If Knowledge is Power Then Live Life Assertively

If you believe as I do, that happiness is more easily sustained with each life lesson learned, then sashaying through your life is a mistake. Happiness is rooted in living assertively.

Knowing this, there have been so many times that I think to myself after learning a new life lesson "Why am I learning this now? Why not sooner? This lesson is so simple. I should have recognized this years before."

The answer to those questions is that it was not possible to learn that lesson sooner because it was either previously irrelevant or the foundational lessons were not yet learned.

The book "Freakanomics" addresses this nicely with regards to acquiring subject matter expertise. Freakanomics sites studies that say it takes 10 years of 20 hours per week of deliberate practice to be an expert at anything. If you put in more "deliberate practice" you will become more proficient faster than if you put in less practice.

This sounds like the more driven you are the greater the likelihood of success with whatever it is you are attempting to improve upon.

Before I continue, let's get on the same page with what "driven" means. Wiktionary defines driven as "obsessed." Dictionary.com defines driven as "being under compulsion, as to succeed or excel."

In my own personal life I've had times where I've been driven and other times where I've been, let's be kind and say, something less than driven. I'm sure the same applies to most people.

When I reflect back on the times when I've been driven I've seen greater personal growth than those times that I've been less than driven.

We also know those among us that have accomplished a lot in the way of career, relationships, knowledge, and other various achievements. If you are like me, I've often wondered how someone could go so far so fast?

Now I know the answer to that question. They live their life assertively. The constantly push their personal envelope. They take risks. They research. They are often reflective and introspective.

Maybe they have already intellectualized this concept or maybe they just do it because it comes naturally. I suspect this way of living is a lot like being a natural athlete vs. someone who just works hard at it. Either way, everyone can become proficient. Even exceptional. It's all a matter of deliberate practice.

I concede that we all need a breather once in a while. That's part of recuperating for the next drive and thus the next set of life lessons. Being driven is like exercise; we need to condition ourselves to increase our stamina. As we become better conditioned we can sustain our drive longer.

But be certain of one thing; withering is the one that allows a breather to transition into complacency.

I'm interested in your thoughts.

Is this how fanaticiscm takes root?

This week something happened that was weird. Really weird. Super-petty really.

We are a month removed from the Presidential election. For me, the immediate aftermath was one of relief.

"Thank God it's over", I said.

I was a McCain supported. And frankly, an Obama dissenter. I just thought he was a terrible choice. But, once it was over I resigned myself to the fact that my candidate lost and I was ready to move on. Obama's my President and I'll go into this next phase of our federal governance with an open mind.

Yesterday, I was on my way home from work when I got to the Braintree garage and noticed a note on the windshield of my car. It was a handwritten note and said:

"John McCain is a rat and Sarah Palin is a stupid, pathetic, whore. YOU LOSE!"

Immediately, I broke into laughter. Wow. That was unexpected.

Obviously, someone else getting home from either work or school before me noticed my McCain campaign bumper sticker and felt the need to stop, get a piece of paper, break out a pen, write the note and put it on my windshield.

There are several thoughts that come to mind:

1. How can someone who supported the winner of the Presidential election be so angry? This person's candidate WON the election. Imagine if Obama lost!

2. The intolerance towards the views of others by this person is absolute. How different is this person than the totalitarians of the past? As far as I can tell, the only difference is the level of power.

3. I'm struck with how dangerous it is to be so emotionally involved that rational thought and behavior evaporates.

The note is made harmless because the author is only one person and not one million. However, the fervency of this person's belief system is fanatical.

Put yourself into the shoes of the author and tell me what your emotional state would likely be to motivate you to act in this way.

Am I over-reacting? Is this person just having fun? Or, is this person mentally off the reservation?