Hold That Thought
3 useful things every Thursday to help thinkers of all kinds gain clarity, get unstuck, and make great progress on what matters most.
Dare you to 100 wants
Hold That Thought… Terry the rescue pug, wondering, "Should I treat myself?" Photo by author. This week I've been thinking about what I want, what you want, and what the world wants. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Three years ago I dared myself to come up with a list of 100 wants. It was a game-changer, but what I did next mattered even more. This morning, I revisited my 100 wants list “I believe that taste is the fundamental unit of self-trust....
The broken in-between
Hold That Thought… Fixing the spoon rest…by supergluing it to the coffee table. Moment disappointingly captured by Kim. This week I've been thinking about care and repair. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “The broken things in our lives are constantly charging interest.” — David at Raptitude has some thoughts on what to do about it American media theorist Douglas Rushkoff on how to become an agent of care when the world feels overwhelmingly broken...
Which corner?
Hold That Thought… Figures by Paramore, Dinamik, and binaria. Arranged in Canva Pro. This week I've been thinking about career change. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Which corner is your career stuck in? What is the PUSH-PULL of your current situation? “Use the tools you’ve acquired to create the impact you want to have.” — and other great bits of career change advice from IMD experts Even if you're not contemplating a career change today,...
Pebbling
Hold That Thought… Gentoo Penguin by MOF from Getty Images Signature This week I've been thinking about friendships — how we create them, maintain them, cherish them, and sometimes even let them go. Here are three four things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “Self-imposed solitude might just be the most important social fact of the 21st century in America.” — From Solitude to Social Fitness, Ep. 101 of the Farewell Podcast with guest Derek Thompson “We are so burned...
What feathers were for
“There is no adaptation without variation” – Shane Parrish, from The Stormtrooper Problem Birds in flight by Hansbenn from Pixabay Inspired by an electricity outage, an unexpected vet trip (all fine now), and everything else, this week I've been thinking about how we adapt to changing circumstances. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: “Nowadays, whenever I feel scared in the face of a decision and yearn for the safety of an optimizing formula, I try...
Splinter
Ideas underneath Finger with splinter by Africa Images. This week I've been thinking about splinters, and what to do about them. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: I am always surprised by how I can believe an idea so staunchly until a tiny splinter of doubt wedges its way in and shifts all focus to this new foreign object. Before I know it, all efforts are redirected, and the carefully constructed belief bubble in my mind has been pierced and...
20 minutes to think
All you need to move forward Goal or no goal? Photo by natalydanko. Cover designed by Kim in Canva Pro. This week I've been thinking even more about goals. Here are three things on that theme to help turn overthinking into expert thinking: “Don't think goals, think identities” — by Gus Imhof in The Transformative Letter That link above was one of many things that led me to this year's challenge — a no-goal year. If you're curious how that could possibly work, I've overthunk it here: How I'm...
Enough with goals
Say when… “Sweetness overflowing” by NickyLloyd from Getty Images Signature. Hello! I'm excited to be back in touch with you again. Today's newsletter is a bit longer than usual, but I hope what I'm sharing here eases some inbox overwhelm (and doesn't add to it). This week I've been thinking about creating and enoughness. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Consumption says, “Drink now, there may not be enough later”. Creation says, “There will...
You have 3% of the year remaining…
Would you like to go into low power mode? Neon battery by alien185 from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about taking extra care as we wind down the year. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Choose your difficulty level for ending the year well: easy, intentional, or intensive? Includes my Wheel of Life worksheet, just updated this morning! “Wintering is not about completely withdrawing or giving up. It’s about finding the right balance...
What it means to be done
Stay focused, we're nearly there Photo by MikeMareen from Getty Images This week I've been thinking about the expectations we set — for ourselves and others. Here are three things on that theme to turn overthinking into expert thinking: Taking an uncharitable read (and what it really says about us) — by me on Medium What would it mean to be "done" for the day? — by Oliver Burkeman in The Imperfectionist The glorification driving us to chase perfect conditions — by Sheril Mathews on Substack...
3 useful things every Thursday to help thinkers of all kinds gain clarity, get unstuck, and make great progress on what matters most.