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Category: Thinking Clearly

When ‘Being Difficult’ Is Required

Published on August 10, 2021

I’m not one to be difficult but I’ll fight like hell to protect my mental space.

Some things are worth being difficult over and it’s important to recognize that.

When I’m reading/ writing/ or otherwise doing deep work, for example, my phone is on silent, my internet tabs are closed, and my headphones are playing white noise on full volume.

It’s incredibly difficult to get a hold of me once I’ve entered this space.

Why do I do this?

Because I can’t do deep work with constant interruptions. And if I’m going to maximize my time in a deep work state, then I need to fight the resistance that comes with these efforts to protect that space.

And fight I will.

And when it comes to your mental space—so should you.

The Circumstances Of The Greats

Published on August 7, 2021

Let us not forget that today we are:

  • Feeling the same sun
  • Breathing the same air
  • Seeing the same sky

And are:

  • Confronting the same types of pains
  • Confined to the same 24 hours
  • And facing the same mortality

…As the greats that came before.

There is no reason why we too, cannot be great.

You Are Important

Published on August 6, 2021

You are important.

Don’t do unimportant stuff.

When you do unimportant stuff, you are subconsciously affirming that you are unimportant.

Because only unimportant people do unimportant stuff.

Treat yourself better than that.

Step up the importance of your tasks.

Do more of the things you think are important to do.

And do less of the things you know aren’t.

Start reaffirming to yourself that you are, indeed, important and worthy of completing important tasks.

Because you are.

When Fear Gets Caught In Your Throat

Published on July 28, 2021

When choking, a drastic and sudden thrust is required—either by cough or Heimlich maneuver.

When choking on fear, maybe what’s required is the same—a drastic and sudden thrust.

Either by temporary uncharacteristic courage or by clever maneuvers against the mind.

Some people’s most memorable moments were closely preceded by the phrase: “F*ck it.”

Why? Because it allowed them out-maneuver the belittling thoughts of their mind and thrust forward, uncharacteristically, into the fear of the presented unknown.

This isn’t always good advice. But, when it is, it’s precisely the kind of Heimlich maneuver required to free a person from the suffocation of a comfort-zone filled life.

To All The “Rocks” Out There

Published on July 27, 2021

To all those who act as a”rock” for others in their lives—thank you.

Being a rock in the middle of a raging river is never easy.

And many times, it can feel like a thankless job.

People spew their problems, burdens, and drama onto those who they consider their “rock” so they can slow the rage that’s going on in their mind.

And once they get it all out, they slowly maneuver their exit, rejoin the raging river, and only return when the rage is, yet again, too much for them to handle.

And that’s okay.

Keep being the rock.

Keep yourself grounded into the riverbed. Keep doing what’s hard and stay true to the rock’s course: here. Present. Undisturbed by what’s rushing and immediate. Focused on bringing calm and ease to the raging world all around.

Joining the ever increasing speed of the river and raging with the rest is tempting—it’s the path of the many. Being the rock is the choice and the gift given to us by the few.

The world doesn’t need any help speeding up. It needs help slowing down. And that’s precisely what the rocks in the world do. And for that, and once again, I thank you.

Strengthening A Weakness Or Weakening A Strength?

Published on July 26, 2021

Creatives are good at creating; marketers are good at marketing; managers are good at managing.

When creatives realize they need to market their creations—they might try to learn the skills of a marketer.

When marketers realize they could profit more from their own creations—they might try to learn the skills of a creative.

And sometimes, the creative or the marketer might even decide to start and manage their own business where they must learn the skills of the creative, the marker, and the manager.

Here’s what you need to ask yourself: is the time I’m investing in learning how to improve upon my weaker areas as beneficial as the time I could be investing in tripling down on my strengths? Would I be better off teaming up with someone whose strengths compliment my weaknesses?

When you seek to strengthen a weakness, be careful you don’t end up weakening a strength.

The Real Reason For Your Stuck-ness

Published on July 23, 2021

When stuck, most people will blame circumstance.

But, what’s really holding them in place is what they believe to be true about those circumstances.

  • I can’t lose weight because I was born with an awful metabolism (blaming circumstance). Underlying belief: I’m the type of person who can’t lose weight.
  • I have awful anxiety because of how I was raised (blaming circumstance). Underlying belief: I deserve to have awful anxiety.
  • I’m going to be single forever because whenever I open up to people, I get hurt (blaming circumstances). Underlying belief: No relationship will ever honor my vulnerability.

Your beliefs are the real source of your stuck-ness.

Change your beliefs and you’ll finally be able to change your scenery.