Welcome to Wise Men Wednesday, your weekly dose of wisdom to thrive at work and at home.
Posts from this week:
I’m Terrified Inside My Cookie Cutter Life:
I don’t know anything about fear.
As I write this I’m sitting in a climate controlled apartment at a perfect 72 degrees, sipping a piping hot cup of freshly ground organic coffee that’s sitting on top of an elevated clay platform being kept warm by a tea light.
Just outside my window, working hard in the rain, are my neighborhood’s garbage men whom rain or shine come and pick up the garbage I place in a small bin at the curb.
My living room is littered with foam rollers, kettlebells, fitness bands, and a balance board to simulate living a rough and tough ancestral life in wild. While I’m completing my hourly swings today will I pretend I’m running away from a lion? Or maybe today I’ll imagine I’m hoisting a heavy rock off the ground that is blocking my path.
I live in a cookie cutter, temperature controlled life and don’t have very much to fear. I’ll be able to sleep safely tonight underneath my organic down duvet cover with my nightstand fan spinning softly, mimicking the peaceful rustling of the leaves.
In the absence of a darwin-esque survival of the fittest challenge, such defending my village from a lion, I create challenges for myself that instill the same level of fear deep in my ancient brain cortexes. My neanderthal ancestors would howl in laughter at what I consider a difficult day and at my day to day fears.
- Will my friends enjoy this blog post or will they think I’m a wuss?
- Are my clients happy with my Amazon agency’s work?
- Did I eat right amount of protein yesterday?
- How is the blue light from my computer screen harming my eyes?
- Does that guy Todd that unsubscribed from my Wise Men Wednesday newsletter hate me? (Please come back Todd!)
Words of wisdom:
“Attention is a gift you give to your work. The more attention you devote to something, the less space fear can occupy. Attention isn’t just about avoiding your neuroses (always a good thing); it means you’re absolutely present and ready for your genius. It means you can get down to work and if the muse is feeling talkative, the work might turn out brilliantly. Genius might be trying to reach you right now. Are you listening, or are you busy refreshing Twitter?”
—Paul Jarvis
Have a great rest of the week!
James Quandahl