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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

A Sign Of Hope

Published on February 13, 2023

When we are born, we are radiating packages of energy. Overflowing from every pore the very essence of life into all that comes near. As we grow, however, we come into contact with energy that’s dull, faded, confused. And in more cases than not—it slowly takes an effect. We slowly start to refuse our bodily energy. We slowly fold closed our open minds. We slowly restrict our pores and suppress our infinitely-sourced energy.

…Until eventually, we embody an energy that’s dull, faded, and confused ourselves.

The easiest way to reverse this process is to spend more time with those who are still radiating packages of energy. The effect can be instantaneous—it’s really an incredibly thing to see. Serious folks who never so much as smile start quacking like a duck; cranky, self-conscious teenagers playing peek-a-boo and poke-the-belly with cartoon toys; the angriest, most short-tempered relatives hitting high-pitch notes you didn’t know they were even capable of hitting—all from simply seeing a newborn.

I see this as a sign of hope.

One that says, nothing is permanently lost; you’re not “too far gone;” you’re not “unable to change”—you’re just under some deep layers of crap energy and crap behavior. If only you’ll start digging yourself out and letting that inextinguishable life energy flow freely once again, maybe you’ll start radiating and positively affecting all whom you come into contact with how you once did—all those years ago when we didn’t know a single thing, yet knew a truth so profound that even the most close-minded, stubborn around you fell victim to your shine.

Waiting For The River To Flow

Published on February 12, 2023

There are days when everything just flows. When you wake up on time feeling refreshed; when your clothes fit great; when you walk more confidently, speak more clearly, find the right words more easily. Days when even your muse is feeling you and waltzes in on cue.

It’s on days like this where the very essence of life comes crashing down over otherwise untouched canvas. Days where blank pores and blinking cursors get filled with statements of unique existence. Days that leave you in awe as you look back on what feels like vanished time because of a hypnotism from a higher power.

…And then there are days when everything just doesn’t.

The key to more days like the former is to keep showing up on the days that feel like the latter. Because while waiting for the river to flow might seem like an appropriate strategy… the frequently overlooked truth is: the river never stops flowing.

Only our temporary moods and comfort-seeking egos make it seem that way in how they fog up and misguide our minds. Some of my best pieces were written on days when I “wasn’t feeling it.” Some of my favorite art was created by artists who dragged their feet. Some of the greatest insights were unveiled by those who forcefully cut their way through mental fog.

The river never stops flowing.

It’s only when we stop doing the dirty work required to access it that it “suddenly” disappears.

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

Upgrade From “Easy” or “Hard”

Published on February 11, 2023

We have to train ourselves to STOP looking at tasks as “easy” or “hard.”

Tasks should be seen as either “hard now” or “harder later.”

This forces us to bring a long-term perspective into our decision making process.

I.e. Rather than this short-cut, hack, trick, or time-spend being an “easy” choice to an alternative… we ask ourselves if we can prioritize doing the “hard” thing now so that we won’t have to do the “harder” alternative later.

Honestly answering this question is the *real* short-cut, hack, and trick.

I’m Willing To Work On That

Published on February 10, 2023

Anyone who says “That’s just how I am” (or something along those lines) is fixed in their ways and isn’t interested in changing.

Don’t waste any additional effort on trying to change / influence their mind if they believe their behaviors / actions are innate / unchangeable.

We all have the ability to change.

But, not until we can at least admit it to ourselves and adopt the mindset of “I’m willing to work on that.”

Pain Shield

Published on February 9, 2023

The amount of pain we can withstand isn’t a matter of capability… it’s a matter of tolerance.

We’re capable of tolerating WAY more pain than we think.

And the benefit of pushing past that thinking limit (e.g. hard exercise) is that new tolerances are reached.

This isn’t about being self-destructive or self-harmful. This is about building mental strength and fortitude.

Because the pain will come.

And having an increased tolerance is like having an upgraded shield that’s ready to withstand more of whatever life decides to throw our way.

And upgraded shields against life are always a good idea.

P.s. I asked people to: Tell us a story of a time when they were the target of a random act of kindness. The answers will restore your faith in humanity. :)

Doing A Little Better

Published on February 8, 2023

When it comes to improving our lives, I think it’s safe to say that just about all of us have a catalogue of dormant ideas, insights, and strategies that would very well lead us to a better life if we applied them.

It’s like Anne Lamott said in her brilliant TED Talk: “Food—try to do a little better. I think you know what I mean.” (timestamp)

It’s not about knowing what to do.

The real game is in finding ways we can more consistently do what we already know.

Information gathering is okay—it can certainly help facilitate change.

But, don’t fool yourself—obsessing over information gathering is a distraction; it’s an excuse; it’s an avoidance.

And moreover, don’t undermine yourself when you feel like you’re “only” doing (or “only” committing to doing) a little something better.

Doing a little something better is precisely how any of us ever moves from okay to great.

Because life is a game of applying—and every little bit counts.

P.s. Here are 9 Small Changes That Have Had The Biggest Impact On My Health.

The Tasks That Touch Deep Work

Published on February 7, 2023

One of my most important daily tasks is writing.

Like most deep work tasks, writing is best done in longer, uninterrupted blocks of time vs smaller, interspersed blocks. 1 hour of uninterrupted writing, in my opinion, is NOT the same as four, 15 minute chunks of writing.

That said, one adjustment I’ve made to increase my writing time block is reschedule some of the tasks that touch my writing block.

During a typical 2 hour afternoon time block, for example, I would spend 40 minutes curating content ideas at the outset and 20 minutes meditating at the end—leaving 1 hour of writing time sandwiched in between (on a perfect, uninterrupted, no curve-balls kind of day).

Now I’m working to move my 40 minutes of curating into my morning routine and the meditation into my evening routine so that I can effectively have 2 hours of uninterrupted writing time in the afternoon.

Even if I don’t get this done perfectly, the big takeaway is this: if I move 10 minutes of curating to the morning and 10 minutes of meditating to the evening, that’s 20 minutes of writing—my top priority task each day—back that I otherwise would’ve lost and *wouldn’t* have been able to make up in the morning or evening.

Because, worth saying again, writing in a single 10 or 20 minute block of time is NOT the same as writing in a long block that’s extended by 10 or 20 minutes instead.

Whereas the other tasks I moved—curating and meditating—can be done just as well at any point throughout the day.

Worth considering for the deep work tasks in your day as well.