Tag Archives: inspiration

On how I’ve been making decisions (and having a 40 year plan)

3 Jul

Something happened in the lead up to turning 27.

I started thinking about my age differently.

I realised that (in my mind at least) I couldn’t get away with saying “It’s OK, I’m only XX” anymore. And nor did I want to.

I wanted 27 to be a big year for me. (And so far, so good!).

Which has made the shift in my decision making process even more bizarre to me.

My decision making used to be very logical, very structured. Disciplined even. I created a huge multi-tab pro-con list/spreadsheet before breaking up with a boyfriend. You don’t even want to get me started on how I decided on a university degree.

And as part of this, I used to spend a significant amount of energy ignoring the thoughts I had when I was drunk, half asleep or sad. I did this because in my mind, these thoughts were irrational, meaningless outliers.

Now, it would seem that I am only listening to these thoughts. And not just listening – seeking them out.

Now I wait to make a decision until I can figure out what it is that is keeping me up at night.

And if nothing is keeping me up at night, I don’t do anything at all.

Like how I was ready to create my next 1 year plan.

This was a bit of a ritual for me. It would usually be something along the lines of “OK, just get to the end of this year, do these things, sort these things out, go on a big holiday, and then we’ll start worrying about next year”.

But this wasn’t going to cut it anymore. It wasn’t keeping me up at night.

Instead I waited.

I waited until I woke up in the middle of the night (on the plane on the way back from Ghana actually).

And now I have in my possession some very, very interesting ideas for a 40 year plan.

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If you liked this post, this very very simple guide to decision making might also be of interest.

Also this quote from Greg Mortensen’s Three Cups of Tea “When your heart speaks, take good notes”.

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Advice to myself when I was 17 (or, what to do when you are sad)

10 May

The Sunscreen Song is so, so popular on the radio over here in Ghana.

Hearing it over and over has got me to thinking – what sort of advice would I give to myself 10 years ago?

(Also, this would hardly seem a blog with an “advice to my young self” post).

Eating is the most important things that you do every day.

If you do nothing else each day, eat.

And do it often.

Don’t worry so much about what. Or how much.

Just do it.

And stop skipping breakfast.

(You will again get this feedback in a career performance review in 10 years time).

Relationships are important. And everyone can teach you something.

You already know this.

But, I cannot emphasise it enough. There will be times when you will wonder whether it is really worth the effort.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

No matter their age, 4, 40, 400, other people have had a lifetime of experience that you have not had. And they can point out things about you that you will never be able to see.

On top of that, every single major event in your life (thus far) will be precipitated and then aided by a relationship which has been forged over time.

(Thank you, thank you, thank you)

Don’t worry so much about finding inspiration, it will come.

Just be on the lookout for when it does.

And leave the time and space to act when it does.

(This includes the middle of the night).

Also, on that, relationships will come. And as my father reminded me just this weekend, responsibility, it too will come.

There is nothing wrong with sadness.

So be patient and it will pass. It always does.

It is a part of you, just like it is a part of everybody else.

But it is hardly all that you are.

Incidentally, the best way to fix sadness is people (see relationships, above).

But, you will keep forgetting this.

So keep reminding yourself.

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 Thoughts on inspiration in this post come from Hugh McLeod.

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