Well, hello!
I’m glad you opened this email, it has some really important information for you.
And if you have any feedback, please feel free to leave a comment or you can email me at “dontstress at substack dot com” with the usual @s and .s in the appropriate places. 😊
No, you didn’t miss Monday’s edition. I did not send one, as what I had written, I could not foist upon you.
I hope you get some inspiration from today’s, though. I certainly did in a conversation with the family at my birthday dinner. I am now in my 60th trip around the sun, which I much prefer to my wife’s description of … “late, late, late fifties!”
Anyway, don’t stress and on with the show …
Bill
p.s. at the bottom of this email is a Share button. I would love it if you can think of 4 or 5 friends to forward it to.
I was having dinner with the family the other night. It was my birthday, so they had to put up with my (very poor) jokes! But we like to discuss things around dealing with “life etc” so it can get a little philosophical. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
My daughter made a comment about things being “true”. I wish I had noted her exact words so I could give her full credit. You see, we all view things from our perspective as being “true”. If we stop and think about it for a second, we likely know our truths are not completely true, and if we sit with them awhile, we’ll realise there are other, equally valuable, “truths”. But our long held truths, become our life, or at least our current experience.
When we have these family discussions, I sometimes get a glimpse of greatness because I realise my “truth” isn't the only truth. And if I could simply see a different perspective, things might be closer to what I am chasing. Like it is just … there. I can almost touch it, see it, taste it. And by greatness, I’m really not talking in terms of the world stage, or even outside the family, but within the confines of my own mind and limitations. I mean, how could I make this blog great?
Until …
But, have you noticed we think a certain way and behave in certain ways … ad infinitum … until circumstances do not allow it. And then, when forced to, like getting out of debt or having to buy the new appliance or the new car, we find out we can do the thing … because we have to.
If only we could apply that same focus to the stuff we really want.
For example (and these are very basic examples to prove the point):
I cannot raise $100,000 in 6 months. But people have!
No way I could interview (someone significant). But others have!
No way I could lose 10kg healthily in 6 weeks. But many have!
I couldn’t raise $100,000+ for greyhounds. But someone literally just did!
The proof of our potential is seen in others.
Others prove we can achieve our goals. Fortunately, or unfortunately perhaps, the evidence is black and white. And while there are many privileged people who succeed, many work from nothing and simply persist and endure. And yes, we do not know their circumstances. But that goes both ways. Maybe they had great circumstances. Maybe they didn’t.
As per this post, I am listening to The Storyteller by Dave Grohl. I’m almost finished so I’m listening to his later years when he is as famous as he is. But there was a lot of stories of “back in the day” when he was just an 11 year old kid, like we all were/are. (Welcome to you if you are 11! 🙌)
Glimpse of Greatness
When I mentioned the “Glimpse of Greatness” above, what does that mean for you? Do you get that glimpse occasionally? Thinking the piece is about to fall into place. Do you have thoughts of, “Oh, my god, it is right there!” And then … “If only I would/could … !” (finish that damn sentence!)
What would you love to accomplish? What is that “almost touch it, taste it, see it” thing for you?
And, as you get to that point of “If only I would …”, sit there. Sit with it … and force yourself to just finish the damn sentence!
My god, I would love to know what you come up with!
One last question for you. What would you like to see on this blog? What topic of personal effectiveness and mental fitness is itching you right now?
Let me know!