Just keep swimming
Not gonna lie: until yesterday, I wasn’t happy with my last two posts.
I wrote them quickly.
Did minimal editing.
Kept thinking of ways I could have made them better after I had sent them (perfectionist, anyone?)
Yep, I've been kicking myself a little.
(deep breath)
When I step back, get centered, and tap into the wisest part of me, it tells me that this is exactly what this writing whole process is about.
Not every rep is going to be perfect.
In fact, the most will be closer to shitty first drafts than perfection.
And the fact that it's public makes it that much harder to accept.
IT’S OKAY IF STUFF IS SHITTY SOMETIMES.
-me
I know, deep down, that this is why it's so good for me.
THIS IS PROGRESS.
This is exactly what it looks like.
Putting one foot in front of the other.
Without a clear destination.
Rather, where I'm trying to get to - is right here.
And then, of course, it happened.
Yesterday, two readers shared with me how much my last post (are you banging into the walls enough?) resonated with them.
REALLY?! I said.
It wholeheartedly lifted my spirits.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
-Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship In A Republic
The takeaway: Keep showing up.
How writing is changing me
I got to catch up with a dear friend yesterday and she helped me draw out more of what’s been happening to me - internally - as a result of this habit to write more.
It’s helping me evolve my relationship with perfectionism and imposter syndrome. It’s vulnerable to write. To be messy in public. To share work that doesn’t feel tight and polished. And it feels so healthy for me and who I’m becoming.
The process of writing is changing the way I experience the world. I’m noticing the little things more deeply. My mind is looking out for ideas, insights, and connections between different concepts.
My idea capturing is improving. I currently have a categorized list of 172 ideas to write about. It’s cool to take stock of what topics interest me and feel fun to write about. Today those topic categories include the future of work, productivity, meaningful relationships, meaningful work, conscious living, building in public, meditation, flow, personal journey, poems & parables, and project management.
I’m inspired to become a better note-taker. I just started reading How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens. I’m excited because this strikes me as a skill that will be applicable in almost any domain and one that compounds in value and effectiveness over time. I look forward to summarizing my learnings in a future post to share with you.
Takeaway: The gifts go far beyond just the writing or publishing. This practice is shifting my identity, my systems, and my beliefs.
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you want to become.
Cool stuff I came across this week
This quote from Basketball coach John Wooden, winner of 10 championships, on giving:
"There is a wonderful, almost mystical, law of nature that says three of the things we want most—happiness, freedom, and peace of mind—are always attained when we give them to others. Give it away to get it back."
-Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court
The fastest way to defog your car windshield using science (5 mins), thanks to one of my favorite scientists/engineers/YouTubers, Mark Rober:
Turn your heater on full blast
Turn A/C ON (!)
Turn inside air circulation OFF
Crack the windows slightly
Seth Godin on Impact Theory (52 mins). I really enjoyed this thought-provoking, inspiring interview. Seth is such a role model when it comes to creating, sharing, teaching, and building communities. Towards the end, the interviewer asks him, “What is the impact that you want to have on the world?” Seth responds:
I would like to be known by what the people who learn from me taught other people. Because I’m not trying to teach for my own sake, I’m trying to teach so that other people can help the culture around them level up.
*mindblown*
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy your weekend.