002 | Isn’t It Crazy How We Can Overthink Things?
Writing to you today from Otis Coffee.
2:31 PM
Dear Friends,
Isn't it crazy how we can overthink things? We try to work out what we want to say or do in our heads in this imaginary space that's not tangible.
As I've been stepping out more and trusting my gut, I've noticed an opposing force rising up ... an old voice trying to speak up and take over. This is the voice of perfection.
This voice is generally not trying to hold me to a high standard. Sometimes it is, but usually, it's fear hiding behind a slippery excuse to hold back. Putting yourself and your work out there can be scary, but here's something I'm coming to realize more and more. This fear of putting things out there is 99% based on worrying about what people will think.
So what's the solution?
Don't worry about what people think. (rolls eyes cuz that's not helpful to say)
Okay fine. But how?
I think this can be a difficult question, and I want to leave space for its complexity, but for me, in the moments I'm walking tall and as my truest self, my response to that question is becoming increasingly simple and a guide and filter for pretty much everything.
Is this thing something I want to do? Am I happy doing it? Do I believe in it?
If the answer to those questions is truly, YES, then I find I worry less about what people think. I worry less about whether or not it's perfect, because I want to do it and I like it and I believe in it. Before anyone sees it, I'm already pumped on it, and I'm sharing it, not for some validation, but for the joy of sharing what makes me human.
Example? This newsletter! Haha.
Friends, I've been thinking about writing you ALL week. Seriously. But I was overthinking the whole letter thing ... what do I write about? Is this new letter style gonna "work"? What if they're too long? What if? What if? What if?
And then, literally like ten minutes ago as I thought AGAIN about how I really wanted to write you all but was trying to come up with something to write instead of simply writing a letter from my heart as I would with pen and paper, I had that thought about perfection. And I thought, you know what, I don't want to get too wrapped up in if something is perfect or "works". I just want to do things in a way I believe in and that is authentically me. And if I do that, it's all good. Before I ever hit send, or push post, or whatever it is ... I'm happy with it, because I'm being myself.
So I sat down to write you all, and here we are. :)
So ends the second letter of the year. Thank you for reading. Thank you for being here.
See you all next week,
Shel
P.S. If you missed it, here is the link for early access to Human to Human, the EP I will be releasing sometime this spring. The link will stay LIVE until January 31.
THIS WEEK:
Listened to this song on repeat because it feeds my soul:
Fallingwater - by Maggie RogersRead this article because this stuff is important:
My White Boss Talked About Race in America and This is What HappenedRevisited this book because Mary Oliver passed recently and was one of my greatest teachers:
Felicity - by Mary OliverWatched this video and laughed out loud a lot:
Sarah Paulson Gets Two Ninja Sneak Attack Scares!
