For 2019, I’ve set myself a goal for writing: I just show up, stick around for 30 minutes, and give it my best effort.
The first part of that is critical. It’s also simultaneously (and paradoxically) very easy and very hard.
It’s very easy, because, Hey, it’s just showing up. Nothing is expected of me. I just need to flip open my laptop and start typing something.
It’s very hard, because, Hey, I expect something from me. If I’m going to show up to write, it had better be worth it. Meaning: It had better be a piece of writing oozing with mind-shattering insight and packed with heart-warming pathos. And it had better use fancy words, like “pathos.”
I want to uproot that arrogance.
Not only is it stupid (can I reasonably expect to show up and hammer out a masterpiece every single time I type?). It’s also frustrating, because it’s a productivity-killer.
The stupid belief – i.e, that every single effort at writing something needs to be an instant, obvious success – keeps me from wanting to write. Because I know I can’t live up to that.
My stupid belief keeps me from showing up.
So my goal for 2019 is to set that stupid belief aside and learn the trick of just showing up – showing up without bringing all my unreasonable, unhelpful expectations with me.
Just show up and spend 30 minutes writing.