this edition of the [no hustle] huddle went out on Monday 23rd October 2023

Today’s edition of the huddle is brought to you by COFFEE … my daughter, Imogen, slipping into a new phase where sleep is once again a “thing” ?

She’s almost six, so it shouldn’t be a “thing” ?

Yet it is, and if, like me, you are a parent, you know the process of moving from one phase to another well. The dips and the highs and the bits in between ?

It’s tough, especially when you never have a great deal of control.

This brings us to today’s other sponsor … SELF-REFLECTION ?

And it’s oh-so-important importance in life. Yet if you’re like most—and I include myself in this number—it’s something you don’t do enough of.

Not because you don’t want to; not because you don’t value it.

Rather, you’re busy.

• Busy being a worker ?️
• Busy being a parent, partner, friend, etc ?
• Busy being a member of society ?
• Busy tending to your to-do list that only ever grows ?

And those moments you do reclaim… the ones you *could* use for self-reflection… well, you’re so tired that you just want to escape in front of the TV or a book.

You want to unthink … NOT dive deep within and think deeply.

That’s tiring; daunting; houses unknowns stacked upon unknowns.

Despite this, self-reflection is important and it’s never more so than when you’re up in the middle of the night tending to a human you love but not in that moment.

More on that soon… but first there’s this ??

from the [no hustle] community

Unleash Your Potential: Boosting Productivity with AI — I wrote this a while ago but it feels especially valid today as AI has the power to help us reclaim time so we can better use it to self-reflect and heal.

Introspection and Self Reflection: The Key To Unlocking Your Potential? — If this edition of the huddle *speaks* to you in any way, you’ll want to watch this.

3 actions to take this week

? bookmark this → a thought-proking and enlightening article from Misty Pratt about how mindfulness changes the brain (as well as how it doesn’t).

? watch this → Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a gem (if you haven’t come across her, check her out) … and this video that dives into why Laziness is good is GREAT ?

? DO THIS → Embrace Solitude Today — at some point in the coming hours, you’ll want to escape by switching the TV on or doom scrolling or some other form of distracting bliss … when you do, fight the temptation and instead choose to sit with yourself and your thoughts for a few minutes.

this week’s featured book

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson — This remains one of the best books I’ve ever read on personal development. What makes it so amazing is that it is not really a book about personal development.

When it comes to learning how to “sit with yourself” and reflect, this collection of mind dumps from Mark Manson provides clarity in ways few other books can.

It should become a mandatory gift for every eighteenth birthday.

?️ pass the mic

If you’ve read Beyond The Pale, you’ll have heard of Gini Kastillo and the amazing Humans I Trust community. She’s an inspiring individual and someone I treasure, and she springs to the top of my mind when thinking of self-reflection.

As life veers this way and that, she remains rooted in who she is.

She’s great and the community she’s building with HIT is ?

? drop the mic

I love my daughter. I love my family. I wouldn’t change my life and I would not alter my journey. Yet I struggle with the phases and chapters of others because I am a man of routine and ritual.

of late, I’ve found a decent groove with my sleep and morning routine ?

I’ve felt more connected with my days, giving myself some lonesome time before everyone else wakes to focus on ME — I haven’t gotten caught up with meditation and the like, but rather given myself time to read, think, and work but do so in a slow and steady fashion.

…not the relentless pace that’s required once the day kicks into gear.

Yet I only have so much control. I can control my world, to an extent. But not my daughter’s. Not my son’s. Not anyone else, no matter what our relationship.

This can be hard to accept, but accept it we must ?‍?

Because there’s not much we can do about it.

That is why during periods like these, Self-Reflection becomes even more important. To think. To reflect. To ponder. To remember who you are and why you do what you do. Maybe it has to do with work. a side project. a relationship ❤️

Maybe your own personal growth ?

The world around you, it continues to throw curveballs. It’s busy and fast-paced, always distracting you; tempting you. Fight it ?

The last thing I want to do right now is to Self-Reflect because I’m tired and grumpy and just want to waste away in front of the TV. It’s for this reason that this moment is one I need to Self-Reflect.

That’s when it really counts. Who you are when the barriers rise high. What you do in these phases, whether they last for hours, days, weeks, or months.

Self-reflection doesn’t solve anything per se but it does ?

1. Slow down your passions and calm the chaos
2. Connects you with what’s really going on
3. Give you clarity so you can do what you need to do

Even if the only thing you can do is accept the situation and do your best.

Thanks for reading today … I would love to hear which of the above articles, videos, or books *speak* to you, so don’t be a stranger → hit that reply button ??

And if you know anyone who needs to read this edition of the huddle, forward it to them and encourage them to subscribe.

Thanks again, and thank you for being YOU.

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