In recent years I’ve caught on to a curious phenomenon in my own psychological make-up: I can’t stay still for long.
I need to be doing something, and if I don’t find anything useful and productive to do, I end up doing something self-destructive. Needless to say, the former generally works out better than the latter.
It’s as though there is a need within me to expend energy, and which doesn’t care a fig just how that energy is spent.
I’ve learned to deal with this phenomenon by maintaining a handy list of useful and productive things to do. I do this not only because it is useful and productive, but also because it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble.
The good thing is that once I get into one of those “virtuous” phases of keeping it all together — exercising, eating right, not indulging in bad habits — everything seems to flow. The work gets better, pesky little chores seem much easier to get out of the way, and my mood becomes a lot more upbeat and untroubled.
Those of you who have ever gone waterskiing will be familiar with the general idea: It can be tricky to get up on those skis. But once you manage to do that, it’s not so hard to keep your balance.
And it’s also kind of fun.