Greetings from my writing cave, countryside Finland!
Awesome day, to be fair. Just a bit brain-melting. Grant hunt season. Research Council of Finland, deadline in a week. One of those big ones which are super hard to win but also super nice if you happen to win.
It’s doable.
Most things fail because people lack faith and/or are not committed. Have both. Have faith and commitment, and good things happen.
Anyways, not the reason I’m sending this today to you. I have something way more useful and important.
Don’t be cynical.
Yes.
Don’t be cynical.
I run ads for one of my courses.
And I’ve become quite good at knowing what people say when I launch a new creative in the cases where I try to "teach" something. I say "teach" because all it really is, is 30 seconds of tips or lessons taken from the course.
And here’s what happens:
- "Boo that dude has no idea what life is with kids"
- "Yeah try taking a walk with kids"
- "So I’m just to leave my kids alone home and go for a walk?"
Paraphrased, of course. But. I have three kids. I know what life is with kids.
It’s great! And yes, obviously, it means you don’t get to do a lot of things. Doesn’t mean you need to get angry if others can do those things!
The bigger point here being: why even worry about things you can’t do anything about?
If you can’t take a walk because you have family duties (or anything else, really, we all have so many different duties), then don’t take a walk. Do something else. Do what you can do.
(Although, I must say walking is good for you!
Why get angry about a 30 sec clip on social media on something that’s clearly not for you and your situation.
Just remember locus of control: some people see outcomes as driven by their own actions, and others see them as driven by circumstances.
Do what you can, in your situation. Take the wins you can. Don’t bother your head with the ones you can’t.
Cynicism is a direct path to self-harm.
Be positive.
Choose your wins.
Empower yourself and smile.
Not easy. But totally doable.
Over and out (to sauna…)
Simo