There are so many things coming at us. We forget that each minute is a gift, and that the moment in front of us deserves our full attention. Everything we do can be imbued with intention and gratitude, which moves us toward the life we want to live.
Not everything can move us toward a life goal. But every moment can be one we appreciate and are present for. Once we start with gratitude and intention, we become more attentive to what is happening around us, and therefore more likely to see the opportunities that come our way.
I feel fortunate to have reached a point in my life where I don’t hustle and grind. That’s one of the reasons I like writing here on Substack.
I’m not trying to publish 12 posts on X every day, 22 Instagram Reels a week, 5 videos on YouTube, and write 1 book a month.
I’m here to share my thoughts, hoping they inspire and equip other people to live with more intention.
Why I’m not focused on the hustle and grind right now:
I don’t enjoy it.
I don’t think my body can handle it.
It never ends. There will always be something to keep grinding toward.
The third one is the real reason. Every finish line is just the next starting line, and I got tired of running toward a horizon I could never reach.
I want to work on things and help people in ways that let me enjoy the work and benefit other people. We don’t always get to choose what we spend our time doing. But in the little moments, the more we choose joy, ease, and calm, the more of those things we bring into our lives.
Just think about the word grind and what it means:
to reduce to powder or small fragments by friction (as in a mill or with the teeth)
to wear down, polish, or sharpen by friction
oppress, harass
to press together with a rotating motion, to rub or press harshly
Reducing things by friction. Wearing down what I care about. That’s not the life I’m building.
There are days I still have to put my head down, write code, and work on things I’d rather not be doing. Those days are real, and they’re not going away. But the same friction that wears you down can be met with intention, which is the whole point. Those days still challenge me. They force me to find creative ways to get the job done, to solve problems, to work with other people, to build relationships, and to work toward common goals.
Life happens and things can change in an instant. And it often sucks, and we’re left wondering what to do next.
Those moments are infrequent. Most of our struggles are self-created, not because of what happens, but because of the story we tell ourselves about what happens. The events are real. The meaning is ours to author, both for ourselves and for the people around us.
Telling ourselves empowering stories is a learnable skill. Over time, it becomes part of our identity.
I choose to tell myself stories, my interpretations of what’s happening in my life and in the world, that empower me to grow, benefit, love, extend compassion, feel fully alive, be grateful, and experience calmness and peace. That’s how I stay intentional in the moments I didn’t choose.
What stories are you telling yourself about your current life circumstances?
Do the stories and interpretations leave you feeling empowered or feeling drained?
Try taking one area of your life where you’d like things to be different from what they are, and ask yourself different questions:
How else could I interpret this?
What’s the lesson in this situation?
How can I grow in this situation?
Is this situation even about me, or is it a story I’m projecting onto others?
What would this situation look like if it were easy, calm, or peaceful?
Who do I need to be to handle this situation skillfully?
Looking at the moments of our lives with curiosity and expecting the best assists us in living richer lives.
Cheers,
