3 replies to this topic

[HazelStone]

Also known as Decision Fatigue

There have been posts lately about finding the spiritual discipline to walk the path God wants us to walk... and any preparedness forum talks now and then about staying sane once the hooey hits. Preparedness and the spiritual journey require discipline. It's a challenge to stay focused and exert sustained effort. So let's look at how we get short-circuited.

Willpower and self control are arguably finite resources. These resources can be exhausted and leave a person prone to making bad decisions. Recent studies of poverty argue that the poor don't make shortsighted due to lack of intelligence or personal discipline. Rather, someone living on the raggedy edge has to make a lot more "trade-off" decisions in their daily interactions. When you have to decide between paying the light bill or getting your brakes fixed, which of your two jobs you'll favor in a schedule conflict, etc. that after a while of this, you are drained and start making the poor, shortsighted decisions.

Whether you are trying to improve your relationship with God and neighbor, or trying to ration scarce resources, it may help to know some of the "cheat codes" that lead us to bad behavior. Or, it's interesting at least! If we know well what we're fighting, we are better able to fight it.

Here is a link with a LONG overview of the concept and some studies done so far on this topic:
http://www.psych-it....ticle.asp?id=61

You know those moments where you growl "Must have a candy bar or I will soon do something I'll regret"? Actually, a spike of glucose helps reduce decision fatigue. The brain uses a lot of glucose when it has to think hard, so it makes sense.

Another interesting thing the page mentions is how we may be more likely to resist a BIG temptation rather than a small/moderate one. We marshal all our mental resources against the big temptation but tend to underestimate the moderate temptation. The cookie sneaked here and there can be more insidious than the cheeseburger you crave but dare not get.

Hopefully this is helpful in sealing a couple of chinks in your mental armor. I have always had a nasty temper and an irritable nature. Because of this I haven't lived a Christian life as well as I should. "Grrr...must make the effort...don't want to, but I gonna do it anyway..." Most of the time the love isn't behind my charitable works, just the feeling of duty.

Hard to love your neighbor when half the time you're suppressing a strong urge to Save your heavy spiritual exertions for after dessert? (hey, church should have the bake sale BEFORE services start!)

[Annarchy]

Interesting article, HazelStone. Food for thought.

(I need a candy bar and some humor, after reading that. LOL)

I was intrigued how much of the information I was aware of already. The studies revealed ego depletion makes, the person effected, less willing to help others. In a crisis situation, that fact could pose a problem.

Glucose, humor, pleasurable activities and rest, all contributed to restoring any depletion which had previously occurred due to the activities the people were involved in. Those who had positive role models display less depletion.

Keeping our eyes, minds and hearts fixed on Christ, is one of the steps we need to take to refresh ourselves. The article refers to 'role models' as being one of the things that allows us to 'recharge'. Of course, to a believer, Christ is the ultimate role model, and, as we are instructed in the Word, we are to be like Him.

[Mt_Rider]

This sounds VERY interesting....but it's late tonite--- I've been 'in town' all day (which is rare and always exhausting, but a GREAT time) ---- and I had a nasty, ankle-giving-way fall today. OW!

But I'm going to read this article when I can think better.

MtRider [....getting on the bus to Sleepville.... ]

[HazelStone]

Interesting article, HazelStone. Food for thought.

(I need a candy bar and some humor, after reading that. LOL)

I was intrigued how much of the information I was aware of already. The studies revealed ego depletion makes, the person effected, less willing to help others. In a crisis situation, that fact could pose a problem.

Glucose, humor, pleasurable activities and rest, all contributed to restoring any depletion which had previously occurred due to the activities the people were involved in. Those who had positive role models display less depletion.

Yep, a good amount of it is common sense, but reading about the experiments done is interesting. Of course scientific studies aren't going to mention the 'G' word.

Illustrates well how important packing away some treats in the food storage can be though. Or perhaps putting the urge for the chocolate in perspective. There's reasons people get irritable on low carb diets.