Using Numbers to Combat Life’s Deceptions
It’s a cool, late summer morning in Northern California. I’m sitting on my outdoor patio, overlooking the calm waters of my swimming pool. The sun has just broken through the delta fog, warming my skin and awakening my mind for the day ahead. My agenda, like every day, is packed with tasks that bring me closer to my Life Unifying Purpose, along with countless distractions that pull me in different directions.
As I sip my dark roasted espresso, I feel the bitter notes coursing through my veins, jolting my nervous system and clearing the clouds of decisions made the night before. My internal battery shifts from a stagnant, contemplative state to full RPM, get-up-and-go mode. I peel off my shirt, embracing the cold breeze mixed with the heat of the sun’s rays, a blend that is both awakening and healing.
This is my daily routine. From here, I’ll move on, checking off boxes on my to-do list and engaging with others in typical fashion. I’ll shake hands, smile, engage in dialogue, and follow the usual conversational maxims: “Hello, how are you?” “Good, how are you?” “I’m good.”
But am I really?
The honest answer is: “My nerves are jittery. My mind is scattered. My energy is low. My eyes are swollen and tired. I’ve taken three abnormal, explosive shits this morning. I’m wrestling with internal guilt because of my decisions. My physique has worsened compared to ten days ago. My Life Unifying Purpose isn’t in focus, as evident from my actions. I’m relying too much on external objects, activities, and relationships that don’t align with my purpose, just to feel good.”
Most of us ignore these hard truths and answer, “How are you?” with a simple “Good.” Understandably, no one wants to be overwhelmed with your life issues as a result of answering honestly. But it’s crucial to take a moment to yourself and answer this question truthfully. Are you doing good? If not, why?
The true answer lies not in your feelings but in cold, hard facts.
I know, with absolute certainty, how I’ve ended up in this place of answering falsely to “How are you doing?” More importantly, I know exactly what needs to be done to course correct. The Left Coast Caveman way of life is centered around brutal honesty regarding your fitness, nutrition, and mentality inputs and how they impact your overall well-being. This is achieved through Primal Primers, our most practical and accessible guide to better living. By monitoring health metrics through Know Thy Numbers protocols (I use a Garmin watch) and reviewing my Cave Daily Log, I can quickly assess where things have gone wrong:
Daily Caffeine Intake: Higher than usual
Daily Sugar Intake: Higher than usual
Daily Alcohol Intake: Higher than usual
Sleep Quality: Poor
Daily Steps: Less than 10,000 average over a 7-day period
Sweat: Three-day streak without “Sweat ‘til You’re Wet”
Macros: Two-day streak without tracking
HRV Status: 70% of optimal
Artificial Intake: Higher than usual
The best part of the Left Coast Caveman way of life is that it eliminates the guesswork of better well-being. By tracking, measuring, and monitoring the input/output relationships of food, nutrition, and mental stimuli, the path forward is laid out clearly in the Micro Decision-making process. There’s no need to dwell on past mistakes or sulk in the present moment of suboptimal being when there are clear, definite actions you know will lead you forward on the path toward becoming a Supreme Being.
~ Cave Implementation ~
Make the decision, right here, right now, to take control of your path. Engage in the Know Thy Numbers modality, begin tracking baseline metrics, and develop an honest assessment of your personal truths regarding fitness, nutrition, and mentality. Download the Cave Daily Log, print it, and use it throughout the day to notate daily inputs/outputs and keep yourself on track with Primal Primers – our most practical, accessible modalities every human should be doing every day.
The choice is yours. The numbers don’t lie. Truth is the weapon against deception, and self-deception is the worst enemy of well-being. Choose to be Supreme, and Keep it Cave.
