215. master the art of showing up
A habit must be established before it can be improved. This has to become a standard in your life before you should start worrying about optimizing or expanding on it.
If you’re not the type of person who sits down and writes one sentence a day, or steps one foot inside a gym, you’re never going to be the person who finishes a novel, or looks good naked.
We’re so focused on finding and implementing the perfect plan that we forget to give ourselves permission to not be perfect at first. Instead, we need to shift our focus on showing up everyday in a small way.
Whether it’s one push-up or one word on a blank page, do something so that you can master the art of showing up. Make that your new normal. And then once you become the person who shows up, then you can expand on the habit you’ve built.
be prolific, not perfect
“It’s better to be prolific than perfect.” — Joe Polish
Here is a quick practical application of this principle from Ray Bradbury:
Write 52 short stories in a year rather than one novel. Write one short story a week.
“I defy you,” he said, “to write 52 bad ones. It is not possible.”
At the end of the year, you will have 52 works of art instead of just one, imperfect novel.
“Perfect” is a mirage that no one knows how to reach.
Create the practice. Follow with doing the work.