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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

Self-Care or Distraction?

Published on November 2, 2022
  • Self-care is more than spa days.
  • Self-care is more than bubble baths.
  • Self-care is more than scented candles, tea, and fuzzy blankets.

There’s nothing wrong with the above… after all, they each can certainly put you into a better state of mind (so you can better address what’s wrong).

The problem, of course, is that none of the above deals with what’s wrong.

Real self-care happens when you actually confront and address what’s wrong. And if what follows spa days, bubble baths, and fuzzy blankets entails addressing what’s wrong—then by all means.

But, don’t exclusively reserve “self-care time” with the above and ignore the things that are making you feel like you need “self-care time.” Because then you’re just fooling yourself into engaging in another distraction that’s no better than Netflix, night’s out, and Tik Tok.

P.s. These daily posts are a form of self-care for me. If they’ve helped you, you can buy me a coffee (or tea) here to support the ongoing effort. Thanks in advance :)

No Discipline Without Trust

Published on November 1, 2022

When boiled down, self-discipline is really a function of trust.

The most disciplined are the ones who make and keep the most promises to themselves and the least disciplined are the ones who make and break the most promises to themselves.

If you seriously want to become disciplined, then you need to prove it by taking yourself—the promises you make to yourself—more seriously.

If you’re already a notorious self-promise breaker… then become keenly aware of this and stop promising yourself more than you can deliver.

Just as under-promise, over deliver is a great strategy for a successful business, so too is it a great strategy for becoming self-disciplined. And marginally increasing the seriousness of your promises as trust (in yourself) is restored is how self-discipline is increased/built.

And take note: as is true with other relationships in life, trust is built slowly, but can be broken rapidly. So be patient, take “marginally” seriously, and build discipline as you would a brick wall—one brick (one promise) at a time.

P.s. I also published: 25 Lessons From 1,000 Days Of Daily Writing on Medium.

Authentic Media

Published on October 31, 2022

Sharing publicly a highlight-reel version of our lives feels like it’s in our best interest because it:

  • Makes us “more attractive”
  • May lead to more opportunities
  • Can capture attention that can be leveraged

What’s really in our best interest is sharing an authentic version of our lives because it:

  • Attracts an authentic tribe
  • Leads to more aligned opportunities
  • Captures attention from the right people

Worth mentioning that these two aren’t mutually exclusive, though.

A public presence can certainly feature both—we can have an authentic highlight-reel.

But, more often than not, the former is focused on at the expense of the latter. And our mental health pays a toll in the long-run.

P.s. I asked: “What cleanses your soul?” I hope the answers inspire you to do more of what cleanses yours.

Freedom via Money

Published on October 30, 2022

“Money isn’t the goal—freedom is.”

Careful.

Because if money is the means to an end… and you’re miserable along the way (trying to make a bunch of money so you can buy freedom)… you’ll end up confined within a prison of your own making—unfree—without realizing it until you blink and years of your life are gone…

…And you’re left with bags of money (best case scenario) that can’t buy back any of the freedom that came with the youth that’s been spent.

If freedom is the goal, make freedom the means.

Better to creatively find ways you can work less (so you can enjoy more free time) or more freely—doing what you love, with people you love, on a mission you love working on—so that freedom is your reality with each step along the way.

P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.

Life’s Annoying Teachers

Published on October 29, 2022
  • Overreacting
  • Getting pissed off
  • Feeling irritated/frustrated
  • Burning with envy and jealousy
  • Incessantly needing to show off
  • Rooting for other people’s failure
  • Feeling unworthy compared to others

…Are each teachers trying to instill a valuable lesson about your inner workings.

And you’ll keep getting the same lesson over and over until you actually pay attention, study, and pass their tests.

P.s. More on this here: How To Deal With People Who Annoy, Frustrate, and/or Upset You.

Information Swimming

Published on October 28, 2022

Information is an ocean—and most of us are drowning.

Those who get ahead, are the ones who learn to swim.

They take the ocean seriously and never mindlessly wander into its depths.

They learn how to float; how to tread; how to stroke; how to dive; how to navigate.

Similarly, proficient swimmers in today’s information-based world learn how to:

  • Focus. So they don’t recklessly flap, twist, turn, and click with every distraction (i.e. Turning on an ad-blocker or putting notifications on silent).
  • Refine. So that each stroke/ click gets them better at future swimming (clicking)—not worse (i.e. Utilizing the Unfollow/ Mute/ Block buttons and more mindfully choosing who to follow and where to click).
  • Reflect. Because sometimes the ocean gets the best of even great swimmers. And maybe they take in a bunch of salt water through the nose or get caught under a big crashing wave (sucked into a YouTube rabbit hole). It’s in those moments that you have to figure out how you might handle the same situation from repeating in the future. Those who don’t reflect—don’t improve.

Being in an ocean when you don’t know how to swim is terrifying because the water is in control (and can lead to drowning).

Being in an ocean when you do know how to swim is incredibly refreshing and rewarding—because you are in control (and you get to swim in the ocean).

…And what a beautiful opportunity it truly is to swim confidently in the ocean.

P.s. Here’s an article I wrote on better managing your information diet: How to Upgrade the Quality of Your Life in 1 Hour.

Inside Jobs

Published on October 27, 2022
  • Joy is an inside job.
  • Love is an inside job.
  • Health is an inside job.
  • Identity is an inside job.
  • Success is an inside job.
  • Discipline is an inside job.
  • Fulfillment is an inside job.

In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to think the opposite.

But, don’t get it twisted… the feelings/ states that you most desire…

Are built from the work you do within—never without.

P.s. I had a great conversation today with Emily Leahy and Samantha Demers on Scaling Businesses/ Energy Management/ and Mindset Mastery (conversation starts at the 3:40 mark). If this tickles your fancy, this conversation is for you (available for 30 days). Enjoy!