If you aren’t up to something—meaning focused on one or more juicy desired outcomes—you’re probably busy being at the effect of your circumstances.
You may find yourself expending effort on keeping all the balls or plates in the air and on not being buffeted about rather than on actually getting somewhere, accomplishing something, or creating something. Small problems loom large; large problems become overwhelming. Eventually you think It takes all my energy and attention to manage my day-to-day life; I can’t possibly be up to anything else.
Or you think you have to solve all your current problems (or fix yourself) before you can pursue something else. But that fantasy won’t be coming true. Good thing you don’t have to get all your ducks (or plates) in a row before you can change your status quo!
It may seem counterintuitive, but identifying and taking aim at a desired outcome (there) in spite of your circumstances alters your perspective and, as a result, your relationship with your current situation (here). The juicier that desired outcome is [see J Is for Juicy], the greater sense of urgency you will have about getting from here to there. And the bigger or riskier or more uncertain your desired outcome is, the more urgency you will need to undertake the journey.
Urgency and Emergency Are Not the Same Thing
Urgency, which is defined as importance requiring swift action, seems to have gotten confused with emergency, which is defined as a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.
While urgency and emergency both involve an active response now, not everything that’s urgent is an emergency. Far from it. And on all other accounts, urgency and emergency are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Urgency is a positive force to help you create what you want.
Proactive vs Reactive
Urgency inspires you to initiate action. Emergency forces you to take action.
Desire vs Fear
Urgency is fueled by desire and the possibility of reward. (Remember that the brain is an insatiable wanting machine.) Emergency is fueled by fear.
Move Toward vs Move Away from
Urgency drives you forward toward your desired outcome. Emergency moves you away from something you want to avoid experiencing.
Creative Tension vs Psychological Tension
Urgency activates creative tension, a focusing energy that motivates you to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be by achieving your desired outcome. Emergency activates psychological tension, an unpleasant state of anxiety you want to eliminate as quickly as possible.
Eustress vs Distress
Eustress is the “good stress” you experience when you are sufficiently challenged or working toward a desired outcome. It animates and energizes you. Distress is what we commonly think of as “stress.” Whether acute or chronic, distress can have long-term mental, physical, and emotional impact.
Desired Outcomes vs Negative Consequences
Urgency motivates you to achieve positive desired outcomes that will change your status quo in satisfying and meaningful ways. Emergency is focused on avoiding negative consequences, which is an ineffective motivational strategy.
Generating vs Fixing
A sense of urgency can help you generate change you desire. The best you can do when responding to an emergency is maintain or reinforce the status quo.
Long-Term Motivation vs Short-Term Motivation
Both urgency and emergency can motivate you in the short-term. But only a sense of urgency can motivate you throughout the course of pursuing your desired outcome.
If you don’t identify and go after what you want, you will get what System 1 wants for you. So you need to make what’s important to you as compelling to it as possible.
Get your brain to take on your intentions and desired outcomes as if your life depends on it—because the life you want to live actually does.