[Not my writing: originally posted by @WNRStrangers on Twitter] Bandwidth1. When presented with an opportunity or request, ask yourself: Do I have the bandwidth for this? Can I show up for this fully? Am I saying yes out of obligation or inspiration? Don’t rush – delay2. It’s better to delay a decision than rush a yes… Continue reading How to say no with love
Category: Mindset
Fantasy got left behind
When I was younger, I lived in fantasy worlds – I spent most of my time immersed in video games, books, the computer and my own imagination. Even when I had to physically leave these un-real spaces and re-enter the ‘real world’, my mind would often remain in fantasy: planning future moves, analysing information, recalling… Continue reading Fantasy got left behind
Beneath the surface
I think that the secret to being a great networker is the underlying belief that all people have a fascinating story lying just beneath the surface of everyday conversation. A story that is authentic, intimate and always, in some way or another, relatable. In this context, a conversation becomes an adventure: where can we go?… Continue reading Beneath the surface
Fire fighter: Why love gets put on hold
[The basic idea for this post emerged from a conversation with my good friend Chay on 13.05.2020, as we observed that, despite having a strong friendship, we rarely enjoyed each other’s company] Why do I so often spend more time maintaining weak relationships than enjoying strong relationships? Love + fear. Strong relationships are built on… Continue reading Fire fighter: Why love gets put on hold
Values vs actions: Who will win?
Why bother defining and maintaining values? There is a sad truth in life: your achievements will never satisfy you. A common theme among the responses of elderly people, when asked what they regret in life: it very rarely has anything to do with achieving more stuff. Nevertheless, we try very hard to satisfy ourselves with… Continue reading Values vs actions: Who will win?
A deep pit of dread: Emotional exercise to overcome anxiety
Last night I was struck by the most paralysing anxiety. It was the first time in a long time that I had felt such a deep pit of dread in my stomach. Where is this anxiety coming from? Our current uni project is titled ‘Performative Action’ – therefore many of our experiments involve some kind… Continue reading A deep pit of dread: Emotional exercise to overcome anxiety
Infinite lists
A to-do list is an infinite list. If I sit and think hard enough, I can come up with an infinite list of things to do: tasks to complete, ideas to execute, people to contact, places to go… But an infinite list causes paralysis. Why? Because, despite having an infinitely long list of exciting options,… Continue reading Infinite lists
I was afraid of “No”
Being ‘available’ is the opposite of being ‘present’. For a long time, I have been afraid of “No”. There was a time in my life when opportunities were sparse. Out of education, unable to find work experience, no motivation to create things of my own. This was a really difficult time for me – most days… Continue reading I was afraid of “No”
Editing is acting
For a couple of weeks I have felt paralysed. This has stopped me from creating or publishing work. I realised that the source of this paralysis was a deep guilt within me – guilt because I was uncertain of my own intentions. Ever since, I have been trying to find a way to tell my story… Continue reading Editing is acting
Tell a bigger story
What is this immense conflict? There is a deep and dreadful guilt in me, that has paralysed me for days. Am I fighting perfectionism? Or is this a different issue? Today, as I ran along the harbour overlooked by a blazing orange sunset, I came to understand why I have felt guilt and paralysis for… Continue reading Tell a bigger story