Years ago, when I used to speak about career change at conferences, one of the basic, non-specific guidelines I used to give people, to help them move in the direction of fulfilment, was this:
“Do more of what you like, and less of what you don’t.”
Sounds almost too simple, eh? And maybe a bit glib.
But it hit home for me again, very recently, and it’s the whole reason the Daily Reminders even exist.
Here’s what happened.
👀
I was having a spot of coaching of my own, and was being asked questions—to consider some things—and at one point I heard myself trotting out a phrase I’ve heard myself trot out a lot over the years:
“Well, I suppose I consider myself, first and foremost, a writer. It’s what I love most.”
There was a bit of a pause and, forgive me, I can’t remember exactly what was said in response, or if there even was one, but what I heard in that moment (as in, the realisation I had; the fresh new thought, from out of the blue) was this:
“For a writer, you sure don’t write very much!”
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 😲
Owwwww, someone get a 🧯 quick, call the 🚒 it buuurns!!!
After we’d put the fire out, we explored why that might be and I discovered, to my horror, that I’d started to see ‘what I love most’ as a bit of a chore.
Realistically, all I was doing was writing one 500 word article a month, for the Focus Magazine. And that felt like it squeezed me dry.
If we’re rooting out hidden beliefs, then the invisible one that was holding me back was this:
📦🗣️ It feels like a bit of a chore to write at the moment. Therefore, if I try and write more, it will be even more of a chore. Therefore I won’t.
And as a result of that little monkey, I was stucker than a stuck thing, covered in sticky stuff.
Here I was – the guy who used to preach “Do more of what you like,” doing the exact opposite, and wondering why I felt so heavy!
🤦🏻♂️
It was gently suggested that,
“You could maybe give daily emails a go for a bit? Just to see what it’s like. You’ll probably find it easier than once a month.”
And the very next day, having treated myself to a shiny new app with which to capture my ideas, I sat in bed all day and I wrote.
And wrote.
And wrote.
Just like that. I’d gone from writing once a month and it feeling really heavy, to writing every day and it feeling really light!
Bonkers 🤪
And here we are: The Daily Reminders are a thing, and I haven't missed a day since.
So… what is it for you?
What do you love to do, but aren’t doing very much of, at the moment?
You could maybe give it a go for a bit? Just to see what it’s like. You might find it makes things easier.
I love you.
😘
Giles