2000 Mules: 189 pages. Author – Dinesh D’Souza. I don’t care if you identify as a Republican, Democrat, or Independent voter. If you identify as an American Citizen and thus are reaping the incalculable benefit of living in this incredible country, and you want to KEEP this country from becoming just another Socialist/Communist failed experiment, you absolutely need to take the time to get and read this book. 2000 Mules shines undeniable light on the glaring loopholes which have allowed a handful of extremely wealthy people to enable and perpetrate the fraud and vote manipulation that have become pervasive in our election system. I sincerely hope our own representatives in Washington have read it as well.
Similar to the way Dr Scott Atlas’ book A Plague Upon Our House, clearly explains, with no POLITICAL SPIN, the fallacy and misinformation doled out by a controlled media on the Wuhan Flu epidemic. And how S. Fred Singer in his book Hot Talk, Cold Sciencepulls back the curtains and demystifies the fallacy of the current “man caused climate change” hysteria. D’ Sousa, diagrams and unmasks, one by one, how the 2020 election was absolutely swayed and manipulated. And what is probably the greater worth of D’ Sousa’s book, is the information how we ordinary citizens can help prevent this from happening in the future, and the call to action. A future, I may remind you, which has already arrived, as we have seen in the valid questions already brought forth in the 2022 midterm elections and most prominently in Arizona.
All three of these books present arguments that are totally provable, understandable and are NOT political. All three authors took great risks to themselves in even publishing their research and work. All three authors have the unassailable credentials needed to be considered experts in these three completely separate fields of concern, to all United States Citizens. Please take some time, buy these books, take a few days off from wasting time watching some damn sports show on TV, and get educated on these absolutely critical subjects. Maybe after you’ve read them, like me, you will think: Gee isn’t it funny, we have here election fraud, a largely politicized flu epidemic, and a phony climate change narrative: All pushed by either a controlled hysterical media, rich uneducated celebrities, or Socialist politicians. Three, at first glance, seemingly unrelated events impacting our lives; yet all three events are totally connected and aimed at permanently changing and destroying our current way of life. Please, read, educate yourself, talk to your neighbors, and above all: THINK!
A different version of you exists in the mind of everyone that has ever met you, and it’s very different from what you think about yourself.
The person you think you are does not even exist outside of your mind.
We all believe in a personal, unique, and separate identity—but if we dare to examine it, we find that this identity depends entirely on an endless collection of things to prop it up: our name, our biography, our partners, family, home, job, academic credentials, friends, credit cards… It is on their fragile and transient support that we rely for our security. So when they are all taken away, will we have any idea of who we really are? Without our familiar props, we are faced with just ourselves, a person we do not know, an unnerving stranger with whom we have been living all the time, but we never really wanted to meet. Isn’t that why we have tried to fill every moment of time with noise and activity, however boring or trivial, to ensure that we are never left in silence with this stranger on our own?
A father used to say to his children when they were young: — When you all reach the age of 12 I will tell you the secret of life. One day, when the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what was the secret of life. The father replied that he was going to tell him, but that he should not reveal it to his brothers.
—The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk. “What are you saying?” Asked the boy incredulously. — As you hear it, son: The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4 in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket and do the work yourself.
That is the secret of life. The cow does not give milk. You milk her or you don’t get milk. There is this generation that thinks that cows GIVE milk. That things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if “I wish, I ask….. I obtain.”
“They have been accustomed to get whatever they want the easy way…But no, life is not a matter of wishing, asking and obtaining. The things that one receives are the effort of what one does. Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration.”
So, share with your children from a young age the secret of life, so they don’t grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces are going to give them everything they need in life.
The following article is about a study done by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_B._Calhoun John B. Calhoun. It was published by Farnam Street May 1, 2022. I found it to be quite interesting and relevant to our times in terms of our “social evolution”.
Insight
“In July 1968, four pairs of mice were introduced into the habitat. The habitat was a 9-foot square metal pen with 4.5-foot high sides. Each side had four groups of four vertical, wire mesh “tunnels.” The “tunnels” gave access to nesting boxes, food hoppers, and water dispensers. There was no shortage of food or water or nesting material. There were no predators. The only adversity was the limit on space.
Initially, the population grew rapidly, doubling every 55 days. The population reached 620 by day 315, after which the population growth dropped markedly, doubling only every 145 days. The last surviving birth was on day 600, bringing the total population to a mere 2200 mice, even though the experiment setup allowed for as many as 3840 mice in terms of nesting space. This period between day 315 and day 600 saw a breakdown in social structure and in normal social behavior. Among the aberrations in behavior were the following: expulsion of young before weaning was complete, wounding of young, increase in homosexual behavior, inability of dominant males to maintain the defense of their territory and females, aggressive behavior of females, passivity of non-dominant males with increased attacks on eath other which were not defended against.
After day 600, the social breakdown continued, and the population declined toward extinction. During this period females ceased to reproduce. Their male counterparts withdrew completely, never engaging in courtship or fighting and only engaging in tasks that were essential to their health. They ate, drank, slept, and groomed themselves—all solitary pursuits. Sleek, healthy coats and an absence of scars characterized these males. They were dubbed “the beautiful ones.” Breeding never resumed and behavior patterns were permanently changed.
The conclusions drawn from this experiment were that when all available space is taken and all social roles filled, competition and the stresses experienced by the individuals will result in a total breakdown in complex social behaviors, ultimately resulting in the demise of the population.“
—John B. Calhoun
One of the lessons you can draw from this is that human situations are no different. At our core we are animals. When things are abundant, it’s easy to get along. When times become lean, however, our biological tendency towards self-preservation takes over. Scarcity—real or imagined—triggers our unconscious mind to take over and react without reasoning. And when we react without reasoning, we are no better than other animals. In fact, in these moments, we’re told we are “behaving like an animal.”
We’ve been living in an era of ever-increasing abundance since WWII.
Tiny Thought
One of the biggest things working in the background over the past few years is the mindset gap.
At the onset of COVID, one group of people, became paralyzed and waited. They waited for someone else to take the lead and tell them what to do. They waited for schools to go online and figure out how to educate their kids. They waited for the government to tell them what was safe and what wasn’t. They waited for clarity. Whey waited for certainty. And they waited for other people to solve problems so they could continue with life.
Another group of people refused to stop. While they might have slowed down, they kept adapting. Inch by inch they did what they could and moved forward. They hired teachers of turned to Khan academy, or learned to homeschool for their kids. They kept the expectations of themselves and their kids high. They pushed forward at work and home. They solved problems. And they learned new skills.
The difference between these two groups comes down to mindset.
All the energy you put into things you can’t control comes at the expense of things you can control. And because they focus on what they can control, the second mindset is far more resilient and adaptable than the first. And that makes all the difference.
People often bring up the wealth gap. They say things like, “It’s easy for the rich to hire tutors and teachers and childcare and keep their kids working hard.” Yes… and that misses the point.
It’s easy to overestimate the role of money and underestimate the role of mindset. Often, we convince ourselves that if only we had the resources, we would apply the second mindset. But the second mindset isn’t a luxury of the rich, it is a necessity to build wealth in the first place.
Focusing on the money misses the leverage of mindset hiding in plain sight.
A lot of people without a lot of money figured out ways to focus on what they could control. While they didn’t control what the schools did, they did control giving their kids extra work or putting them in Khan academy, or upskilling themselves and homeschooling their children.
Mindset gets applied to life many times, every day. At the end of a day, one day, the difference between the first and second mindset is indistinguishable, but at the end of a decade, the gap is too large to catch up.
Everything comes down to mindset.
When you focus on what you can control, there is always an action you can take to put yourself in a better position. When you focus on things you can’t control, you tend to freeze, unsure of what to do, and you wait while those with a more constructive mindset pass you by.
How To Be Resilient: 5 Steps To Success When Life Gets Hard
by Eric Barker
***
Before we commence with the festivities, I wanted to thank everyone for helping my first book become a Wall Street Journal bestseller. To check it out, click here.
***
We always hear one thing about stress: it’s bad. I haven’t checked recently but I think that’s in the Constitution. Fortunately, stress is not that simple.
Researchers asked 30,000 adults how much stress they felt in the past year—and whether they thought stress was a negative. Eight years later, the scientists circled back. Yup, you guessed it—the high stress people were 43% more likely to have died…
But only if they believed stress was bad for their health. Let that sink in for a second. (Yes, we are holding a masterclass in WTF.)
So what about the people in that study who didn’t think stress was a negative?
People who reported high levels of stress but who did not view their stress as harmful were not more likely to die. In fact, they had the lowest risk of death of anyone in the study, even lower than those who reported experiencing very little stress. The researchers concluded that it wasn’t stress alone that was killing people. It was the combination of stress and the belief that stress is harmful.
And this isn’t some one-off weirdo study. If you specifically study people who have a positive vision of stress, you find they’re healthier, happier, and more productive.
Crum’s research shows that people who believe stress is enhancing are less depressed and more satisfied with their lives than those who believe stress is harmful. They have more energy and fewer health problems. They’re happier and more productive at work.
A heckler from the back of the room: “Oh yeah? Well, what about PTSD?”
PTSD is terrible. No dispute. But let’s talk about urine for a second. (Gross, I know, but I guarantee this is the only urine story you’re going to hear today, so bear with me.) Can you predict PTSD based on stress hormone levels immediately after a traumatic incident? Well, somebody checked.
Researchers had people who had just survived a major car accident pee in a cup. One month later, they checked in with them. The result? Patients who did not go on to develop PTSD had higher levels of adrenaline and cortisol immediately after the incident. More stress equaled less PTSD.
Study after study shows people—everyone from middle school students to Army Rangers — who have bigger surges of adrenaline and cortisol perform better under pressure. You know what doesn’t help? Staying calm.
Despite most people’s belief that some adrenaline improves performance, but too much impairs performance, the evidence suggests otherwise. When it comes to performing under pressure, being stressed is better than being relaxed.
And it’s not all about performance either. People who experience more stress say their lives are more meaningful.
In fact, every measure of stress that the researchers asked about predicted a greater sense of meaning in life… In contrast, the researchers reported that among individuals who appeared to be the most unhappy, experiencing high levels of shame and anger and low levels of joy, “there was a notable lack of stress.”
What the heck? Then why do we always hear that stress is terrible? Well, the whole idea started in 1936 with an endocrinologist names Hans Selye. His initial experiments did show stress was bad. But with more research, he changed his tune. Later, he would go on to actually recommend good stress as an antidote to bad stress, saying, “There is always stress, so the only point is to make sure that it is useful to yourself and useful to others.”
Turns out stress is a lot more nuanced than we’ve been led to believe. Handled properly, it can make you smarter and more successful. It can make life meaningful. It can even make you more compassionate and kind. But the difference between good stress and bad stress lies in our mindset. How we perceive and interpret those physiological changes in our body. With the right mindset, stress is your friend.
So what do we need to do—other than a product recall on our stress-is-always-bad beliefs? For those answers, we’ll turn to Stanford University’s Kelly McGonigal. Her eye-opening book is The Upside of Stress.
Ready to be more resilient? Let’s get to it…
I’m So Stressed… And That’s Awesome
First, a definition: “Stress is what arises when something you care about is at stake.” You don’t stress much about stuff that you don’t perceive as important.
But those hormones (like adrenaline and cortisol) are, by themselves, emotionally neutral amplifiers of your physiology. They amp you up, but whether that’s a positive (excitement) or bad (anxious) is dependent on your mindset.
The three most common mindsets are: threat, challenge, or tend-and-befriend. When we’re scared or feel overwhelmed, those hormones produce a threat response. That’s bad. But when our mindset is more positive, those hormones are rocket fuel.
… a challenge response increases self-confidence, motivates action, and helps you learn from experience; while a tend-and-befriend response increases courage, motivates caregiving, and strengthens your social relationships.
Pretty much everything you’ve heard about stress and heart attacks or other awful things is only related to the threat response. When you have a challenge response, stress actually makes you healthier and more effective.
In fact, the tendency to have a challenge response, rather than a threat response, is associated with superior aging, cardiovascular health, and brain health… During business negotiations, a challenge response leads to more effective sharing and withholding of information, as well as smarter decision-making. Students with a challenge response score higher on exams, and athletes perform better in competitions. Surgeons show better focus and fine motor skills… Importantly, none of these studies showed that performance was enhanced by the absence of a stress response; it was enhanced by the presence of a challenge response.
Best part? We can control how we respond. With a simple mindset shift, research shows you can turn a threat response into a challenge or tend-and-befriend response. You can turn anxiously, freaking out into “eye of the tiger.”
(To learn more about how you can lead a successful life, check out my bestselling book here.)
Alright, a stressful situation hits. What’s the first step? It’s the exact opposite of what you usually tell yourself…
Don’t Calm Down
You’re giving a presentation in front of your boss and all the senior executives. Your job is on the line. Heart is pounding. Hands are trembling.
Is it better to try to calm yourself down or to feel excited? When surveyed, 91% of people thought it was best to calm down. But Alison Wood Brooks of Harvard Business School decided to put that answer to the test.
Turns out people who told themselves to “be excited” felt more positive and more confident. And when judged by a panel, they objectively performed better, coming across as more competent.
Fighting your physiology is hard. The hormones are there. Telling them, “Shoo! Go away! Not now!” doesn’t work very well. Don’t resist the energy. Embrace it.
(To learn how to make emotionally intelligent friendships, click here.)
Okay, we’re not calming down. What’s the next thing to keep in mind?
Remind Yourself That Stress Is Good
To measure the effects of extreme tension, psychologists use something called the “Social Stress Test.” I’m not sure who came up with it, but I personally believe this person is the biggest sadist who has ever lived.
The first part is public speaking, something most people fear. But the people you’re speaking in front of are confederates—they’re in on it. And they have been instructed to look bored and angry as you give your talk. To yawn, roll their eyes and never ever smile. As if that wasn’t unpleasant enough, it’s followed by a timed math quiz. (Now I know what hell looks like.) The “Social Stress Test” has been shown to elevate stress hormone levels by 400%.
Before this study, half the subjects are told that stress is a positive, shifting them to a challenge mindset. The other half is told to just try to ignore the stress. Wanna guess what the results were for the first group? Correct answer wins a Red Lobster gift certificate…
They showed greater confidence and engagement, and less anxiety, shame, and avoidance. Objectively, they performed better. Afterward, they were less distracted by thoughts of fear and failure.
Now some people might say: “Yeah, that’s fine in general — but what about for people who have a clinical anxiety disorder? This could kill them.”
Here’s the thing: in that study, half the subjects did have social anxiety disorder. And the “stress is good” intervention made their results indistinguishable from people without a clinical condition. Everyone experiences heart pounding when things get tense. It’s how we interpret it that makes the difference.
The first step is to acknowledge stress when you experience it. Simply allow yourself to notice the stress, including how it affects your body. The second step is to welcome the stress by recognizing that it’s a response to something you care about. Can you connect to the positive motivation behind the stress? What is at stake here, and why does it matter to you? The third step is to make use of the energy that stress gives you, instead of wasting that energy trying to manage your stress. What can you do right now that reflects your goals and values?
(To learn how to raise emotionally intelligent kids, click here.)
But what if it doesn’t work? What if you can’t convince yourself that the trembling hands are a positive?
That’s okay. We just need to address something deeper…
Think Of Your Resources
Any time you face a difficult situation, a little stress accountant in the back of your head is running the numbers to come up with an answer to the question: “Can I handle this?” He tabulates your skills and preparation, compares it to the perceived difficulty of the situation and decides if his little Excel spreadsheet says you’re in the red or in the black.
If you believe that the demands of the situation exceed your resources, you will have a threat response. But if you believe you have the resources to succeed, you will have a challenge response.
How you think about your ability to do well in the situation makes the difference between stress-as-debilitating versus stress as Captain-America-Super-Soldier-Serum. If you get a big bill in the mail and your bank account is empty, you’re scared. If you have Bezos bucks, you chuckle. It’s all about how you see your resources.
So think of your strengths. The help you can get from friends. The times you’ve faced a similar challenge and performed well. And then think about that new resource you just learned about…
Your stress response. It’s a good thing—if you see it that way.
If you think stress is bad, your little accountant puts it in the “debits” column. If you think stress is good, he puts it in the “credits” column. When you perceive the heart pounding as something that’s dragging you down, you can be competent and fail. When you see it as a helper to be utilized, you just gained another resource.
And this is also the best way to help others. When they’re tense and you tell them to “calm down”, you’re implying that stress is bad. That they don’t have the resources and can’t handle it. Wrong message.
Studies show that when people are told, “You’re the kind of person whose performance improves under pressure,” their actual performance improves by 33 percent.
(To learn the 4 rituals that will make you happy all the time, click here.)
Okay, but what if you’re not the hard-charging, competitive, “challenge response” kinda person? Maybe you’re more of a mild soul who likes chamomile tea and Kenny G. Not a problem.
A positive perception of stress still helps. We just need to channel it differently…
Think of Your “Bigger-Than-Self” Goals
Remember, a “challenge response” isn’t the only positive stress mindset. We also have “tend-and-befriend.” Thinking about the need to help others in times of stress increases courage and motivation.
So when stress bears down, think about your “Bigger-than-self goals.” How what you need to accomplish affects the lives of those you love. Studies show this mindset eliminates the threat response and increases performance, even in tense situations like job interviews.
Participants who had reflected on their bigger-than-self goals showed more signs of affiliation with the interviewers, such as smiling, making eye contact, and unconsciously mimicking the interviewers’ body language—all behaviors shown to increase rapport and strengthen social connection. Further, raters preferred what these participants had to say, rating their answers as more inspiring than the responses of participants who had not contemplated their values.
Asking the boss for a raise? Don’t think about that fancy new caviar spoon you’ve had your eye on. Think about how that money is going to make life better for your kids or your partner.
Or maybe you’re writing a blog post on the benefits of stress, but you just don’t feel motivated and want to take a nap. Think about how that post could improve the lives of the people who read your stuff. A study currently in progress at the University of Barker (n=1), seems like it might confirm the effectiveness of this technique.
(To learn how to stop being lazy and get more done, click here.)
Okay, we’ve covered a lot. Let’s round it all up and answer the biggest question – why the heck does life gotta be so stressful in the first place?
Sum Up
Here’s how to be more resilient:
Stress is bad when we see it as bad: We can respond to stress with a threat, a challenge or a “tend-and-befriend” mindset. And with a little work, you can alter which one you have.
Don’t calm down. Do not try to relax. Embrace the excitement. It’s not a crisis—it’s a strong cup of coffee.
Remind yourself stress is a helper: Whatever you’re dealing with, it’s not as bad as the wall-to-wall nightmare of “The Social Stress Test.” Remind yourself those physiological changes are actually a nitrous system for your brain. Change “I’m so stressed!” to “Ahh, I’m so stressed.”
Think about your resources: Remember your strengths, the help you can get from friends, and your prior successes. And don’t forget the biggest resource of all: those stress hormones. If you welcome them, they’ll come to your aid.
Focus on “bigger-than-self” goals: Never get between a momma bear and her cubs. When we remind ourselves of how what we’re doing can help others, “awful” stress becomes a courage and motivation booster.
When you survey people about how they cope with stress, 82% say they draw strength from past stressful experiences. And when researchers interview the folks who thrive under stress, you hear something similar: they see it as an opportunity to grow. They choose meaning over avoiding discomfort. They embrace the challenge.
That’s inspiring, but why the heck does life need to be so challenging all the time? Good lord, enough already.
In my totally unscientific but anecdotally unassailable opinion, the best answer to this comes from the great thinker Alan Watts. He proposed a little thought experiment…
Imagine you could choose your dreams at night. And due to how weird and distorted time can be in a dream, you could live an entire amazing life in one night’s dream. So in 8 hours of sleep, you could have a 75-year life that fulfilled all your wishes. Each night, you would lay down and experience a life of pure pleasure. Sounds awesome, right? And it would be…
But after a while, inevitably, you’d get a bit bored. But you can choose your dreams. So you’d make a dream life where you had a little less control. A surprise or two, just to keep it exciting. Movies are more fun when the hero has a close call. When it doesn’t seem as easy. They still win in the end, but the tension makes it exciting.
And so night after night, you’d add some more difficulty to make the pleasure that much sweeter at the end. A little extra challenge to the dream each time, until finally…
“You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today.”
You’re not overwhelmed by life. It’s just enough stress to make the dream a challenge. Enough to make the rewards that much sweeter in the end. It’s all how you perceive it.
I would love to think this post changed your life. But if you did find it helpful, it will actually work by a very different route. It won’t change your life…
It will confirm the wonder and joy of your life as it already is.
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We’ve dubbed it as “writer’s block.” Suddenly and randomly, creativity flatlines.
Exercise won’t fix it. Music won’t fix it. Caffeine won’t fix it.
As a freelancer and creative writer, hours stuck in this haze can be dangerous. Not feeling “it” means I’m losing money and momentum and my f*cking mind.
And there are as many cliche solutions as there are BS fat burners floating around the internet.
Years ago, writer’s block could hold me back for weeks. I’d spin my wheels or wait until creativity struck again like lightning. Sometimes it would. Often it wouldn’t.
This afternoon was one of those days where the ink has run dry. But, I’ve got some web copy for a new freelance that needs to be delivered by darkness.
I don’t wave the white flag anymore.
I’ve found an antidote, stolen and modified from others writers much better than myself.
It may be the antithesis of advice you’ve read — but it works.
Stick it in the freezer.
When author Joan Didion found herself staring writer’s block in the eye, she would pull an unconventional U-turn.
Didion would put the draft in a plastic bag and stick it in the freezer. Literally.
She would return when she had the mental capacity and perspective to finish it off.
“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.”― Joan Didion
Sure, it sounds a bit dramatic. But it’s a wonderful way to reposition creativity.
So, back to my writer’s block.
Instead of going for a jog or guzzling overpriced cans of caffeine, I’ll put my work in the “freezer,” open a fresh word doc, and write down exactly what is happening in front of me.
It’s loose, unfiltered, and ugly.
Like today’s excerpt…
“The sun is casting a golden glow over my cluttered table. Our puppy restlessly wrestles with stray leaves he pulled into the house. Then he flops down in quiet solitude.“
My girlfriend and I laugh that we have a very stoic puppy. He’s curious. Stone-faced. Reflective. Smarter than he lets on. Above him, the sky has begun dissolving into dark grey matter.
I wonder how many others are anxiously staring up at the impending darkness right now.
“I imagine two strangers are sitting under the stars on a pier somewhere. The rhythmic lapping of gentle waves below weightless soles hanging over the pier’s edge.
They stare at the stars. The stars stare back, unblinking.”
Damn. Now I’m writing.
When I’m exhausted or overwhelmed, this simple practice is a low-stress way of getting the words back into my fingers. There are no expectations. No one ever has to read it. But you’ll eventually have pages of fodder for future articles.
“Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now.” — Hemingway
To recap:
Start by closing whatever it is that’s giving you blockage. Freeze it.
Get up, move to another room, and describe exactly what’s happening around you. Keep it simple. But plant your words in reality.
Then, let the words weightlessly evolve into whatever comes to mind.
I’ve spent the last one or two months talking about my writing schedule. While I recommend batch writing and editing, it is challenging. It can feel like a rollercoaster. Trying to find your steam, approach work on bad days and build a sustainable work approach. All the while still facing deadlines.
Everything good
Scheduling takes the chaos away from writing
I don’t worry about whether I’ll meet my deadlines. I’ve made a clever schedule that works for me. I’ve built it with real life in mind, so even if something goes wrong my content is still published.
I don’t have to worry about what I’m writing
Well. I suppose I do have to worry, but only for half an hour on a Monday. I still don’t have to worry too much because I have a long list of ideas already prepared.
I can focus on the task at hand
I only ever need to think about what I’m currently doing. So as I’m writing this, I’m only spending mental energy on writing, not on coming up with ideas or how to edit the piece. This means that I can get into a flow state, making my work more enjoyable and engaging.
I can plan my topics or themes
I’m not flying by the seat of my pants anymore. I can take the time to look at a whole month and make targeted content for whatever might be happening. That might be NaNoWriMo prep content for October or New Year’s content.
I can be a good boss to myself
If I were writing for another company, I would get sent a topic to write and research. I would be told what to do. By batching my idea generation, writing and editing days, I’m never left wondering what I had to do. I can get my work done, accomplish my goals and clock off. I’m never stressed about what I have to do the next day because I’ve given myself a schedule that works and works well.
Everything bad
Motivation can be tricky
I find that coming up to the holidays when I’m getting my content lined up it can be hard to push forward. It’s like when you’re excited to go somewhere in a car, so it feels like it takes so much longer. I’m flying home for Christmas on Friday, so this is the last article I have to write. I swear it feels like it’s taking forever.
I am my own boss
I am in charge of accomplishing my own goals. I am the only one I can blame when I fail. I don’t often neglect my goals. I usually set goals that are achievable, because I am motivated by the low barriers to entry types of jobs. That being said, sometimes I forget that and load up my task list with far too much work. Then I end up paralysed and struggle to get basic things done. Working for yourself takes a certain amount of discovery to get right.
I’m a one-woman office
This means I can rightfully complain that I’m the only one who gets anything done around here. If I don’t reach my goals, I can’t delegate tasks. I have to go back to where I dropped the ball and walk it back to the net. If I miss, I miss and I don’t have anyone else who can help with that. Writing can be both lonely and overwhelming.
Too many hats
This one is attached to being the only one in the office. I get to wear all the hats. That means I get to generate ideas, edit, write, format, market, optimise for SEO, build a webpage, be a social media influencer, and a bunch of other things I’m forgetting. I’ve had to learn so many new skills to do what I do. While I’m thankful for the experience, sometimes it can steal too much time away from the actual writing.
It’s lonely
Don’t get me wrong, I love the solitude of writing. If I didn’t, I would be in the wrong career. Sometimes you want the water cooler conversation your friends are having. You also run the risk of living in an echo chamber. If you’re the only one coming up with ideas, it can be hard to write inclusive and relevant topics. That won’t stop me from doing my best.
Why I still batch write and edit
Despite all the bad and the good, I’m still going to continue batch editing and writing. I listed a total of five good and bad for each, but to be honest, the good far outweighs the bad. Every bad week I have is far outnumbered by the good, and I get to do what I’m passionate about on a daily basis.
A lot of writing is to do with mindset. If you can cultivate an environment that is both healthy and conducive to writing, you’re winning.
As always, I cannot wait to see you on the bookshelf!
Some good thoughts from a Solopreneur Knowledge Worker.
What is something we only become capable of doing after age eleven that helps us solve complex problems and write poetry, but needs to be yielded carefully? That’s abstract thinking, a powerful tool for creativity and innovation which anyone can learn how to use better.
Concrete thinking is closely related to experiences that can be directly observed. It involves everyday, tangible facts and physical objects. On the other hand, abstract thinking is a higher-order reasoning skill. It deals with conceptual ideas, patterns, and theories.
For instance, thinking about the Statue of Liberty is a concrete thought, but thinking about what it represents — the idea of liberty — is an abstract thought. Listing the names of everyone on the team who are working on a specific project is concrete thinking, but questioning whether this is the best team for the project is abstract thinking.
Another way to put it is that concrete thinking asks how, whereas abstract thinking asks why. In the words of researchers from Tel-Aviv University: “Focusing on the means required to achieve a specific goal ultimately entails transforming an abstract idea into a concrete action and thus primes a concretizing mindset; likewise, focusing on the purpose of an action primes an abstracting mindset.”
According to famous psychologist Jean Piaget, it is not until around eleven years old that children become able to think abstractly and to use metacognition. Before that age, we are only able to think logically about objects we can physically manipulate. Our ability to think abstractly keeps on expanding as we grow up, but most people take this ability for granted, and very few proactively practice their abstract reasoning skills.
Three concrete ways to practice abstract thinking
It is possible to improve your abstract reasoning skills.
Reframe the question. Go from “how?” to “why?” in order to take a step-back and tap into your abstract reasoning skills. For example, if you feel stuck trying to write a blog post, ask yourself: why am I writing this, who is this for, what exactly am I trying to achieve? This higher-order approach may help you discover a fresh angle to tackle your project.
Look for patterns. Instead of looking at each concrete element in isolation, practice networked thinking to uncover abstract patterns and underlying dynamics in the relationship between those elements. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination. Sometimes patterns can be hard to detect, but the simple process of looking for them will help you improve your abstract reasoning skills.
Take inspiration from abstract thinkers. Philosophers, artists, and scientists are great abstract thinkers. Like a philosopher, examine the nature of ideas such as success, reality, or community. Like a poet, go from concrete thinking to abstract thinking by using metaphors, simile, analogies, and symbolism. Like a scientist, formulate a theory by going from the particular to the general. Is the concrete event you are currently observing an occurrence of a wider phenomenon? Could you test your hypothesis?
Abstract thinking is essential in order to solve complex problems, come up with innovative ideas, and collaborate with other people. It allows us to analyse situations, understand new concepts, formulate theories, and to put things in perspective.
Without abstract thinking, we would not be able to grasp concepts such as friendship, hope, democracy, imagination, success, wisdom, happiness, or even love. However, while it’s a powerful tool to add to your thinking toolbox, it should not be the only tool, and it should be used wisely.
A balancing game
As with any powerful tool, abstract thinking can be a double-edged sword. First, abstract thinking without concrete thinking amounts to imagination without execution. Creativity requires an ambidextrous mindset which balances exploration and exploitation. Once you have figured out why an idea needs to see the light of day, you need to think about how you will make it happen. In other words, you need to go from abstract thinking to concrete thinking.
It can also be dangerous for your mental health to always default to abstract thinking, especially when thinking about past events. Psychology researchers explain that “abstract rumination is characteristic of depressed individuals, as is the tendency to experience post-decisional regret.” It is particularly true of thinking about traumatic events, where concrete thinking has been found to be much more helpful than abstract thinking.
Despite these caveats, abstract thinking skills are particularly helpful in situations that require thinking outside the box, uncovering hidden patterns, and generating innovative ideas. Just make sure you are balancing it with concrete thinking and monitoring your thought patterns so abstract thinking doesn’t turn into abstract rumination.
