After living in the wild silence of New Mexico for nearly a year, it follows that I'm now sensitive to noise.
But it's not just the noise of my little city, it's the mental noise I'm installing by listening to a thousand different voices every day.
While the world certainly needs my attention, the news, Substack, social media, my email, taken together is paralyzing. So it's time to narrow the focus down to what's most important.
Though I think I'm relaxing by scrolling reels, it's not at all relaxing to bounce from election tampering, to red light masks, to Belgian Malinoii biting bad guys, to this dress that is littt-rahllllly soooo slimming, I'm ob-saasssssed. (Fake nails clicking on box.)
The cost of noise is peace and focus. Maybe you feel this too.
A Remedy
Ironically, Tony Robbins popped into my feed yesterday and reminded me of something I've heard him say 1000 times.
Change your expectation for appreciation and your life will change.
Now, before you roll your eyes, try it.
While my feed keeps me focused on dumpster fires set by convicted arsonists, there is still Spanish Moss hanging from 400 year-old oak trees in my neighborhood.
- It rained an inch in another midnight storm.
- My friendly neighbor Dan came out for a chat this morning.
- I got another sign up in my new program.
- Newt didn't bite the vet too hard yesterday before he got the muzzle.
Suddenly my mind is different. Nothing's really changed but me, and that makes me more effective in dousing whatever fires are burning hottest.
I'm not telling you anything you don't know, I'm reminding you of something you do. Your calm, regulated presence is valuable but you have to cultivate and defend it.
Trading expectation for appreciation — deliberately — is a great place to start.
Have a beautiful Labor Day weekend.
ps. The program I'm opening September 14th is called Midlife Lab. It’s a workshop every Monday night at 6CST. For 12 weeks. The idea is, make a plan and start testing it right away, so you can know where to point your feet each day for the next 12 months. Find out more here.
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