Al Ciampa
Level 7 Valued Member
But I don't think there is any moral dimension to waking up in the morning. I would not like to live my life with the mindset that every moment and decision is a test that I have to pass by forcing myself to make the less pleasant choice.
Good point, Steve. Your time is temporary here; if you choose to maximize your productivity to make some sort of impact on the world, you will need to do this. You will also, at some point, suffer the symptoms of living your high stress existence. It's a choice. But we are so much more accepting of it when we're younger.
I completely understand Jocko's points, especially as applied while he was active-duty. I spent too much of my 47 years trying to punch square pegs into round holes and very little to show for it. The Army carried on without me and the physiological years I gave to it, far exceeding the actual years. I now choose to live my life in way that allows me to slide round pegs into round holes. Breathing and somatic practice is far more important to me than hammering away at trying to make sinister or run a fast 10k or the like. Though I do still hammer from time to time.
I arrange my life so I get to bed early and naturally wake up between 4 & 5am. I haven't used an alarm in over a decade, and I love it. Most of my existence, now, is "flow" rather than "hammer", and the people I attract into my very small circle are amiable to this idea.
I am getting set to launch a weekend workshop that will teach others how to flow to reduce stress, and just relax. You can't keep pounding away and expect to be healthy, at least not in the long-term. Again, I agree with Jocko in the proper context, and in the proper time of your life.