The Continuing Story of the Owl and the Lark
Goodbye Owl, Hello Lark
We talked about the Owl and the Lark a week or two ago, and I had so many comments about it. Interestingly, most were from Larks, including a beautiful pedantic comment from a friend in Canberra. He reminded me that the picture I posted wasn’t a lark; it was a peewee or Magpie Lark, which is not valid. I love that guy, and he’s probably correct.
A point I didn’t make is that we’re capable of changing our Owl-type habit into something resembling the Lark. The nature of our plastic brains can help this. In addition, we can change many characteristics of our character, personality, emotions and physical attributes.
Plastic Brain
Did you ever see that movie “What the bleep do we know!”? It was a popular new-age movie a few years ago about how the universe and our minds work from an esoteric perspective. At the end of the film, while the credits were rolling, the filmmakers commented on their experiences while making the movie. Then, one of them came up with the incredible idea that if we wanted to, we could change ourselves in a moment to be someone completely different.
Farcical Idea
I’ve often considered this the only thing I remember about the movie; it had a lasting impression on me. Essentially, she said that when we go to bed to sleep, we’re more or less unconscious, and our brain and body are in a state of suspended animation. The filmmaker said that the critical time for us is when we awaken from our slumber. During that few seconds of transition from sleep to wakefulness, we can change ourselves into entirely different people. Interesting idea. Even if it was possible, I’m not sure I would want to wake up as another person—imagine how confusing it would be.
This idea may be absurd!
Your Brain is Incredible
What isn’t farcical is that we can do spectacular things with our brains and minds and underestimate the power of what we can do. It’s relatively easy to see what we have achieved in science and technology because we are a part of it daily. Consider, for a moment, the miraculous and beautiful advances we’ve witnessed in medicine over the last few years. Where we run into obstacles, though, are the restrictive barriers and boundaries we place around our achievements. We tell ourselves, “I can’t do that!”, “That’s impossible to do!” and “I’m not good enough to do that!”.
So let’s get back to the Lark and the Owl.
Change from Goodbye Owl to Hello Lark
You’re an Owl. Do you want to change into a Lark? Probably not; why should you? You’re pleased. You get to sleep in; you get tired and cranky each morning, drink coffee through the day, work late and stay up late. All standard stuff for you. So why should you want to change?
Statistically, as an Owl, you’re likely to be the one with significant health problems, twice as many health problems. However, larks, for example, are happier, laugh more, are more optimistic, tend to be more ‘can-do’ and, most importantly, have more joy in their lives because they don’t fret about the small stuff and love life. And yes, they drive you Owls nuts with their positive attitude to life.
Are you getting the message that it might be in your interests to change your life? The crazy thing is, it’s simple to do. It’s a small change!
A small change.
Tonight before you go to bed, set your alarm to wake you up 10 minutes earlier. That’s right, 10 minutes and only 10 minutes, no more.
That’s the first thing.
The second thing is to go to bed when you’re tired and start feeling weary. Make it that first yawing time after, say, 9:00 pm. After that, don’t do anything except get up and go to bed. By all means, read a book, and if you’re tired while reading, switch off the light and sleep.
It’s straightforward. Please get up 10 minutes earlier because 10 minutes is doable; any earlier could be daunting…….
You can make your mind flexible.
Would you happen to know what’s happening here? You’re becoming flexible, especially when you go to bed to sleep. So you’ll get more sleep and get up earlier; that’s cool. And you’ll be able to gradually, say every three months or so, get up another 10 minutes earlier.
What I’m saying is easy. Only occasionally will you need to leap; when you’re ready, the giant leap will be super easy. Getting up 10 minutes earlier is a small leap.
Have an Awesome Day
