#358 How to know you’re an aspiring (or former) writer

Future dreams build motivation – and sometimes frustration.

Past achievements build confidence – and sometimes complacency.

Present actions create experiences you could’ve never even imagined, nor remembered.

In the series of unlikely life advice: a quote ascribed to Astrid Lindgren’s legendary character Pippi Longstocking.

I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/6773397-i-have-never-tried-that-before-so-i-think-i

Only after reading this quote I realized how often we all hold the opposite belief: I have never tried that before, so I think I am not (and will never be) able to do that.

What a sad and disempowering belief.

Which begs the question…

Where are you disqualifying yourself before even trying it out first?

What would life be like if your default belief is that things you haven’t tried before are possible for you?

How would that change your decisions?

How much fear and frustration would you leave behind?

Might be worth journaling about.

If you truly want to build a habit, you shouldn’t be able to hide behind excuses or vague commitments.

Which means the habit needs to be transparent.

Did you write one sentence today?

Did you learn one word in your target language today?

Did you run one mile today?

Some find transparency empowering.

Some think it’s scary.

But everyone who has built a habit knows this is the way.

Choosing perfection over consistency, you’ll turn dreams into paralysis. And paralysis leads to failure.

Choosing consistency over perfection, you’ll turn dreams into small actions. And consistent small actions lead to the realization of dreams.