#424 No rush, less haste, more space

Every day in which I write, I build my body of work.

As I build my body of work, I also build a hierarchy of quality.

Because every day, my writing will be slightly better or worse than the day before.

That means that the more I write, comparatively, the more good writing I’ll do.

It also means that the more I write, comparatively, the more bad writing I do.

Both are necessary.

Good writing, to feel progress.

Bad writing, to know what good writing looks and feels like in the first place.

It’s all part of the process.

Trying to become good fast makes you impatient. And impatience may well stop you from ever becoming good in the first place.

Because the only way to become good is by understanding that in today’s practice session, you likely won’t be perfect anyway.

That you likely won’t write your most insightful words.

That you likely won’t run an all-time best.

That you’ll likely spend a large part of your yoga session stumbling and losing balance.

When you go into your practice session with that mindset…

Suddenly it makes sense to focus hard on getting that one sentence right.

Now it makes sense to focus on rhythmic breathing while running instead of pushing for a better time.

Now it makes sense to focus on a tiny part of your body during an entire yoga session to train your awareness instead of trying to chase poses because “they look professional.”

Even if there is not much time to “become good,” it still makes sense to assume there is time.

Because that gives you the freedom to focus on the small adjustments that prepare you for when the time comes, and you truly need to perform.

Since I’m always practicing anyway, I don’t have to be good at this today.