The full collection of explorations.
No such thing as a problem-free life.
Only a life with problems that we enjoy solving more than others.
Those who understand this stop trying to curate a utopian lifestyle and start doing the important work of exchanging/ upgrading problems for a custom-fit lifestyle instead.
P.s. This was inspired by a Mark Manson quote you’ll find on this list.
The inner work we choose to avoid becomes the outer suffering we can’t seem to escape.
As hard as it might seem upfront, it’s the easiest it’ll ever be to confront right then and there.
The things we carry with us only get heavier the longer we carry them.
P.s. How Heavy Is This Glass Of Water? A Short Story About Stress and Compartmentalizing.
Good questions.
…Not good question. My answer is: with good questions. Although it is a good question.
Okay moving on.
Here’s a great starting formula:
A good question + a good block of uninterrupted time + honest attempts at answering = excellent inner work.
It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.
Going on meditation retreats, taking intense treks through nature, doing intensive therapy sessions are undoubtedly powerful and worth every ounce of effort that you invest into them.
But, the barrier to actually doing those things is quite high. And anything that’s hard to do will get avoided and confronted with a proportional amount of resistance.
This is why we need to simplify our process. We need to meet ourselves where we are. We need to invest in little steps, start with small inquisitions, and explore our inner caves one piece of tunnel at a time.
Step by step, question by question, day by day is the way forward that fits into the busy person’s life. You just have to decide and commit.
Questions you might consider starting with:
P.s. Each question above was pulled from my guide: The Art of Forward (Direction > Speed). More info here.
Inner work can be exhausting.
Like changing a car’s battery.
But, once it’s done… it provides a source of sustainable energy that far exceeds what an almost dead battery could ever provide. As it is when we introspectively explore and update/change a fundamental component of our inner workings—exhausting at first, life-giving later.
Which isn’t to say inner work is a one-and-done process.
Like a car’s battery, it still needs to be recharged—which happens, counterintuitively enough, via driving. This works the same for us when we move our bodies, minds, and spirits by exercising, writing, meditating, etc. Movement, as it turns out, is how we keep ourselves charged—not depleted—with energy.
To be clear, we still need to sleep—this isn’t the kind of energy we’re talking about. What we’re talking about is the energy you get to use inside of your days after sleep—your vitality.
And if you want to raise your vibration and engage with more enthusiasm, you’ll have to invest a solid chuck of energy upfront. There is no way around this. But, once you do, and you give yourself a full night of sleep for it take, you’ll rise with a higher baseline of energy that wasn’t accessible before… that you can use to move and recharge even more… that you can use to FULLY engage with life.
P.s. I asked: How much awake time do you spend each day unplugged? Hoping the answer(s) might get you to have a think…
When outlining the tasks of your day—identify how many you’re doing for others vs how many you’re doing for yourself.
A day spent only doing tasks for others will leave you empty.
A day spent only doing tasks for yourself will leave you wastefully overflowing.
Like a cup you pour your favorite drink into on a scorching hot day, you want to carefully fill it up first… and then carefully pour out from it second.
Maintaining a mindful balance of both actions—which hold equal importance—is how we quench the thirst of our lives.
P.s. I also published: 34 Will Smith Quotes from Will on Hustle, Happiness, and Love.
Today I am reminded that if it’s not in my plan for the day…
And I leave the decision to be made in the moment based on “how I feel”…
I’m going to choose the easy route.
…Almost every time.
I’m way better at choosing the hard(er) route when it’s already locked into my day.
P.s. I am going to start uploading quotes from Inner Work by Robert A. Johnson to MoveMe Quotes (in case you’d like to get a copy and read along as I do).
Those who prioritize their future self get ahead.
Because while this mostly makes the now harder, it makes the later easier. And there’s A LOT more later than there is now.
The trick, however, is to mindfully walk this balance between future you and current you’s needs.
Consistent misery isn’t a good present or long-term strategy. But, neither is consistent comfort. Too much comfort leads to a lot more later misery.
It’s about making the journey of life an uphill climb that’s as enjoyable as possible—so that you’re able to consistently step upwards towards a greater future self while also getting to enjoy the view of the climb along the way.
Future you will be proud and thankful of this current, reading-this-post-you if you do.
P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.