#146 Shadow Artistry

Sometimes I ask myself if you are asking yourself why I write you a short note every day, my friend.

Maybe I’m giving myself too much credit, and you’ve never asked yourself that question.

But I will answer it anyway, so let’s pretend you have.

Here’s the socially acceptable answer: for more than 200 days, I’ve been writing you a short note every day to remind you to make intelligent decisions about your life and who you want to be.

But as so often with us humans, the honest answer is more self-centered: I write you a short note every day to remind myself to make intelligent decisions about my life and who I want to be.

The fact that some insights are helpful to you is a nice bonus. But I would also write them if you have yet to read a single one of these insights.

Because to me, writing every day is a rallying cry for myself in an invisible battle that nobody might ever see – because it only exists in my head.

A battle against frustration, giving up, limiting beliefs, and a cage of social conditioning from which it’s hard to break free.

A battle to become who I’ve always wanted to be.

Yes, every note I write to you, my friend, is outward proof of a tiny inner victory, taking tiny steps towards more self-trust and fulfillment.

You may tell me I don’t have anything to prove to anyone, especially not myself.

And you may be right.

But I also know that we all have our battles to fight.

Battles about what we believe we deserve or not.

What we think we can do or not.

What we believe is possible for us or not.

What we desire.

Who we can be.

So while you might not be asking yourself why I write you something every day, I am asking myself which battles you are fighting.

I am looking for outward proof of your inner victories.

Whatever they are, when you shine a light on your invisible battles, I’ll be here to cheer you on.

Every promise to yourself is a contract in invisible ink.

Jo Franco on the Not Your Average Jo podcast. I recommend you listen to this episode

But it’s not because it’s hidden from view that it doesn’t carry any weight.

Every broken contract with yourself goes on the pile of self-distrust.

So don’t overextend. Don’t make promises to yourself that you can’t keep anyway.

Start with a tiny contract with yourself. Then stick to the terms.

Build trust every day through Tiny Trust Builders.

Remember that the contract is made, so now is not the time to negotiate.

Retrace the letters of that invisible contract every single day.

Then, one day, the invisible ink is tattooed on your mind, and you’ve forged an unbreakable bond between your words and actions.