The survival cabin

They asked him what true happiness is. He replied simply: “To create dreams. Implement them. And enjoy them”.

He was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his time. Having been able to rise above others in his field despite his age, he had the incomparable ability to inspire people, to motivate them into adopting a different level and mode of thought, to push them into being ethically better.

He was the person who knew how to take pleasure out of life. How to reap the most out of his success, comfort and benefits.

He lived like a king.

But one day, he left it all.

To go and live like a peasant.

He built a cabin in an isolated part of the woods. He called it his survival cabin because “it was what reminded him of the meaning of living and not just surviving”.

He raised his family there, with values that could only be found by expanding your mind to beyond what you can only see.

He had it all in the hectic city life, but realized it was nothing until he truly had a sense of fulfilment – a life he had dreamed of and that couldn’t be bought.

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The early bird

There is a widespread belief that waking up early is the key to success. You’re motivated to get up before dawn because this is what successful entrepreneurs do and well, they must be doing something right…right?

The thing is there are two sides to every argument. Here too. Waking up early has the benefits that you have the whole day in front of you to be productive, get things done, enjoy life – laugh, learn, (work), live. You get to enjoy the stillness and quiet of the morning environment before everything becomes hectic and everyone is rushing around all agitated and in an irritable panic. You’re more calm if you’re not rushing in the morning and you can wake up your body and mind more naturally, and even treat yourself to a nutritious breakfast and an exercise routine that will get you oxygenated and give you an energy-boost.

There are lots of perks to waking up early. But the key is actually wanting to do so. No matter what the reason – professional, personal, or otherwise – struggling to get up and out of bed in an ungodly (for some) hour requires psychological willpower.

Being a morning person is more than just a characteristic. It’s something you train yourself to be by force of habit. It entails discipline and motivation. Just like some people work better at night, those who perform better in the morning have acquainted themselves to the process.

Getting up early also presupposes that you’ve gone to bed relatively early so you can get at least 6-7 hours of sleep. Because otherwise, being sleep-deprived and an early-starter won’t get you too far. Sleep deprivation actually leads to other problems such as fatigue, irritation, weight alterations, and cognitive performance deficits.

In short, each person needs to find their own rhythm and time at which they function better. The essence is for people to be able to create a cycle of their own that they will willingly and pleasantly adhere to.  

Just remember, there are ambivalent sayings for an early riser: “Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with dreams or wake up and chase them”; “He who wakes up early yawns all day long”.

Make your own choice. But whatever it is make sure it motivates you into doing something.