A lot of things have been crowding forward to be written about here. Most urgently, maybe, the explosive success of a variation of the technique for getting myself to write more I discussed in this post.
What’s been crowdin’ ‘em back, mainly, is the need to, well, write. As in: stuff I’ll get paid for.
But something just came to me that is likely to prove at least as significant as the success of what I’m calling The Method, and may well turn out more so.
Basically, the only significant impediment in my entire life to my achieving outstanding levels of achievement, success, and happiness has been me. That simple.
I knew that amounted to a habit. I even gave it a name: The Evil Habit.
So what I realized not half an hour ago was, holding myself back is a skill.
In my mind – no time to explain now – skill and habit are inextricably linked. They share in common that they can be strengthened through repetition – practice, yes?
How are skills and habits weakened? By neglect. Everybody knows that, right? And unlike most of what everybody knows, it’s, well, true. At least in all of my experience and observation. Including vicariously, from listening to the accounts of others. Not everybody realizes that; but as far as I can tell, everybody demonstrates it.
Now, neglecting is not as easy as it may seem. Sure,neglecting taking out the garbage is easy. But to approach from a different angle – don’t think of a hippo. Whatever you do, do not – think – of – a hippo.
Especially not a purple one. In a tutu. And toe shoes.
Bet I can tell what you’re thinking about! And it’s not tacos.
But the key thing here – it’s easy, at least for me, to think of a skill as something to be learned. Also, I find it far easier to do things (that I want to do) than not do them. I mean, let’s say I concentrate real hard: don’t hold yourself back!
What? What does that mean? What action do I take, in not holding myself back?
Beats Hell out of me. Which may have something to do with the fact I’ve had trouble stopping the use of that particular skill, perhaps?
So now I’m finding actions I can take, specifically in my writing, that short-circuit my skill at holding myself back.
Instead I’ve discovered a way to let myself go. To free myself, in other words, to do.
Speaking of which – got to get back and practice that. Which, not incidentally, will in itself entail getting more writing done. Bonus!
More later. Keep fingers crossed, please. I’m feeling confident in this, yet apprehensive too.
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Wise insight. It sounds like you’ve stumbled upon something I read and may not have shared. 2 ways to replace a habit/skill: 1. Starve it (ignore it). *or* 2. Replace it with a different habit.
Ultimately, you end up doing both, or at least it seems to me. And the other thing I wanted to mention, I read about this but you’re doing it. Way better.
Reading about dancing: good. Actually dancing: better.
Good on you, Victor!