Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 201 – Saturday Morning Cartoons

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 201 – Saturday Morning Cartoons

Saturday Morning Cartoons

(02-11-08)

Did you ever watch one of those old cartoons on Saturday mornings where the character was in a bind and had to decide what to do? Should he take the high road and do what is good or the low road and do the bad thing that he was tempted to do? It was usually at this point that on his right shoulder, with the help of some animation magic, an angel appeared, looking quite surprisingly like a little miniature of himself, complete with halo and wings. On his left shoulder appeared a devil, again with a remarkable resemblance, but sporting a red cape, horns and a tail.

Now these two would begin speaking into his ear and arguing the benefits of good and evil, the rewards and the punishments. At some point the character would make up his mind, usually to do the right thing. After all, this is a cartoon and we want to set a good example for the children and not the twenty something that just got in from a drunken Friday night binge with his buddies and is sitting in front of the TV between trips to worship the porcelain god and beg forgiveness for his transgressions (at least until next Friday night).

Once the character makes up his mind, the angel usually gives the devil a smug look, and the devil stamps his foot in disgust and they both disappear, leaving our hero to get on with his life and the decision he has made. The cartoon usually ends with our little friend getting rewarded for being good. Ah, if life were only that simple.

Well, my friends, there may not be little angels and devils, but I can assure you that there are two people inside each of us (if you feel there are more, I suggest you seek a psychiatrist). Those two people are an integral part of who we are and very much like that angel and devil become our counselors and our decision makers. Neither is inherently good or evil, because life, unlike an old cartoon, is not black and white, but presents us with many interesting shades of grey.

Each day our two inner buddies are duking it out for us at every turn. Let’s see? Do I get up and go to workout or do I catch that extra hour of sleep. Either choice has its benefits. Do I scarf down that double bacon cheeseburger or order a salad? What a tough choice this can sometimes be. Do I order that chocolate chip cheesecake for dessert or just have a cup of coffee? After all, it’s been a tough week and I deserve a reward.

How about other aspects of our lives? Do I tackle that list of things to do around the house or just take it easy? Man, this is a very tough choice and projects can wait. Do I go out and play ball with the kids or catch that game on ESPN? Hmmm? Do I go and help that friend move into his new apartment or come up with an excuse? Hey, I have that list of things I have to do around the house, don’t I?

So, you see, it’s never as simple as one or the other, yes or no, good or bad. And there may not be any tangible reward for making the right decision like there is at the end of that cartoon. That would make decision making a hell of a lot easier. Quite simply, we are not any kind of combination of the two people inside of us. We are, more directly, the sum total of the decisions that they have helped us to make. Our lives become a record, a scoreboard, of the times each of those guys was victorious.



That’s all, folks!

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Have a Great Week!
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[liftintexas]

my first reply disappeared. not sure why.

But thanks for this. good thoughts and definitely a good reminder to focus beyond the immediate and look at the longer-term effects of our actions.

[GG300]

We may not get immediate rewards but the negatives sure seem to show up quickly.

Good thoughts John, Thanks.

[gregl515]

That inclination to help your neighbor gets even riskier if your wife prepared the to do list around your own house!

[kingkop182]

Originally Posted by Mahler

Our lives become a record, a scoreboard, of the times each of those guys was victorious.

Thanks, John.

The problem is, when the bad guy scores he's netting the 3 pointers whilst the good guy scores only singles at a time.

[MindPower]

thanks John

[UConnJulie]

Good stuff John!

[LisaS]

thanks Mahler.

[Mahler]

While I thought it a clever idea, this was the worst response/view in the last 3 months. My apologies for this stinker. I've closed it to avoid sympathy posts.