Updates:

1. The newsletter is growing! I started as the only subscriber, now there are nearly 20 of us. It might sound like a small number, but I really appreciate it. Please continue to spread the word, thank you!
2. Format change. I understand how busy your lives are. This newsletter is my favorite thing to share each Monday and it is easy for me to get carried away. Sometimes I write 5 pages before narrowing it down to the final 3-5 minute newsletter. I will now include a short message and then my typical message. Read one. Read both. Up to you!

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Stay behind the moment.

My quote of the week, find it later on too:

There is a current state, a growth state, and a future state that will always exist simultaneously.

It takes a lot of time and effort to maintain daily standards of rest and work. Sometimes one makes more sense than the other. You may have heard things like “be in the moment” but my dad always told me to stay or be “behind the moment.”

It is a form of reflection and acknowledgement. Why not take notice as you live your life? Take notice of ways to rest and/or work more effectively. Again, being, growing, resting, working, and repeating create an odd mix of emotions and logistics as we work or rest toward our goals.

How to Stay Behind the Moment:

1. Step back mentally and/or physically
2. Be patient
3. Think about your “why”
4. Act

Any order of the above works. Stay behind the moment to stay aware. Where are you now? Where do you want to end up? Be confident in your process for answering these questions.

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There is Too Much Information

Maybe this week’s newsletter is too much information. What do eggs have to do with Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu?

As we take on each day and the years go by, staying behind the moment will help us cope with too much information. There is too much information in the world. Or should I say, we can access too much information. Both good and bad, we have infinite, instant access. I was unable to find the original author, but this single sentence told a powerful story:

“When I was 5 years old I was a professional pianist, then I turned 6 and was taught which notes were wrong.”

Similarly, in middle school, I was told to never use parentheses when I write, or to end sentences with words like “with”. Also, never start sentences with “and” or “but” or “so”. But then I read some of the most critically acclaimed books and articles, written by renowned professionals, and they do all of those things. The same goes for athletics. No two bodies move identically. There is not magic formula and there are no perfect biomechanics, but I know the hardest workers tend to find success.

It is impossible to absorb, understand, and apply everything we hear, read, and see. Whether you looking for the “right” diet, career, workout, or book, there will always be 10 other options that reinforce or contradict our choices. In 2023, there are probably 3,000-100,000 other options every time you go to Google looking for answers.

For example, in my short 28 years I have experienced several trends surrounding the nutritional value of eggs. Take the yolk out. Egg-white diet. Only eat the yolk, that’s where you get the most nutrients. Scramble the eggs. Eat no more than 4 eggs per week. DO NOT EAT EGGS EVER. I swear that every 3-5 years there is a new study about how many eggs we should eat, if any, and the cycle continues.

I have eaten 2-4 eggs daily since high school. I feel great. I love them. This week’s newsletter is not just about eating eggs, but the example runs parallel to the idea that there is just too much access to information. The information is always changing and too many people call it ground breaking innovation.

The endless distribution of “new” information about identical or similar topics can turn into “check this out” clickbait that is based solely on consumer entertainment. Research and new developments are extremely important. So is appealing to customers. I am not denying that. But how should we identify and sift through the fluff? What version of information will help the most? How should we digest information in our communities and families, and as individuals? Sometimes it is helpful to take a step back, start from the desired outcome, and work backwards. Stay behind the moment.

So many authors (including me) try to tackle these key concepts of life: success, productivity, happiness, and health and well-being. Too many examples are given. Too many studies are cited. Circumstances influence outcomes. Some people might need to take out the yolk. Some may need to eat 12 yolks and throw in a piece of toast. Some may need to skip breakfast altogether.

We often lean on the experiences and research of those with a lot of life already lived. Perspective is helpful. Reading an article about a “survey of thousands indicated…” can give us an idea of how a lot of people reacted to a handful of questions or ideas and so on. I appreciate research. I don’t always understand it, but I definitely benefit from it and try to learn from it.

I also strongly believe in introspective research; turning inward. I was out to dinner with a close friend the other day and he asked me about my writing. I told him I enjoy it a lot but I don’t think I have lived enough life to provide enough meaning to readers. A moment of self-doubt, sure. He was reassuring but sometimes it feels true. But then again, I can only try to fully understand where I have been, where I am now, and where I want to go. I share it all. I explore it alone and I explore it with you. Then continue moving forward. Stay behind the moment.

Jordan Peterson said, “When we are very young we are neither individual or informed. We have not had the time nor gained the wisdom to develop our own standards. In consequence, we must compare ourselves to others, because standards are necessary.”

I agree and disagree. The brightest minds, like Peterson’s, make good points and make us think, but they also contradict themselves. Peterson also tells us to be confident in who we are as we pursue growth and understanding in life as long as we continue such a pursuit. That must happen at every stage, whether 10 years old or 90. There is a current state, a growth state, and a future state that will always exist simultaneously (Yes, I came up with this one too. Add it to my list of quotes). In our pursuit of growth, we must acknowledge the information currently available while considering the potential for new information in the future.

So, what have you lived? What do you know about yourself that examples and studies only scratch the surface of?

As I sat down this week, I Googled, read, listened to music, and played with a lot of words.

As a counter to the volatility of language and information, I thought I’d end by sharing some brilliance from Lao Tzu,

“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”

Still unsure if Lao Tzu would recommend adding eggs or removing eggs from our diets…

Make it a wonderful Monday.