You Can Do Anything But Not Everything

Muse Monday 1/2/2023

Hello, and welcome to my weekly newsletter! I'm thrilled you were able to be there. Every day I keep my Zap Pad with me and jot down everything I learned this week or thought was interesting. On Mondays, I review my top 5–10 entries and write about them in order to share what I learned. It's what I refer to as "Muse Monday."

1. Confidence Is Just Making Up For The Lack Of Evidence You Have.

There was a time in my life when I would study confidence and go out trying to change the way I acted to present myself as more confident, and I'm not afraid to admit this was more recent, and it worked; I looked more confident, but I didn't feel confident, and that's when I realized, confidence is just making up for the lack of evidence you have. Everyone defines themselves based on what they have witnessed and what they have told themselves. If you run every day, I'm sure you consider yourself a runner, thus making it a part of your identity. And when people ask you why you can talk about running so openly, it's not because you're confident; it's because you have proof. Evidence comes before confidence, not vice versa. Rather than attempting to learn to be confident, try doing the things in which you want to be confident, and confidence will follow.

2. Do Things That Demonstrate Why You Are Good.

In my opinion, way too many people claim to be good at things before they actually are. And they will claim to be good at it, thinking that's what it takes, but it's not. What makes you good are the actions you take and the way you demonstrate them. Remember that actions speak louder than words.

3. You Can Be Joyful Even When Sad

Recently, I have been contemplating the difference between joy and happiness. I came to the realization that although joy and happiness are sometimes used interchangeably, they are essentially very different emotions. Happiness is typically associated with feeling pleased or fulfilled, typically after fulfilling a goal or objective. However, joy is a more profound sensation that fills us with a sense of inner contentment and tranquility. It is independent of outside factors and accessible even during sad or challenging times. But this got me thinking. If what we really should be after is joy, then how do we do that? in my opinion. Joy is all about being present in the moment. This means giving up distractions and worrying about the past or the future and being totally engaged. It also takes being open-minded and paying attention to our ideas and feelings without passing judgment. I think we all find joy in the human experience, good or bad; the fact that we get to experience it at all is what gives me joy. I can't think of anything more beautiful than that.

4. Advice Isn't A Rule 

In a world where we are constantly learning new tricks and hacks to do practically anything and everything, I think it is important to remember that advice isn't a rule you must always follow. It's based on the experiences and perspectives of the person giving it, which means it might not always be relevant to our own lives. It's important to consider the source of the advice and whether their experiences and perspectives align with ours. It is also important to remember that you are the only one who truly knows yourself and what is best for you. While it is acceptable to seek advice and guidance, ultimately your decisions and actions should be based on what you believe is best for you.

5. You Can Do Anything But Not Everything

This is something I have been struggling with for some time now, and it only becomes more prominent the further I go and the bigger my dreams get. Marianne Williamson once said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate." Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. "It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us." I think this holds true, especially with the realization. I can do anything, just not everything, and the fact that I have to choose one is what's most difficult: is this what I am supposed to be doing, or would I be better at doing something else?

6. Stop With Yes And No

Recently, I have been working on how I make decisions and the questions I ask, and one thing that has helped me a lot is not asking yes or no questions. When you ask a yes-or-no question, there are only two possible answers. For instance, if you were trying to decide which diet to start, there are many that could help you achieve your goals. However, if you were to ask yourself, "Is this the diet for me?" that could not only make you anxious but also discourage you from trying it all together. Instead, I found that asking yourself, "Will this make me more likely to get the outcome I want?" is a much better strategy.

Question of the week: What do you want to accomplish in 2023?

Leave a comment and let me know your answer, or just let me know what you thought of this week's Muse Monday. I'm Ace; I hope I have served you well, and thanks for reading.