Yesterday, for the first time in years, I had some wine. This morning, I paid the price. A heavy head, aching joints, and a recently adjusted neck—plenty of reasons to skip my workout, especially at home.
But like clockwork, I rolled out my yoga mat, lowered the weights, and went through the motions with kettlebells and resistance bands, joyless but steady. A new podcast episode helped clear the gloom.
The workout was only 30% effective, but the symbolic act? 100%. The real goal is to uphold the ritual—only then does the body follow. Abandon it, and the neural jungle will swallow the path.
When I walk my dog, I often see an old man shuffling toward the tennis court. I’ve never seen him play with anyone. He just hits the ball against the wall, shuffles to retrieve it, and hits it again. Over and over.
Willpower and habit make this elder more active than 99% of his peers.
Legendary investor Charlie Munger loved to read. When cataracts took one eye, he faced the risk of total blindness. “Well,” he said, “this is a chance to learn Braille.” So he did. Ultimately, he kept his vision and gained a new skill.
Hold fast to the vector of meaning, and reality will align itself.
Yours sincerely,
-Alexander
About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
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