I love this so much Jim! Having gone solo to pursue my art, this dilemma of time management for me has been an ongoing self experiment I’ve been conducting for myself too since the beginning of the year. (And I love that you call it experiments because tbh life conducting experiments is actually fun! and very human).
I got rung into “hustle culture” first thinking this would achieve the illusive “dream” but what I am finding is intentionality and purpose in my weekly plan that comes from trusting in myself and my choices. There are a million voices most often telling us what the right thing “to do” is and I have been in a position of putting my trust in others who have reached the “success” thinking they have the right answers.
But it’s funny how even something as simple as a weekly plan/ to-do list can be a route for self introspection. Everything seems to always lead back to me asking “is this really right?” Everything seems to lead me back to Rilke’s poem that can be so painful to practice 😄
Now that’s hard to experiment if one hasn’t reached a form of “success” yet because ofc it’s a test. But I think it’s important to trust ourselves. We do have the internal intelligence to do what is right for us, and a sense of faith in ourselves can renew our days instead of feeling run down. Things like meditation helps for me to disconnect.
Thank you for providing more clarity on my experiments. I’m really happy to read im not the only one who is navigating similar worlds of writing, art and videos ☺️ much love, Win
As ever thank you so much for wonderful feedback and message here. I continue to experiment too, and as ever, my understanding of the process is that its never about getting right, just always trying to tweak, drift, return and improve.
I think your choice to look at hustle-culture and then to find your own way is brave - and against the tide.
Working hard does not have to mean burning yourself out, sacrificing relationships and doing doing doing.
In my experience its the space between the doing where the good stuff is.
We are beings with the capacity to do -- not doings with the capacity to be.
For me, what shines before you - is you. That is the precious thing, and that's what is within the work. Keep trusting in that.
I know its very weird times with such a competitive market, and AI being such a, well, mind-fuck.
But, from afar, I see someone finding their way. Keep on that path - even - or maybe especially, when it makes you feel a bit lost.
That's where the figuring out happens - and its the figuring out where we keep growing.
I'm trying to not adobt hustle culture, but equally, keeping a tab on this:
Trying to finish it.
If I can move one thing (or one part of one thing) to completion in the day, that is always rewarding for me.
The modern world seems to be about having a million open ended things open all the time.
But a little sense of completion each day moves you forward - and helps you feel good by the end of they day - "ah, yes, I did that on my own terms".
I love this so much Jim! Having gone solo to pursue my art, this dilemma of time management for me has been an ongoing self experiment I’ve been conducting for myself too since the beginning of the year. (And I love that you call it experiments because tbh life conducting experiments is actually fun! and very human).
I got rung into “hustle culture” first thinking this would achieve the illusive “dream” but what I am finding is intentionality and purpose in my weekly plan that comes from trusting in myself and my choices. There are a million voices most often telling us what the right thing “to do” is and I have been in a position of putting my trust in others who have reached the “success” thinking they have the right answers.
But it’s funny how even something as simple as a weekly plan/ to-do list can be a route for self introspection. Everything seems to always lead back to me asking “is this really right?” Everything seems to lead me back to Rilke’s poem that can be so painful to practice 😄
Now that’s hard to experiment if one hasn’t reached a form of “success” yet because ofc it’s a test. But I think it’s important to trust ourselves. We do have the internal intelligence to do what is right for us, and a sense of faith in ourselves can renew our days instead of feeling run down. Things like meditation helps for me to disconnect.
Thank you for providing more clarity on my experiments. I’m really happy to read im not the only one who is navigating similar worlds of writing, art and videos ☺️ much love, Win
Dear Win,
As ever thank you so much for wonderful feedback and message here. I continue to experiment too, and as ever, my understanding of the process is that its never about getting right, just always trying to tweak, drift, return and improve.
I think your choice to look at hustle-culture and then to find your own way is brave - and against the tide.
Working hard does not have to mean burning yourself out, sacrificing relationships and doing doing doing.
In my experience its the space between the doing where the good stuff is.
We are beings with the capacity to do -- not doings with the capacity to be.
For me, what shines before you - is you. That is the precious thing, and that's what is within the work. Keep trusting in that.
I know its very weird times with such a competitive market, and AI being such a, well, mind-fuck.
But, from afar, I see someone finding their way. Keep on that path - even - or maybe especially, when it makes you feel a bit lost.
That's where the figuring out happens - and its the figuring out where we keep growing.
I'm trying to not adobt hustle culture, but equally, keeping a tab on this:
Trying to finish it.
If I can move one thing (or one part of one thing) to completion in the day, that is always rewarding for me.
The modern world seems to be about having a million open ended things open all the time.
But a little sense of completion each day moves you forward - and helps you feel good by the end of they day - "ah, yes, I did that on my own terms".
Thank you as ever for dropping in!
See you along the way,
Jim