More is More?
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Ironically on a day where we are being sold everything from Doritos to car insurance or BMW’s, I’m thinking about the exact opposite. How do we live our life feeling like we have enough?
I know more is more, right? I mean maybe…. Is there an area of your life where you are living with the belief you don’t have enough or have a fear of running out? Time, money, love, resources?
I started thinking about this concept because I am a “more is more” person. I am always thinking about the next big thing we need to accomplish and the next big mountain we need to climb. Although this makes me a strong driver, the fear of running out is something that consistently pops in my mind. I’m the person that cooks for 5 even if there are only 3 coming to dinner because I’m afraid of running out. Steve Scanlon (life/business coach) called it the ‘two decisions from a bag lady’ syndrome. While this mental model has served me very well over the years, I am starting to challenge it. What if I lived in every area of my life (even time) with the mindset of abundance and minimalism?
Minimalism is about identifying what is essential eliminating the rest
By thinking about each area of my life with a minimalist mindset, I focus on what is vital and make sure I have what I need in that area. Then I decide “What are the things that are weighing me down that need to be off loaded?" If enough time is what you struggle with then reframing your thinking of not having enough time, to what are the vital few things I need to making room for in my day to have more than enough time? If money is the issue you can go through the same process. What are the vital things that you need, and then off load anything else that is weighing you down
Steve Jobs was the ultimate minimalist he was constantly decluttering his time, his mind, and his products. Eliminating excess and focusing on the vital few helped him change the world. Freedom comes when you eliminate the excess.
9 Ideas I’m using to always have enough of anything:
Dump the junk (anything obvious dump that first. If time is a problem TV and mindless scrolling are easy targets. If its money, eliminate all the waste first)
Start small and work your way up
Eliminate duplicates
Keep the things you love (or as Marie Kondo said “spark joy”). If it’s a 9 out of 10 for you keep it.
Keep what you need (know the difference be want and need)
One in one out
If you can’t say “hell yes”, dump it
Let go of the someday stuff
If you were starting from scratch, would it be one of the first things you added?
Notes that Resonated
Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others - Jonathan Swift
We tend to consider our future based on our present
In order to be irreplaceable, you must be different
In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make - the beetles
Change always brings opportunity
The power of God that is in you is greater than the wind that blows against you
God will make a way in the wilderness, and a river in the desert
Don’t be too busy pointing at what is not there to not see what is there
How you think dictates how you perform
All miracles start with a problem
Consistency is the secret to “overnight” success
Stop taking for granted today what was not even in your wildest dreams yesterday
Happiness is not having what you want but wanting what you have. —RABBI HYMAN SCHACHTEL
Things to read
Goodbye things-
Podcasts to listen to
Predicting the next big thing in tech:
Videos to watch
The God of “a way”- You may say “no way not possible” but he always makes the way
Top Quotes
“Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow” - Lincoln
“A decision is made with the brain a commitment is made with the heart” - Nindo Qubien
It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything. —TYLER DURDEN, FIGHT CLUB
Food & Drink
Redberry Mule:
Muddle 3 strawberries with a few cubes of ice, mint (2-3 leaves) with 1/2 oz of simple syrup. Add 2-3 oz of vodka. Pour muddled berries and vodka in a glass over ice and slowly top with 6-8oz of Fever Tree ginger beer. (The brand of ginger beer is important on this one- Shelly says every other ginger beer stink and will ruin the drink 🙂). Stay on the light on the mint for this drink. By doing so you will add to the complexity of the drink and just get a hint of the herbal flavor. This adds to the refreshing flavor without overpowering the drink.
Cheers!