Have you ever felt the desire to do something but haven’t worked up the courage yet?

I know I have.

A hundred excuses pop into your head, telling you why you shouldn’t or can’t.

For example, maybe you have an idea for a book. You think about it often, you might even talk about it, but there it sits—only in your head.

“I’m not a good enough writer yet. I don’t know enough yet. I don’t have enough life stories. I don’t have a platform. I would if I have more time…”

Excuse after excuse runs in your head until it creates a knot in your stomach. And the further time moves away from the idea, the more impossible it seems to try. And tell the wrong person, and they’ll give you a hundred more excuses too.

It’s time to let go of not being good enough.

You are good enough to start right now.

Do you know what happens when you write a bad book? Nothing.

Maybe you get some bad reviews on Amazon, but nothing can stop you from picking up that keyboard or pen and paper and writing a better one.

It’s easy for us to fall into the belief that our first try needs to be perfect. look at anyone starting in ANY industry their first piece of work is hilarious bad. But that doesn’t invalidate them it makes me like them more. It shows me there just like me, and with a little time, attention, and elbow grease I can do it too.

The crazy dreamers who keep going through the failure and suck are the ones who rise to the top eventually.

We’ve only got one life to live on this earth, are you going to spend it wishing you would be and do more or showing yourself that you can?

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1737

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It’s good every so often to step back and see where you are going.

Does what you’re currently focused on aligning with your vision of your life? Are you making more smart decisions over bad decisions?

Do your current daily todos align with your long-term goals?

Are you saying yes to things that matter to you and saying no to things that don’t?

The life you want doesn’t happen completely by chance.

Plan your days according to your goals.

Spend your time and energy on opportunities that move you a little further in the right direction.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1737

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When I’m feeling down and depressed, first I check whether or not I’m taking care of my essential self-care: healthy food, sleep, movement, companionship, and other healthy habits.

But if that doesn’t quite work, it’s usually because I’m not doing what I love doing.

Why do I feel so stale and overwhelmed?? Maybe it’s because you haven’t picked up your guitar in 3 weeks? Oh, right.

It’s often the things we feel called to do, that we end up doing the least.

Our most important things can easily get sidelined if we let them. Paying your rent is important. Doing well at your job is important. Spending time with your family is important, and on and on ad infinite. But not making time for your creative outlet is the same as giving up on your creativity.

Our creativity gets pent up and bashes against our inner wellbeing if we don’t stoke it’s flames.

Do you really want to wake up 5 years from now and your fears and todo lists have held you back from creating?

What would make you happier? Working on your craft everyday like it means the world to you, or working on your craft only when the timing is right.

The timing is never right. There will always be responsibilities and obstacles that will try getting in your way of what you love. Are you going to let that get in your way?

You hear the phrase, ‘spend each day like it’s your last’. But I like to get even more specific:

Create each day like it’s your last.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1736

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When dealing with pain, frustrations, problems, barriers, haters, ignorance, worry, anxiety, criticism, pressure, deadlines—basically anything that could put you in a non-optimal state or feel overwhelmed—there’s one essential cure:

Focus on your next action.

A little adds up to a meaningful amount of difference.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1735

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“The most dangerous thought that you can have as a creative person is to think that you know what you’re doing.” — Bret Victor

All I know is I know nothing. Which is the most frustrating and exhilarating part about creating.

The more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn.

I have so much to learn and do, and with each new experience, I become more capable in my crafts.

Unless I stop.

Unless I stop because I think I’ve learned it all. Unless I stop because I think I’m the best, or good enough, or as better as I’ll ever be.

The moment we stop being curious and open to learning is the moment we stop being sharp in our skills.

There’s always another level, a new height of what it means to be creative.

That’s either going to excite you or make you feel exhausted and shriveled up like a grape.

It depends on whether or not you are pursuing your true passions or not. There’s nuance here, so don’t feel disheartened if what was your passion feels stale and burdensome. Creativity is always changing and is driven by change.

You maybe be tired of photography, for example, or maybe it’s just the type of photography you are doing. But if you put down your current style and way of doing things, there are other more interesting possibilities you can find. It takes some experimenting, but it’s worth it if it saves you from burnout.

Creativity demands growth. Whether it’s a slight change in direction or a completely new path, follow your excitement and enthusiasm.

Find something you never want to stop learning and improving yourself in.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1734

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“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”

Linus Pauling

“Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.”

Howard Aiken

There’s a massive difference between sharing your ideas and talking about your ideas.

Every now and then, an amazing idea pops in your head, for example:

Oh my gosh! What if Skittles were actually shaped like little rainbows?!

What if we attached the technology of a jet ski compacted and place it under a surfboard? Motorized SURF BOARD?!!

What if a city had a monthly parking pass you could subscribe to, and park in any space?! NETFLIX FOR PARKING?????

Gerbils have wheels! Why not cat wheels!!? (This one already exists ha.)

We have a great idea and immediately want to tell somebody.

Sharing an idea is great. I think it’s smart to get advice on an idea and validate it with people you trust.

(It’s very unlikely someone would steal your idea. Making stuff is hard. People are more likely to dismiss it than steal it. Be cautious, but don’t die with your ideas clutched in your hands.)

The problem is sharing an idea doesn’t make it a reality.

Sharing your amazing idea with a friend doesn’t make it any more real than it was just living in your head. To make an idea real, we’ve gotta get working.

If you’re aware of that, finding someone you can share your ideas with is very therapeutic.

Having a conversation with someone who cares about you and desires to see you succeed might be one of my favorite things ever. (To give and to receive.) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been able to collaborate with others by the sheer fact that I was enthusiastic and genuine about what they were up to and tried to suggest ideas that might help them. It’s the unbiased (or mostly unbiased) conversations that really light me up and keep me going.

However, just talking about an idea (before you’ve put in any work to make it real) can rug-pull the energy away from it. Talking about a potential idea takes away our enthusiasm to make it.

If you have a great idea—solidify it, sketch it out, use your skillsets and figure out simple ways to validate it.

Sharing is different than talking. Share your idea while you are building it. The energy is still there. Only tell others about what you are doing, not what you want to do.

And if you are like me, always strive to surround yourself with people who care about your well-being and success.

You would think that would be a default, but unfortunately, most people are looking for ways you can help them versus the other way around.

If you’re struggling to create these types of enthusiastic relationships, the best tactic that’s worked for me is showing that you CARE FIRST. The more you give, the more you get.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1733

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You don’t need to already be great to learn to be great.

Even a little effort done consistently goes a long way towards greatness. And an intense amount of effort directed towards a goal/skill can expedite your journey.

I don’t care what your genes say, or how much talent you think you have or don’t have.

Mastering a skill requires effort and persistence. If you practice those two things and are willing to put in the time, greatness is inevitable.

Daily habits and challenges make the master.

And patience keeps us in the race far longer than the majority.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1732

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Do you feel free? Truly free from negative stress, worry, and other constraints in life?

Freedom is a lack of undesired constraints. Some constraints are good. They can act like guardrails in life from paths we don’t want to be on. Undesired constraints are restrictions others put on us.

If you hold yourself back because of fear of what others might think of you, you are not free yet.

If you’re in debt (I️.e. student loans, credit cards, medical bills, etc) you are not free yet. Debt is a weight on your chest you may or may not realize is there until it’s gone.

I­t­ might not be your fault, but I­t­ is your responsibility.

If you have health problems and you constantly talk about them, compare yourself to others (woe is me) or give in to the hopelessness of your situation, you are not free yet.

Problems don’t define who you are: What you do with them does.

Freedom, like success, isn’t an overnight thing. It’s a slow-moving train that is powered by action and intention. The worst thing we can do is do nothing.

Accepting complacency, never making waves.

Freedom happens in daily investments.

Here are the things we should focus on each day to invest in our freedom:

Wealth

Happiness

Health, Fitness, Sleep

Connection, Friendships

Challenge, Growth

Wisdom, Learning, Asking for help

And Meaning (finding an outlet and pursuing I­t­ with everything we’ve got).

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1731

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Think of something big you want to accomplish in life.

Create a successful business, write a well-acclaimed book, go to mars, learn 40 languages…

Whatever I­t­ is you’ve set your mind on, there’s you, your goals, and a bunch of unknown, terrifying, exhilarating, rock bottom, uncomfortable things standing in between where you are and where you want to go.

Big picture goals are like a large realistic painting you view at a distance. When you get closer, you realize the picture was made from dabs of different colors and strokes of movement.

Mistakes, creative epiphanies, techniques, and layer and layers of work and expression are what turns stretched canvas and some tubes of paste into a masterpiece that resonates through time.

It’s the same with our big goals in life. It’s hard to see how a BIG goal is made when you’re starting at ground zero looking up at this looming mountain, lacking a Sherpa to guide the way. You want to get to the top, but how?

1%.

Doing even just a tiny amount of consistent and deliberate work dedicated to accomplishing your goal will accumulate over time.

1% adds up. The more consistent and good you get at something you love, the more you’ll want to do it.

What’s one small thing you can do today — right now — to get you one step closer to your goal?

Start with 1%, Stick with at least 1%, and one day you’ll be in the top 1%.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1730

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First: LET. IT. GO.

For a moment, let go of all your todo’s, your obligations, all the things you want to be and do. Let go of your dreams, fears, tension from pain, worry, and stress. Let go of what people tell you that you should be doing, or could be doing, or shouldn’t be doing, or can’t. Let go of what others think of you, or might think of you. Let go of what you think of yourself—your past, present, and future self. Whatever weight you’re carrying, drop it all.

To get past overwhelm, first, you must leave your old life behind, at least temporarily. Take some deep breaths, and let it all go.

Second: Decide What Matters Most.

What would you keep if you could choose?

Now that you’re free for a moment from all of that sht you were carrying, ask yourself: If I could choose what’s the most important things if I could choose what my life looks like, what would I like to keep? Or in other words, *what would you hate losing?

It’s often our darkest and most desperate moments where we can find that piece of us called ‘purpose’ we can latch on to.

Third: Put Responsibility in its place.

Somethings we carry, we can’t get rid of. If you have bad credit, you can’t run away from it. You can try, but running away will only highlight everything around you that tells you ‘you have bad credit.

Responsibilities are only burdens when there’s no place for them in the life that you want. The best way to handle these types of weights we carry is to always keep balancing them with the right priority and perspective that aligns with you.

Even bad credit viewed differently can be your opportunity to not only challenge yourself by improving your credit but also give you a story to inspire others who are in similar shoes as you.

Finally: TAKE THINGS ONE THING AT A TIME.

And I don’t mean a list. Lists, by themselves, become the definition of overwhelm if we are not careful. What’s a todo list but an ever-expanding universe of things you need to do but can’t quite find enough time to do them?

If you need a list, make a list. But then create a second list with only one todo, and focus all your energy on finishing that todo. And if you have the time and energy afterward, pick another.

More important, what do you want to drop? What are some things you can stop doing to add breathing room to your life?

Overwhelm ends when you control the frame that you are viewing your life from. Once you remove the background scenery and periphery in your mind you’re left with one thing: Something Doable.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1729

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