#184 Why bad work is necessary

Getting worked up about traffic jams is not pleasant, but it’s predictable. And addictive.

So is giving up on writing a book, quitting a workout regime, and re-living any conflict or failure.

Not pleasant. But predictable.

This is how you’ve always felt. And this is how you’ll always feel – unless you become aware of the unpleasant, predictable, addictive patterns and decide to act differently.

Not only once, not twice, but every time you become aware of the pattern until you’ve built enough self-trust that you know the unpleasant predictable events aren’t inevitable.

Frowns carry questions. Puzzles. Uncertainty on the edge of understanding.

“I don’t understand – yet.”

Sometimes they also carry dismissal.

“I don’t agree – why?”

Most of all, frowns symbolize a struggle, a moment of dissonance between what we know and what we encounter.

Balancing on the edge of comprehension or dismissively pushing away the unfamiliar…

This is where insights are born.

You know I like word games, my friend.

Let’s play with mistakes today.

I don’t like that word—such a negative emotional charge.

And what’s the opposite of a mistake, anyway?

We have a word for doing things wrong, but not for doing things right?

Could we call mistakes lessons?

Bleh, so bland. Heard that a million times before.

What about misguided actions?

Better. Actions that guide me away from my intended outcome. And after a misguided action, I adjust my strategy. I course-correct. Until I get it right and take… guided action?

We’re not there yet. But guided and misguided actions… I don’t know about you, my friend, but to me, that’s going in the right direction.

A bit like traction and distraction.

But that’s a word game for another day.

When you need to do it every day
there just is no other way
you’re developing a habit, but it could still fade away.

When you don’t need to do it every day
and you trust you’ll stay on track anyway
you know the habit is here to stay.

Elastic discipline.

“Don’t you ever run out of ways to write a letter every day on the same topic?” I imagine you ask me.

In fact, I don’t have to imagine it. I have been asked this question many a time. Not in the least by myself.

Yet here we are, over 200 days in, and I’ve learned that there are many more ways to say the same thing than I ever thought possible.

What’s more: I’ve learned that they’re all equally important.

Because today’s letter could be what finally makes it click for you.
Because today’s letter could be what finally makes it click for me.
Because today’s letter invalidates my scarcity beliefs around idea generation – after all, if I can come up with a new letter every day for 200+ days, where else do I mistakenly believe I’ll run out of ideas, opportunities, or possibilities?

And, of course, because today’s letter is my personal Tiny Trust Builder.

So for as long as I can, for as long as I need it, and for as long as I believe YOU need it, you’ll receive a letter every day.

That’s right: every day, more wordplay
finding a thousand ways to say
that no matter what comes your way
only your self-trust is here to stay.