#178 You don’t have to master this today

“Is this really important right now?” I ask myself, as another distraction passes through my head.

I imagine an old wise man, disturbed from his task at hand, looking up.

“No? Can you come back later then, at a more appropriate time? Thank you very much.”

Back to work he goes.

“Is this really a life-threatening event?” I ask myself, as another anxiety-inducing thought intrudes my mind.

I imagine the same old wise man, fending off a harassing distraction.

“No? Can you come back with a message more appropriate to the severity of the event? Thank you very much.”

On with life he goes.

If only it were that easy, my friend.

The distracted, anxious, worried mind tends to fight back. I’m taking the liberty to assume you’ve also noticed that at some point in your life.

Nevertheless, I believe we can, nay, we must fight back.

Not that I’m advocating suppression.

Excited, worried, sanguine, anxious, passionate, defeated: let them have their moment of attention – at the appropriate time.

Maybe it’s all about the art of making all the selves get along?

I imagine the old wise man, who has mastered that art.

I know I’m not that old wise man yet.

But I could be, if I make it a point to practice every day.

And so could you, if you make it a point to practice every day.

If that’s something that’s important to you, of course. That’s for you to decide, in your personal situation and in your personal life.

“You already know what I’m going to say,” the mentor I don’t have tells me.

It’s true.

I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do.

Neither do you.

All you need is someone to remind you to do what you already know.

If you had constant presence of mind, you could remind yourself.

But if you’re anything like me, your clarity gets lost in day-to-day desires, worries, and chores.

And that’s fine.

Because that’s what you’re here for, no?

Not to learn what your life should look like but to receive a reminder to live it daily?

In the pursuit of our ambitions, we often create intricate plans, detailed routines, and exhaustive checklists.

But when these complexities start to feel more like obstacles than aids, it might be time to strip things back.

Where are you overcomplicating? Is it in the planning, the execution, or perhaps the goal itself?

Seeking the simplest way is not always the easiest. But more often than not, it’s the most effective.