Archives Archives · Page 36 of 240

Hard Is Where The Magic Happens

Published on May 28, 2025

It takes me less time to complete these daily 1-minute insights these days.

When I first started, it would take me close to 2 hours on average—mostly because I had no word count constraint which made them way longer than 1-minute.

When I added my 280 word count constraint, It started taking closer to 1 hour on average.

And as I’ve been writing these pieces for the past several years, I’ve noticed it is taking me less and less time to get my thoughts into their final, shareable form. Some days, it’ll only take me 5-15 minutes.

Which isn’t to say this process of coming up with unique insights on the daily is becoming more and more easy—because it’s still as challenging as ever to write concise and clear pieces that I’m proud to share.

It’s simply an observation that I’m getting better as a thinker and writer.

Just like sprinting never gets easier for the track athlete—they just get faster… so, too, is it the case for anybody who is learning and improving upon a performance or expressive based skill.

Don’t wish it was easier… stay steady focused on improving your skill and becoming better.

Easy is a trap—because nothing worthwhile comes easily…

Hard is where the magic happens—because just on the other side is better.

P.s. If you find value in these daily insights, you can support my continued work by grabbing me a cup of joe here.

Make “Ahead” Happen

Published on May 27, 2025

One of my students told me he wasn’t going to do his next level black belt test because he has prom the same day… another one of my students was well remembered and celebrated for going to prom right after he got his next level black belt.

This month, the martial arts school I teach at is allowing moms to train in our adult program for free. Some of the moms have said they love the classes, but it’s too late or isn’t in their budget to continue. Another mom I spoke to today said it’s kind of late and will be tough on her budget, but with the support of her family and some mindful spending cuts—she’s going to find a way to make it happen… because she loves the classes so much.

One of my favorite writers shared that he, too, is struggling to stay off social media apps. He said, “It’s not uncommon for me to open that goddamn app a dozen times a day and spend two to three hours mindlessly scrolling through it.” Some people acknowledge this and do nothing about it. What did he do? He said, “Every time I open up Instagram, I drop down and do 25 pushups and 50 crunches.” …And that over the course of a week lead his screentime to drop 70%.

The difference between those who get ahead and those who don’t… is that those who get ahead find ways to make “ahead” happen—even when (especially when) it isn’t convenient or comfortable. Those who don’t… don’t.

Pure Entertainment Junk Food

Published on May 27, 2025

I am by no means perfect when it comes to practicing the things I write about.

In fact, the #1 person I’m writing to when I mention inner work ideas or practices—is myself.

Just this morning, for example, I found myself 40 minutes deep into a social media binge.

And this was the third or fourth day in a row where I was starting my day this way.

In the shower, I was thinking about how I felt from it… I was trying to notice my state of mind… I was trying to see if there was any value…

And I came up short… noticed anxiety and regret… and felt behind on my day.

Am I saying that all social media binges are like that? No.

But, from my experience… they almost always are.

I sometimes get a nugget or two from conscious creators… but, 99% of the time, it feels like pure entertainment junk food that leaves me exactly as it did today.

So, I once again logged out of the apps and am going to try starting my morning a little differently tomorrow.

Maybe it’s time for you take a closer look at the value you’re getting from your social media binges / morning routine…

Don’t Let Infatuation Ruin Your Relationship

Published on May 26, 2025

Never become so infatuated with another that you forget to invest in yourself.

Intense passions coupled with self-ignorance is what makes for an infatuation and not a long-lasting relation.

Don’t you see it?

We are each one leg in any relationship.

You grow, you take a step.

I grow, I take a step.

This is how we move the relationship forward.

When one person does all the growing, the same leg steps over and over, pivoting on the other, turning the relationship in circles. Leading to circular conversations, circular days, circular experiences…

But, when both people do their own individual part… and they keep contributing back to the relationship regularly… the couple gets into a rhythm… and that rhythm is what leads to progress… which leads to a renewed motivation… which leads to longevity.

As contradictory as it might feel when you’re infatuated and completely obsessed with somebody in your life… learn how to give them distance… learn how to invest some of that excessive passionate energy back into yourself… learn how to come back to your person each time, ready to take the next step.

P.s. ICYMI you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week here.

Heard And Found

Published on May 24, 2025

What’s interesting about exploring other people’s art… is that in so doing… you get to explore the art within yourself.

What resonates becomes a little louder.

What doesn’t fades into the background.

And after enough of that… you start to hear the tune of a different sound.

A sound you haven’t quite heard before… a sound that feels like some type of remix… a sound that feels raw, un-molded, and like a divine delivery from some type of muse or higher up.

And it’s through the cultivation of that sound… that flavor… that style…

Through the creation of your art… your remixes… what makes you proud…

That we… as feeling and seeking creatures… get heard and found.

I Threw The Colors In The Whites Pile…

Published on May 23, 2025

I was separating whites from colors when doing laundry today.

And I had a moment where I threw the colors that were in my hand into the whites pile because I was looking ahead at the whites that I was going to grab next after tossing what was in my hand into the whites pile.

It was a subtle reminder to slow down. To not get ahead of myself. To be where my senses were and not on fast forward in my head.

…The moments spend doing laundry are moments just as worthy of presence as any other moments of the day.

Fatigue Threshold Spectrum

Published on May 23, 2025

When we exercise our body to fatigue, it takes less to get back to that point of fatigue if we do another set of the same exercise within a close enough timespan.

And even after we’re done with our workout, it can take anywhere between 24 – 72 hours before our body is fully recovered… which means we’re in a prolonged state of it requiring less to get us back to that point of fatigue.

This is how it is for mental fatigue as well.

If we push our minds to a point of complete mental fatigue, it’ll require less to get back to that point for at least a day thereafter. And the closer in proximity we are to that initial point of complete fatigue, the easier it’ll be to become re-fatigued.

The reason this is important to understand is because in life… we’re constantly getting hit with mentally fatiguing tasks, challenges, and experiences.

And if we’re not mindful of where we are on this Fatigue Threshold Spectrum… then we might not act in alignment with what our mind needs to perform optimally and most efficiently.

Just like the muscle group that we fatigued needs 24 – 72 hours of rest to fully recover… so, too, do the mental muscles we flexed to similar points. And if we don’t follow this protocol, then we’ll just hit fatigue quicker, using muscles that aren’t fully recovered, and only prolong our full recovery out further.

So either a) get in the habit of stopping at your 70% fatigue level so you can recover quicker or b) find ways you can give yourself more time to get back towards 0 after pushing yourself to 100%.

Category: Archives