtfully as I amble across my backyard to feed the birds.
I'd love to hear from you. Reply to this email and let me know your thoughts. 

 

Doug

 

Doug Cartland, President
Doug Cartland, Inc.

 

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