I’ve just returned from a very unimpressive performance at Karate and I’m feeling a little pissed off. Once again, I have to remind myself that my ability to understand my weaknesses improves faster than my ability to correct them. As a result, while I am improving, my perception is I’m getting worse.
I tend to be a “glass is half empty” sort of person, so it is easy for me to focus on the negative. I like to think this constant pessimism fuels my desire for self improvement, but it does tend to leave a sour taste in the mouth from time to time.
I’ve been on a bunch of Karate courses recently, so my list of things to work on has got serious long. I’m at a Yoga course next weekend, which will add to my list of things to work on there. My new breathing pattern at swimming is still rather sloppy and needs some concious thought, rather than doing what comes naturally. I’ve missed a few handstand and backbend practices recently, so I’ve got to get back on the case with that. Don’t even get me started on that whole Oracle thing. There’s just too much information about Oracle for my tiny mind to cope with…
The glass is half full. The glass is half full… 🙂
Cheers
Tim…
Hi Tim,
>> I like to think this constant pessimism fuels my desire for self improvement
I’ve been a fan of yours for some time now, and I don’t think that your quest to excel is related to pessimism. Personally, having met you and seen you present before an audience, I get the feeling that your are a genuinely curious fellow and that your “drive” is more related to your obsession to understand how things work.
We have a saying here “If you want to get something done, give it to the obsessive employee” . . .
Don, Obsessive with ambition?
“my ability to understand my weaknesses improves faster than my ability to correct them. As a result, while I am improving, my perception is I’m getting worse.”
Last night I spent about four hours practicing some swing dancing stuff with a [very talented] friend of mine and I swear I was thinking the exact same thing. I think that I’ve got some similar personality traits. Well said. 🙂
Einstein got there first:
“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.”
Jeremy: I feel for you.
DaPi: So that Einstein geezer wasn’t just a pretty face! 🙂
I found this “glass is half empty” of yours as my alter ego….many a times i have felt this …