I had a very interesting conversation the other day, when I was talking about writing and publishing my books, and the capabilities of AI.
The person I was talking to was very familiar with AI (about 127 times more than me), and used it frequently.
They were also about 2 decades younger than me, so grew up in a very different time and age, particularly when it comes to technology.
It was quite a fascinating conversation.
Part of the focus of the conversation was about what AI could do when it comes to writing, and publishing, especially when it comes to producing an audiobook.
Something that AI can probably do in a heartbeat.
We had different points of view and that is where I had the most interesting insight.
Why the hell would you consciously choose ‘hard’?
In our conversation, my colleague was suggesting all the things that I could (rightly) use AI for.
My point of view, was that I actually liked the “efforting” and even the STRUGGLE of the creative process.
Whereas my offsider was wondering why I would actually CHOOSE to make the process harder, when I could lean on AI to pick up the slack.
And then I had my wee epiphany.
I realised with more clarity, the difference between RESULTS earned (with a bit of blood, sweat and tears), and RESULTS for results sake.
Is the target (in work and life) purely the results?
That was the bigger question.
If I used AI extensively to quickly get to the “result” of having a book written, published, and recorded as an audiobook; then yes, I would have the finished product, and be able to make money off it, but was I missing the point?
And here is my epiphany…
Getting the result of the book written and recorded, and making money from the sale of it, might give me a bunch of DOPAMINE hits.
BUT … (drumroll please) …
When I asked Mr. AI how long the Dopamine “hit” lasts, it told me in very clear English that it “has a short duration” or is “typically short-lived”.
(I was hoping Mr. Smarty-pants AI would at least give me a time range in a specific unit of measurement).
So… a Dopamine hit – from achieving some goals or results – lasts a short-period of time.
And even a lot of short periods of time is not really a ‘long’ time.
HOWEVER …
When we put in the personal effort, stretching our minds, engaging effort, will and personal power, and exercising our virtues of tenacity, resilience and Grit, we have a VERY different experience.
This actually builds our psychological capacity.
It also increases our SELF-ESTEEM.
We start to psychologically rewire our brain, so we become even more certain of our capacities to do something similar, or even greater, in the future.
The “feel-good” feeling, might involve a bit of a Dopamine cocktail, but the influence on our personal psychology, is likely to last a very long time, and maybe even forever.
Now THAT is HIGH-ROI stuff!!
But, as we have already suggested, you do actually need to expend effort and energy for that outcome.
Caveat: As you know I am not about making life harder than it needs to be, but I do acknowledge that there are some places were “doing it hard” actually have a Return on Investment (ROI) that is greater than the hardship required.
The Lesson
Sometimes getting to a result quickly, to reap the rewards, is less rewarding (over the long-term), due to the ‘short-duration’ nature of Dopamine.
I have worked with a number of elite athletes over the years, and the feel-good feelings even after a very big win only lasts for “awhile”, but nowhere near as long as the development of character that got them to the podium.
That sh#t lasts forever. 🙂
It’s why I would hire an elite athlete over someone with more academic qualifications; because I know the athlete knows how to overcome obstacles – real or imagined (i.e. psychological) – to get the job done.
Don’t outsource your character-building moments.
In Summary
Results, without effort, last for a short duration, due to the nature of hormones like Dopamine.
Investing physical and psychological effort, on things that are deeply meaningful for you, has the ability to change your inner psychology and self-esteem, so you have even more capacity in the future.
Dopamine hits are short-term, but building your personal power (and self-esteem) can last a lifetime.
Use AI intelligently, but don’t get over fixated on the ‘results’, and forget about the character-building journey.
My Parting Words
I was grateful for this conversation with someone from a different technological age and upbringing.
Thank you for the distinction it allowed me to make.
And do you want to know a secret?
We had this conversation on Day 1 of our yoga teacher training course at The Practice, but I suspect that by the end of our 20-days together, and the traditional teachings of Hatha Yoga and (the real) Tantra, he had a different perspective.
On the training course we talked a lot about how the development of the WILL and WILLPOWER, was what the yogi’s – over 1000’s of years – figured was where the money was at.
When you build an unshakeable WILL, you are friggin UNSTOPPABLE (I think the yogi’s may have used different Sanskrit words to say the same thing ;-)).
I find the conversations around AI are pretty interesting.
Just recently, heated debates arose when a college graduate in the USA openly celebrated his computer (and essentially AI) for helping him attain his graduation certificate.
So yes, they have a place, but not in place of the stuff that makes us “us”, and allows us to fully actualize as we align with our divine purpose (or Dharma to use yoga terminology).
Is there any area in your personal and professional life where you are out-sourcing “character building”, in order to get more quickly to the target, for a Dopamine hit?
Awareness is step 1 (as always).
Have a fantabulous day, and a week of will-powered character building (which will last a lifetime :)).
Take care.
Carl
Quotable QUOTE:
“Dopamine hits are short-term, but building your personal power (and self-esteem) can last a lifetime.” Carl Massy
(Author of 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be)
PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be
