The Weekly Proof: A Center Forged Over Two Decades
This week I focused on simplifying and reprioritizing my projects.
Some would say I have a lot on my plate. And prior to this week, that was true. That is, until I decided to be more realistic with my abilities, timelines, and expectations.
For the remainder of the year, I am now focused on three projects.
Not 14, like before. Just three.
They will carry me through the rest of the year as I continue to build a body of work that reflects not only who I am creatively but also who I am as an individual.
The most important thing that I’ve done here is set those other 12 projects aside for the time being. Not forever. The time being.
Lastly, while writing last Tuesday’s issue, I realized just how far I’ve come in my creative journey over the last 23 years.
I went from handwritten manuscripts at age 10 to writing for all of you. Sharing my insights, perspective, and experience. Connecting with all of you. Thank you for that!
Sometimes It Sucks Being Human
You can’t expect to work yourself like a machine.
You have to listen to your body and rest when it’s called for. A lesson I had to relearn this week.
I work in the office at my 9-5, and I often take the bus to and from work. Realistically, I have about three hours before I have to go to bed to dedicate to my projects.
I want to do it all, but I am only human.
I’m not a machine that can crank out 10 newsletters in an afternoon. I can’t analyze incoming data and make sense of hundreds of lines of entries simultaneously. While doing everything else required of me, such as eating and self-care, in 3 hours.
It’s like I forgot everything that has gotten me this far.
Committing to a minimum when time is of the essence and focusing more on what can move the needle rather than what can move the ego.
I’m not in a race with someone else; I’m in a race with myself. And it took hitting this wall of projects to realize I can only do so much, and that is okay.
Life may appear short, but it is, in fact, long.
I shouldn’t be in a rush to experience it all and forgo the little moments that matter. The bits of struggle that feel nice once you’ve succeeded or achieved something you once thought impossible.
We create because we love the process.
And that’s why sometimes it sucks to be human: we can’t do everything.
The Lesson I’ve Learned This Week
The innate limit placed on human ability should be celebrated.
Our time here as creatives is limited, and we may strive to do more, but really we should strive to do better.
Discipline isn’t force; it’s human design.
Reprioritizing and simplifying my projects for the year was a necessary step in the right direction.
Before I was spread too thin, I wasn’t resting and reflecting. I was moving at the speed of sound, and forgetting simple things. Like what’s important right now, not a year from now.
Over the last 23 years, I’ve refined my taste and learned many things, and now it is time for me to do so. All the things I dreamt of as a child. No fear of what people may think, as long as I think it’s my best work.
Inevitably, I will get better at all my crafts, but for now, with resources limited, I have to focus.
Not on 14 things, but just 3:
Studying for my CompTIA Certifications
Writing and growing The Potential Paradox (TPP)
Publishing more short stories
Just looking at that shorter list on the page lets me breathe. I don’t need three hours a day to make these things a success. Maybe during the week, an hour a day is all I realistically have.
I’ve found that some days I study, other days I write or strategize for TPP, edit a few pages of a short story, or even get some reading done.
Ultimately, this week I’ve learned that it’s okay to have limits. But you must be aware of them, and you must regularly simplify and reprioritize the people and things in your life.
Especially where your creativity is concerned.
This Week’s Proof
This week I’ve launched a new format for The Potential Paradox newsletter:
Tuesday will now feature a flagship issue that discusses creative identity, building a body of work, creative discipline, music, writing, technology as proof of work, and systems for multi-talented creators.
Friday will then feature a personal/built-in-public update (which you are reading in the very first issue) called The Weekly Proof.
In The Weekly Proof, I will pull the curtain back on behind-the-scenes moments and thoughts that most creatives never share. If you have ideas for things you’d like to see, be sure to leave them in the comments.
This week’s theme is about starting the process of finding your creative center.
Each week will have a theme, and I will do my best to carry them over to The Weekly Proof, but I’m not going to lie to you. A lot of this will boil down to experimentation, which is something I always preach.
Nevertheless, that’s this week’s proof.
What Changes Next Week
Next week, I’m going to refine and further experiment with this new strategy for The Potential Paradox.
Changes will come slowly, but it is inevitable.
Next Tuesday’s issue will focus on Proof Over Potential.
Final Thoughts
The main takeaways from this issue are:
Simplifying and reprioritizing should be a regular practice
You are only human; get enough rest, don’t spread yourself too thin
Change is inevitable
The sentence about putting twelve projects aside for the time being really stood out to me. There’s a big difference between giving something up and simply making room for what’s most important right now. I appreciate you sharing that thought process instead of only talking about the finished results. This feels like a great direction for the newsletter! Thank you for sharing this with us Idris Elijah and Happy Friday to you!
I really like this new Friday format. The Tuesday newsletters are packed with ideas but this felt like getting to see the person behind them. Hearing you talk honestly about scaling back from 14 projects to 3 made everything you’ve been writing about lately feel even more authentic. I have a feeling these behind-the-scenes updates are going to resonate with a lot of people. Thank you Idris for letting us come along for the journey and Happy Friday!