Cortisol
If I were to change one thing about myself, it would be my reaction to stress. The initial surge of stress-induced adrenaline is so exhilarating that I commit my body and soul to whatever keeps my attention. Then the adrenaline eventually wears off and Cortisol takes its place. Cortisol is not so pleasant as adrenaline, but just as grating.
That kind of hormonal reaction helps me deal well with emergencies. If I’m well-rested, I can handle any emergency calmly and gracefully. I know how to channel my adrenal secretions into effective action. But don’t count on me to maintain some elevated excitement day after day. I just can’t do it.
Unfortunately, the modern world is one long emergency. Everything is so fast and so urgent. In order to live in the modern world, I probably need some time at the end of each day where I calm my glands and reset to zero. That way, maybe the cortisol never comes.
But inevitably, I don’t get that reset. There is no time to sit around relaxing for hours, watching clouds roll by. I have too much responsibility in this modern life.
I want less responsibility. I want to be responsible for my safety and my health. If nothing goes wrong with those things, I’ll climb Maslow’s hierarchy and work on something worthwhile.
I don’t expect my hormones to change, so my unimportant responsibilities will have to go. And my body will thank me for it.
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