Hold That Thought
3 useful things every other Thursday to help word nerds and other busy-brained people say and do less.
For love and honor…and money, too?
Hold That Thought Wall mural painted by the Friends of Crosby Beach. Photo by me. Hello Reader, There is much less cardboard in my life and I'm starting to feel settled in the new house. While I'm still not writing as much as I'd like, I'm slowly making space for creativity and thinking. I'll get there. Maybe you relate. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “To do something different, or meaningful, or human, is messy. Creativity is accessing the part...
Unpacking boxes and ideas
Using What You Already Have Illustration by Europeana on Unsplash Hello Reader, These past two weeks I've been unpacking boxes and ideas (see what I did there?) Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “Communication is about what is received, not what is intended. If there is a gap between what you are saying and what they are hearing, you have to find a new way to say it.” — James Clear, author of Atomic Habits Long before I became an underthinking...
By nook or crook
Hold That Thought Hello Reader, These past two weeks I've been packing, cleaning, carrying, sweating, hydrating, and all things to do with moving into my new house.* Which also means a lot of planning, deciding, organising, and simplifying. Here are three things on that last bit to turn overthinking into expert thinking: The Coffee Beans Procedure is a way to unpack all those boxes in your head containing ideas about what you should be doing with your life. By Adam Mastroianni on Substack....
Curating the museum of intentions
And do what with them? Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash These past two weeks I've been noticing just how overwhelming being online is. Here are three things on that topic to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “Browser tabs represent the quintessential modern state: perpetually in progress, optimistically deferred, and existing in a liminal space between intention and completion. This isn’t a bug—it’s the operating model of digital capitalism.” — On Overwhelm as a Browser With...
A perfectly dull blade
Hold That Thought Pencil shavings by Peggychoucair from pixabay. These past two weeks I've been thinking about "feeling ready". Here are three things to simplify that concept: “I see people wasting their time and potential every day, thinking they are not ready to start. I spent years of my life in that state. And, at times, I still need this same advice I’m giving you. But at least I have enough experience cutting with a just-enough-sharp blade to tell you it’s possible.” — Recovering...
Simplifying means slowing down
Same idea, slower pace… This week I've been thinking about what it means to simplify. This, paired with your votes, has prompted me to make some welcome changes. The first one is that Hold That Thought is stretching out to a more leisurely every other Thursday rhythm. While I absolutely love pouring my heart into this newsletter each week, a slower pace will mean that both of us can get more value out of the ideas within. That's also 26 fewer emails for your inbox. The next change is that I'm...
Eat your own dog food
Hold That Thought Bowl of dog food by jirkaejc from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about food. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: If you wouldn't buy what you're selling, why should anyone else? Eat Your Own Dog Food Your business is a menu, and yours might be overstuffed. Simplify your offers…with cake! by Ricardo Brito “Dinner resists optimization. It can be creative, and it can be pleasurable. None of this negates the fact that it is a...
Less smart, inside and out
Hold That Thought …with the help of this unsmart household device. This week I've been thinking about the difference between smarts and wisdom (and how to err toward the latter). While I didn't solve it, I now know this: it starts in our heads and in our homes. Here are three five things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: 3 fresh takes on what wisdom is, from Clearer Thinking The smart one is dumb, from Salmon Labs Function-stacking: a wiser way to use your stuff,...
Ditch your pro-con list; try this instead
Hold That Thought Time to stop going around and start exploring? Photo by Mark Angell from Getty Images. This week I've been thinking about decision-making. Here are three things on that theme to turn mental energy into meaningful action: Ditch your pro-con list; try this method instead. I've turned my Best of Both Worlds article into a free template in the Miroverse! Give it a try and then let's hop on a free call to chat about it. “Procrastination is often seen as a vice, but...
Change it up.
Hold That Thought What we do while we wait. Platform 6, Liverpool Lime Street. This week I've been working in a new environment…the Great Malvern hills! Getting there has involved intermittent periods of waiting. Here are three things on that theme to help you turn mental energy into meaningful action: Things to do while waiting, by Zachary Kai. What are some things you do while waiting? Finding yourself enduring something? Here's a reminder from my archives that nobody can waste your time...
3 useful things every other Thursday to help word nerds and other busy-brained people say and do less.