Control the Inputs...
The Turning Feral Journal - Day 9
Day 9: There is a path. It’s a path laid out by something bigger than me and it’s taken me 35 years to finally give in to that power. To recognize that most things are truly outside of my control and the only thing I can control is my effort and relentlessness in pursuing the things that scratch the creative itches in my brain.
Leaning into recency bias for an example, myself and a friend hiked 10 miles into rugged country yesterday to get to a low pressure spot to bow hunt for deer. When we got there we found nothing, nada, zilch, and we were confused. It wasn’t until we started canvassing the place that we found very fresh wolf scat and a bunch of tracks - everything was blown out of that draw we worked so hard to get into.
To be honest I, for a moment, had self defeating thoughts about choosing the wrong place and being an overall “unlucky” hunter, but quickly I realized that we were alone and experiencing a cool (but frustrating) part of nature. But, the peace I was able to find came from knowing that we had put out 100% effort to get there, making me realize that we dominated the parts of the hunt we had control over.
Do I know how this “busted” trip and experience plays into the bigger plan God has for me? Not at all. Am I ok with that? You bet. And that mindset of accepting the unknown is key. It has helped me through some bigger life events recently, including losing my 9-5 job (twice in the last six months), struggling with a startup, and navigating fatherhood.
As a wrestling coach once said. “You control the input, God controls the output.”
Go control your inputs!
Daily Prompt: What areas of your life do you have control over? Are you putting in max effort, or are you calling it in on most days? Write down a few areas where you could uplevel your “input.”:
Motivational Passage:
“Where the legs have gone the hind legs must follow”
― Leo Tolstoy, Hadji Murád
Rewilding Action: If you are planning to be out in nature for extended periods on your own turning feral journey, think about some phrases or motivational quotes that resonate with you. Start telling them to yourself all the time. Program your mind. These phrases repeated to yourself when you are alone, tired, or questioning your “why” can really help. A few I have used over the past 10 years come from several sources, but include, “Control your inputs,” “Not dead. Can’t quit,” and “Lookin’ good, feelin’ good, oughta be in Hollywood.”