It’s not quantity that will make you feel accomplished and satisfied. That’s a lazy proxy for work that matters.
It’s not even quality. That’s volatile and no two people would agree on what that means.
It’s the alignment between what you do and what you stand for. And too often we mistake quantity or quality for the final goal.
Some situations have the power to take us back to the ground. They remind us we are not invincible, they prove time is a very limited resource, they point to someone who is more prepared.
When we go past them and their drama, they can teach us to be with what we have and what we are, to the best of our own possibilities.
That’s what they are really for.
Three things that will not make you nervous, that will not scare you, that will not make you lose your sleep, that will not make you cry when you are rejected.
The point is that when are onto something that matters, you will feel anxiety and fear. That’s a sign of the stakes you are putting on that thing. What’s important is acknowledging the feelings, accepting where they come from, and finding ways to cope with them so that you can function and progress.
It’s never been about feeling confident and fearless. That’s a lie for Hollywood movies.
When the mind wanders, it takes you to wonderful places, average places, horrible places. Places that do not exist. Places that often determine your joy or sorrow.
The only thing that is real, though, is the here and now. What you are doing in this moment, the context you have around you, the possibility for you to decide to change the activity and the context. And your mood.
A wandering mind can take you places, but train the capacity to come back to reality at will.
It’s a muscle that can be strengthened.
We only see our side of the story.
That’s why when we go to someone with something that’s important for us, that becomes urgent.
That’s why when we read through an email we only notice the parts that confirm what we already know.
That’s why when we find new evidence we are sure that’s the one that will convince everybody.
And that’s also why we should be extremely careful when giving judgements, passing sentences, and building walls.
The target is to be convinced (of your values, your purpose, your views) and open (to other perspectives and versions) at the same time.
Can you do that?
You've got this 