I despise being a moody human, with my plans and life so often dictated by the whims of temperament. And I’m not even referring to individuals who face extreme challenges in this realm, those with bipolar disorder, depression, or similar conditions. No, even the average adult, burdened with the typical array of everyday traumas, finds their daily life, actions, and performance frequently at the mercy of feelings, dispositions, sentiments, and temperaments.
Why is it so difficult to simply make plans and follow through with them?
Example time!
Imagine you have a long bus or train journey ahead, stretching over several hours in an uncomfortable seat, stuck at awkward position, with little to do. Sure, there’s the view (ah, let’s marvel at which building is greyer than the last, which bush is greener, or count how many pink cars roll by, thrilling entertainment indeed). Beyond that, you’ve wisely brought your own arsenal of distractions: a book, or perhaps several if you’ve gone digital; a video game console; a tablet or phone brimming with music, TV Shows, movies and even more games. You’ve covered all your bases, prepared ten times the entertainment needed for the journey. And yet, most likely, you’ll end up using none of it, simply because you are not in the mood.
You might try to read, only to find yourself stuck on the same page, the words barely registering. You might attempt to play a game, but you can’t focus, and unless it’s something incredibly casual, progress will be minimal at best. Watching something? Good luck passing through the selection screen, now nothing seems to interests you. The enthusiasm you had while preparing this trove of entertainment has vanished, leaving you listless and annoyed. Give me back that motivated mood I had when I eagerly curated all this! Well, I guess I’ll pass the time by counting cars through the window now.
This temperament, these relentless waves of motivation and apathy, engagement and indifference (shifting over the course of mere hours, or even minutes, depending on one’s mental resilience) is one of the most exasperating aspects of being human.
This defect of temperament affects everything, even our work. Previously, I mentioned how older individuals often resist adopting new things. I’d argue this resistance is partially rooted in the same moody nature of humanity. With age, the waves of motivation and engagement seem to ebb more than flow, leaving many older adults less inclined to embrace the new and unfamiliar, stuck on a state of wanting but not in the mood to pursue.
As if the countless external factors conspiring against our plans and willpower weren’t enough, we must also contend with our own minds sabotaging us at every turn. Truly, it feels profoundly unfair to be human.
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