#130 The perfect excuse

ByLukas
|

Perfectionism is the perfect excuse for not showing up.

If you don’t publish because you’re waiting for the perfect blog post, you’ll hide behind your desk forever – because there’ll always be something you can improve.

If you don’t go for a walk because you’re waiting for the perfect weather, you’ll be stuck forever inside – because there’ll always be a day with more sunshine or a nicer breeze.

If you wait to live the life you desire until you have the perfect age, amount of money, degree, or partner, you’ll wait until it’s too late to enjoy your life in the first place.

If you know things will never be perfect anyway, and you’re not allowed to wait until they’re perfect, or even until they’re “good enough”…

What could you start doing today? What have you been putting off?

Similar Posts

#157 Trust I must

ByLukas

When the going gets tough
When I bite the dust
Trust I must

Trust I must
That the purpose I feel inside
The calling from which I can no longer hide
Is a reliable guide

Trust I must
That the vision I hold dear
Is enough to conquer my fear
and persevere

Trust I must
That the words I say
The actions I take every day
Won’t lead me astray

Trust I must
That I am not alone
And that this calling
Will bring me home

Trust I must
Every day
That this is the path
This is my way

|

#104 This is not a poker game

ByLukas

All in on getting fluent in a foreign language?
That’s a 6-12 month game, at the minimum.

All in on learning an instrument?
Count on a multi-year (or multi-decade) game.

All-in on getting in shape?
That’s a life-long game.

This is not a poker game. You’re not trying to impress anyone. There are no opponents to deter. Not everything hinges on one big moment where you can win or lose it all.

You’re not only all in the moment you decide you’re all-in. You’re all in for the entire journey. That means: making your efforts, resources, and motivation last.

All in means preparing for the long game.

Choosing small daily habits over grand gestures.

Choosing consistency over completion.

Accepting that whatever you go all in on will inevitably change your identity.

Now you’re all in on life, and who you aspire to be.

| |

#261 A simple way to train your intuition

ByLukas

Acting on the first hunch is a powerful move.

After all, hunches have their basis in our subconscious insights and intuitive understanding.

While they may not always lead us to the expected outcome, they invariably lead us to swift action and learning.

Either you’re right and you saved time.

Or you’re wrong so you can course correct, still saving you time.

So drink on the first sign of thirst.

Write on the first sign of an insight.

Make your choice on the first sign of a preference.

If it turns out bad, learn and change.

That’s how you train your intuition – not by distrusting it, but by using and honing it.

You already know how to do this.

#373 One day, you’ll be happy you have your habits

ByLukas

You write today. You run today. You do yoga today. You reach out to friends today.

Because one day, when the going gets tough, you’ll be happy you have a writing habit to express ideas and feelings.

You’ll be happy you’re in shape enough to run.

You’ll be happy to know your body well enough to move freely.

And you’ll be happy you have friends.

|

#218 The United States of “If I wanted, I could”

ByLukas

The path toward self-awareness isn’t always pleasant. 

Take yesterday, when I realized that in many cases, I’m more interested in the comfort of “wanting” something I don’t have than in “taking action to get something.”

That unappealing realization triggered a cascade of even more unappealing questions.

Would I rather mess around with small blog posts instead of becoming a skilled writer crafting coherent arguments?

Would I rather learn about a million different strategies to grow a newsletter instead of actually spreading the word and getting more people to read my newsletter?

Would I rather learn how to learn a language than actually learn a new language?

Is the frustration of unrealized potential also a huge source of comfort in my life?

I’m not sure if I should be happy with that realization. 

Maybe realizations aren’t even supposed to make me happy.

But even if they were, it doesn’t matter. 

Because look: here I am, writing another insight about it.

Another Tiny Trust Builder, proving that every day, I am one step closer to renouncing my citizenship of the United States of “If I wanted, I could.”

Another reminder to myself and you, my friend, one I’ll repeat until the bitter end: actions overrule thoughts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *