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- The Importance Paradox, Self Love & AC/DC
Hi friend,
A lot of people assume that if something is really important to them, it makes it really easy to be successful.
Those people are wrong.
In fact, this hyper importance is often the reason people aren’t successful.
This may sound strange, but let me give you a personal example of how this works.
I care a lot about my YouTube channel.
For the last 18 months all I’ve wanted to do is make the best videos possible, build a community of like minded people, and somehow make this thing my full time job.
I was obsessed.
I filtered every experience in my life through the lens of a potential YouTube video.
And this was great.
To do something that you consider important, you need that passion and drive - especially when things get hard (and trust me, they will).
But it’s a double edged sword. Because with importance comes pressure.
And sure, a little pressure is a good thing, but too much pressure over a prolonged period of time causes everything to break.
You see, several times over the last 18 months I’ve found myself burnt out - one of those times being right now, as I write this post.
The pressure to create high-quality, meaningful content on a consistent basis sometimes feels like it’s more than I can handle.
And I end up procrastinating to escape this pressure.
But the result of my procrastination is not posting videos.
And the result of not posting videos is a crushing defeat that I’ve failed at the thing that is most important to me.
And so, the pressure that once inspired me to make videos, now debilitates me from doing the very same thing.
The funny thing is that I find myself at my best when I don’t care.
It’s only when I stop viewing this whole thing as “important” that I find the energy, motivation, and inspiration to create again. And when I do, it’s often my best work.
It’s a really fucked up cycle, but I think it applies to anything in life.
Getting good grades. Wanting a relationship. Making a lot of money.
Caring about these things is a necessary first step to achieving them, but making them the most important thing is a guaranteed way to fail.
I’m not sure what the solution to this problem is, but I think awareness is a great start.
If there’s something in your life that you really want, but can’t quite seem to find success with, take a moment to ask yourself, “Am I putting too much importance on this?”.
There’s a good chance you are.
A QUOTE ABOUT HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF
“My dog came over and sat with me, so I just kind of hung on to her and I said to her, ‘You know, you don't have to do anything. You don't ever have to do anything. You don't have to worry, you don't have to try, you don't have to be sorry, you don't have to promise, you don't have to regret. All you got to do is sit there and just take the love that's coming at you. All you got to do is just be and just take the love that's coming.’ And then I thought I could say that to myself too. I could say that to anybody you know?”
(source: Louis C.K. on Theo Von’s podcast)
THE MOST BADASS VIDEO I’VE EVER SEEN
I don’t care if don’t like AC/DC, rock and roll, guitar, or music for that matter. Just watch this video. At least the first 20 seconds.
Angus Young (the lead guitarist for AC/DC) is so physically exhausted that he has to suck oxygen out of a mask to continue playing.
He then goes on to rip an insane guitar solo while being carried through the crowd on a security guards shoulders.
Some people are just built different.
WEIRD FLEX BUT OK
100% sleep score 7 days in a row? Not a big deal (just kidding, it’s a huge deal).
Get a free WHOOP 4.0 and one month free when you join with my link: https://join.whoop.com/BE0C275E
^not sponsored (although I wish it was) - I just love my WHOOP
Until next time, try not to take life too seriously.
Talk soon,
Devin
