Recently, I've found a more tactical way to pressure test my dreams and that's to bring a healthy dose of reality to it. For example: if I come across a really interesting opportunity, I'll write out what aspects of it stick out to me that makes it seem like a dream opportunity and then write out what are realities that I'm not considering – having the two side by side is a great way to ensure I'm taking a balanced view when evaluating things to say yes to as they come into my orbit
that's a great tip! i'll try that out. though tbh i often find that writing out both of those things (which seems similar to a pro/con list) often leaves me feeling more confused because i end up spinning in circles by trying to rationalize both sides hah. curious if you have thoughts on that
hmm, rather than a pro / con list which elicits a feeling of getting tactical and comprehensiveness for me, I focus on the high level aspects of an opportunity that really call to me and bring on resistance. I find that my body is quite in tone with the excitement fluttering and the contracting feeling – I tune it that vs the specifics
Book 📕 recommendation: The Real Work by Adam Gopnik. It’s about mastery and framing accomplishment vs achievement/outcomes. Coming from the corporate world, you are trained to think measurable outcomes and this is a good discipline buts it’s not a 1:1 framework for life and the intersection of $$, fulfillment, and purpose. This is part of the journey we are going through.
Love the way that you framed the evolution of dreams as you age -- from aspirational to motivating to burdensome, and how dreams, when identity is built upon them, are the aspects of you that drive the most vulnerability. I've been trying to set smaller goals as well and focus more on the journey so I'm curious how you're approaching this blog with that mindset. What are your goals here?
Thank you for responding Kiera, and what a great question. I'm still figuring out my exact intentions and goals with this blog. Some of the things I definitely know:
- I want to use this as a tool to clarify my thoughts and thinking on subjects that drive my curiosity and share reflects as I figure out the next stage of my career. Specific areas: careers, spirituality, sabbaticals, tech, lifestyle, leadership, meaning, personal growth, love, coming of age, and belonging.
- I want to connect with people through my writing. I don't care about having the biggest audience, but having some audience, especially through the responses that people have to my content (whether it's something that's resonant or questions it inspires).
- I want to push myself to put work out there even if it's not "perfect" and get better at being more vulnerable publicly. I hope that it uncovers insights that I can then channel to some of my other creative projects. I also hope that it makes me a better writer by helping me better articulate my thoughts and how I tell stories, especially about my life.
What I don't know:
- Will this be something I want to make $ off of? Does it connect to my professional passions?
- Will I niche down the blog or keep it broad for now?
- Is this something I see myself doing for the rest of my life?
- What are specific writing things I want to get better at with this work, besides just putting more stuff out there?
Love the goals! Especially the one about developing some sort of following. I think people shy away from acknowledging that they hope for readership but really, if they were fine with no one reading then they wouldn't be publishing.
My goals have evolved a bit since I started writing. Currently, I hope writing on my blog pushes me to further explore topics I'm interested in. There is such a difference between researching something enough to speak about it versus to write about it, and I've appreciated how much more I've had to learn to write about things this year. I also hope for a following of some sort. I want my thoughts to inspire thoughts in others, and I also want to develop enough of a discourse platform to know what those thoughts are.
I wrote a bit more about my goals and what the blog means to me in my most recent post. Coming up on one year of writing pushed me to reflect on why I have been doing this and where I hope it goes. We'll see if they change in year two.
It is so hard not to get attached to the outcome but if we can do that then one has reached the perfect place . Holy scriptures do mention “ one only has control on his or her actions but not on the results “. So if I do not have any control on the results then why worry or think about it . Easier said than done though …..
Congrats on essay #15!
Recently, I've found a more tactical way to pressure test my dreams and that's to bring a healthy dose of reality to it. For example: if I come across a really interesting opportunity, I'll write out what aspects of it stick out to me that makes it seem like a dream opportunity and then write out what are realities that I'm not considering – having the two side by side is a great way to ensure I'm taking a balanced view when evaluating things to say yes to as they come into my orbit
that's a great tip! i'll try that out. though tbh i often find that writing out both of those things (which seems similar to a pro/con list) often leaves me feeling more confused because i end up spinning in circles by trying to rationalize both sides hah. curious if you have thoughts on that
hmm, rather than a pro / con list which elicits a feeling of getting tactical and comprehensiveness for me, I focus on the high level aspects of an opportunity that really call to me and bring on resistance. I find that my body is quite in tone with the excitement fluttering and the contracting feeling – I tune it that vs the specifics
Book 📕 recommendation: The Real Work by Adam Gopnik. It’s about mastery and framing accomplishment vs achievement/outcomes. Coming from the corporate world, you are trained to think measurable outcomes and this is a good discipline buts it’s not a 1:1 framework for life and the intersection of $$, fulfillment, and purpose. This is part of the journey we are going through.
thank you! reading it now :)
Love the way that you framed the evolution of dreams as you age -- from aspirational to motivating to burdensome, and how dreams, when identity is built upon them, are the aspects of you that drive the most vulnerability. I've been trying to set smaller goals as well and focus more on the journey so I'm curious how you're approaching this blog with that mindset. What are your goals here?
Thank you for responding Kiera, and what a great question. I'm still figuring out my exact intentions and goals with this blog. Some of the things I definitely know:
- I want to use this as a tool to clarify my thoughts and thinking on subjects that drive my curiosity and share reflects as I figure out the next stage of my career. Specific areas: careers, spirituality, sabbaticals, tech, lifestyle, leadership, meaning, personal growth, love, coming of age, and belonging.
- I want to connect with people through my writing. I don't care about having the biggest audience, but having some audience, especially through the responses that people have to my content (whether it's something that's resonant or questions it inspires).
- I want to push myself to put work out there even if it's not "perfect" and get better at being more vulnerable publicly. I hope that it uncovers insights that I can then channel to some of my other creative projects. I also hope that it makes me a better writer by helping me better articulate my thoughts and how I tell stories, especially about my life.
What I don't know:
- Will this be something I want to make $ off of? Does it connect to my professional passions?
- Will I niche down the blog or keep it broad for now?
- Is this something I see myself doing for the rest of my life?
- What are specific writing things I want to get better at with this work, besides just putting more stuff out there?
Curious to hear what your writing goals are!
Love the goals! Especially the one about developing some sort of following. I think people shy away from acknowledging that they hope for readership but really, if they were fine with no one reading then they wouldn't be publishing.
My goals have evolved a bit since I started writing. Currently, I hope writing on my blog pushes me to further explore topics I'm interested in. There is such a difference between researching something enough to speak about it versus to write about it, and I've appreciated how much more I've had to learn to write about things this year. I also hope for a following of some sort. I want my thoughts to inspire thoughts in others, and I also want to develop enough of a discourse platform to know what those thoughts are.
I wrote a bit more about my goals and what the blog means to me in my most recent post. Coming up on one year of writing pushed me to reflect on why I have been doing this and where I hope it goes. We'll see if they change in year two.
Interesting and serious stuff at the same time.
It is so hard not to get attached to the outcome but if we can do that then one has reached the perfect place . Holy scriptures do mention “ one only has control on his or her actions but not on the results “. So if I do not have any control on the results then why worry or think about it . Easier said than done though …..
totally! thank you mom <3