KB#24 - The Friday Four - Will It Matter In 10 Years?

Read Time: 5 Minutes

Today's issue is sponsored by Discipline Clothing

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#1 - How to “Clean Out” Your Mind

Image Source: Milan Creative

Let's dive headfirst into the messy yet magical realm of creativity.

The legendary Mary Lou Cook said:

"Creativity is all about inventing, experimenting, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having a blast."

Creativity isn't just some fairy dust that gets sprinkled on lucky souls.

It's a beast that needs to be tamed!

I recently stumbled upon an interview with Ed Sheeran.

Now that's a guy who knows a thing or two about creativity!

He's smashed over 150 million record sales worldwide, so you'd better believe he's got his creative flow down.

Here's his nugget of wisdom:

"When you switch on the dirty tap, shit water is going to flow out for a substantial amount of time. Then clean water will start to flow out.” — Ed Sheeran

Now, what's the real-life translation of that metaphor?

Brace yourself because it's not pretty - when you're new at something, your initial attempts are going to be shitty...quite literally.

I remember my early days of dabbling in blogs back in 2010.

Those blogs were cringeworthy!

And my "YouTube Vlogs" I shot in 2011...

Super awkward!

However, I got better with every shoddy blog post and embarrassing vlog.

Each swing at the craft made my blows stronger, my aim sharper.

So, get ready to face the crapstorm!

Keep the tap running; let the muck flow. It's all part of the process.

Each "shitty" output is a stepping stone to your masterpiece.

#2 - Will it matter in 10 years?

Have you ever been stuck in a maze, fretting over whether to accept that new job, plunge into a romantic entanglement, or even wrangling over the decision to grab "another beer?"

Let's talk about a slick mental trick I've got tucked up my sleeve.

This little gem helps you ditch the petty stuff and focus on what truly matters.

Will it matter in 10 years?

Yeah, I know it sounds deceptively easy, but trust me and try it out.

Imagine you're on your evening jog, all sweaty and winded, and contemplating if it's worth pushing through the final 2km.

Here's where you toss in the question.

Will running this 2km matter in 10 years?

In the grand scheme of things, maybe not.

But think about the long-term benefit of perseverance, resilience, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Now, that's a resounding yes!

Let's move onto a trickier terrain, friendships.

Picture this: you've got this buddy who always seems to have something "urgent" pop up whenever you plan a meet-up.

This is when you ask yourself...

Will this friendship matter in 10 years?

If your gut screams "Nah", it's a sign.

Time to quit bending over backwards for someone who can't clear an hour for a cup of tea and a chat.

And what about that tempting second pint in the pub?

Use the question here too. Will it matter in 10 years?

If it's part of a series leading to unwanted health issues, then yes.

But if it’s to catch up with a mate you haven’t seen in a long time and you’ve hit all your workouts, steps and nutrition targets for the week, then why the hell not?

The magic of the 10-Year Question is not about predicting your future…

It’s about driving on the freeway of long-term thinking.

It's not about sacrificing pleasure or shunning your duties.

It's about finding balance, gaining perspective, and making decisions that resonate with your bigger life goals.

#3 - What You Resists, Persists

Today, we're diving headfirst into a topic that's a touch philosophical, slightly counterintuitive, but 100% life-changing.

“What you resist, persists” is a wisdom nugget courtesy of renowned Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung.

Legendary author Eckhart Tolle took it to the next level in his book The Power of Now.

"What you resist, persists. Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”

Simply put, this quote is about fighting against reality versus accepting it.

You see, our brains are wired to focus on the negative, what's not working, or what we don't have.

It's the human condition, our “monkey mind”.

But when you resist or fight these things, they just tend to stick around like gum on a shoe.

So, how does this relate to success, happiness, and personal development?

The key is in Tolle's advice. It's not about resignation or throwing in the towel...

It's about acceptance, then action.

Embrace the suck. Identify the parts of reality that feel like a cactus hug, and say...

"Okay, you exist. Now, what can we do about it?"

By embracing this philosophy, you're essentially hacking your way to success and happiness.

No more struggling against the current.

You’re flipping the script and cruising downstream, wind in your hair, sun on your face.

Personal development is about owning your reality, warts and all.

Accepting what is and taking action to transform it.

Write down something you've been resisting lately, accept it, and then outline an action plan to solve it.

#4 - A Prisoner Of Your Past

I came across a fantastic quote this week.

"Never be a prisoner of your past, it was just a lesson, not a life sentence"

Let's break this quote down into “Three Things” and how it could be a major game-changer in your pursuit of success, happiness, and personal growth.

1. Unshackling Yourself

So what does it mean not to be a "prisoner of your past"?

It means stop letting past mistakes hold you hostage.

That failed business venture? A lesson, not a life sentence.

That awful breakup? A lesson, not a life sentence.

That embarrassing moment when you tripped in front of a crowd of people?

Okay, maybe that one still hurts...but you get the idea.

2. Swapping Life Sentences for Lessons

The key to this whole "not a life sentence" thing is shifting your perspective.

Instead of dwelling on the negatives, what if we started looking for the positives?

Maybe that failed business venture taught you some key do's and don'ts for next time.

Maybe that breakup gave you insights about what you really want in a relationship.

That trip in front of a crowd?

Maybe it taught you how to laugh at yourself and not take things so seriously.

Turning a life sentence into a lesson isn't about erasing the past but about mining it for gold.

3. Embrace Your Personal Growth

All this talk about lessons leads us to personal growth.

Every time you turn a life sentence into a lesson, you choose to grow.

And here's the crazy thing.

Personal growth leads to success. It leads to happiness. Why?

Because when you're constantly learning and improving, you become a force to be reckoned with.

You become someone who is resilient, adaptable, and ever-ready for whatever life throws at you.

So, next time you find yourself locked in the cell of your past, remember that key around your neck.

Turn that life sentence into a lesson, and your future self will thank you for it!

TL:DR

👉  Learn to "Clean Out" your mind: Throw enough sh*t at the wall, and eventually, it sticks; repetition is the mother of all skill, and know that the more you do something, the better you get.

👉  Will it matter in 10 years time?: This is a question you should ask yourself when it comes to making important decisions about your health and your happiness.

👉 What you resist persists. Learn to accept the outcome of what happens to you; you either win or learn.

👉  Don’t be a prisoner of your past. You are a completely different person from the person you were ten years ago. Stop allowing your past to dictate your future

I hope you enjoyed this week's Friday Four.

I enjoyed writing this one for a few hours whilst on holiday in Spain this week.

See you next Friday for another instalment.

Jay Alderton