Walt Hampton, J.D.

Creating the Work & Life You LOVE

Are You In The Mood?
February 16, 2012

The bed was warm. She cozied closer.

“Are you in the mood?”

I looked at her, my eyes wide in disbelief.

“What are you, on crack?” I asked.  “Of course, I’m NOT in the mood.”

Who asks questions like that? It was cold outside, 18 degrees as I recall. And dark. Who wants to run in the cold and dark?

She was joking, of course. It’s not a question we ask… or entertain about our running. At least not often.

Because, for pursuits of any import, mood is irrelevant.

I’m rarely in the mood to go to the gym. I’m never in the mood to count my calories or sort my supplements. I’m only occasionally in the mood to run. Sometimes I’m in the mood to write. And sometimes not. I love to photograph. But I’m never in the mood to edit. I’m passionate about speaking. But the preparation is tedious.

Rory Vaden writes, “Simply stated, there are only two types of activities: things we feel like doing and things we don’t. And if we can learn to make ourselves do the things we don’t want to do, then we have literally created the power to create any result in our lives.”

Successful people do whatever they need to do to achieve their goals, regardless of how they “feel.”

“Successful people are successful because they form the habits of doing those things that failures don’t like to do,” said Albert Gray.

Form the habits of success. Dial in the gym, the run, the weekly planning, the healthy meals. Schedule and commit the time to write, to paint, to practice the instrument. Do what’s really important. Do it every day. Don’t think about it. Don’t analyze it. Don’t wonder about it. Don’t worry about it. Don’t re-consider it. Do it. Just do it. No matter what.

When was the last time you asked yourself whether you were “in the mood” to brush your teeth? What a ridiculous question to ask, you say. Make your habits of success like that.

The things that look effortless, the performances that are flawless, the achievements that astound (all those things you’re jealous of): they’re borne of countless hours of practice and preparation. Of doing. And doing again. And had nothing to do with mood.

So if the new business venture is on your list, or the MBA, or the 5k in the spring, now is the time to start.

I don’t care if you’re in the mood, or not.

 

 

6 Comments

  1. Audrey

    So- I’m in the mood to run when I am in bed, in the middle of the night and I think about what route I will take the next day, planning some new twist that will get me excited or that will lend some new adventure to the day…
    And, I am NEVER in the mood when I actually get out there for the first mile or two. And then, on good days, that “flow” happens when, after that first mile, there is freedom and your mind is released and you just go. GO with the rhythm of you breathing and the steady beat of your feet on the pavement and then you can begin to look up and around: at the sherbet sunrise, at the sillouette of the dark tree branches against the orange sky, at the black water in that lovely river. It is spectacular. And then I thank God that somehow, I managed to get out of bed, lace up my shoes and get through that first mile.

    Same for the cello. Getting it out of the case, getting my ass in the chair, opening the music, tuning it up… managing those first tentative scales… and then… we’re off.
    nice.

    Reply
    • Walt

      Mel Robbins who wrote a great book called “Stop Saying You’re Fine” says, “When the alarm rings, stand up!” The first step out the door is ALWAYS the hardest.

      Reply
  2. Lisa

    This is great stuff – something every teenager today should read. I happen to have 3 in my house, and I will be printing this out and sharing it with them, particularly the parts about being a successful adult by doing the things that need to be done whether you “feel” like it or not. Thanks for this.

    Reply
    • Walt

      Thanks for the note Lisa. Teenagers. Hmm. Yes, we’ve done that. Pearls before…. ?

      Reply
  3. Sharon Hess

    So true…even the joyous among us are not that way 24/7. A daunting task can be viewed differently if we see it for what it is…the way to get what we desire.

    Some times not being in the mood is just your own ego stopping you from stepping into your greatness. It convinces you that it just too much of a bother, but then when have see no results, you feel even worse!

    Reply
    • Sharon Hess

      Redo on my post…geez I need to proof read better!

      So true…even the joyous among us are not that way 24/7. A daunting task can be viewed differently if we see it for what it is…the way to get what we desire.

      Some times not being in the mood is just your own ego stopping you from stepping into your greatness. It convinces you that it is just too much of a bother, but then when you see no results, you feel even worse!

      Reply

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