in.sight
a newsletter for the eyes of the mind
SERIES 02 | ISSUE 03
Striving for goodness, not greatness
“What a wonderful thought that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet.”
– Anne Frank, German-Dutch diarist and World War II Holocaust victim
Everyone wants to strive for greatness. While achieving the magnificent is inherently exciting and valuable, lofty goals can sometimes leave us feeling like we’re never doing enough. If you’re in a season of burnout, maybe striving for goodness is what you need to recover physically, emotionally, and economically.
I truly believe we can find just as much wonder and joy in achieving smaller goals and prioritizing recuperation. The best part is, you don’t need to sacrifice the go-getter within you. Remember, there’s so much more value in good, achievable goals than great unsustainable ones. So, here’s how you can still make bite-sized progress as you slowly put past fatigues to rest:
1. Simplify
When I’ve hit a burnout wall, simplifying all aspects of my life is the key to resetting my mind and body. You start by looking at all areas of your life: personal, professional, finances, health, relationships. Which areas have been taking more than you can give?
Then, figure out how you want to approach each area. Will you simplify one area to make more space for another? Or will you accommodate bite-sized portions of everything?
2. Set goals, manage expectations
As much as a goal-cynic you might be, having a roadmap is still helpful so that you’re not swimming by our days aimlessly. The key is being open to how your finish line looks, even though you have an ideal destination in mind. This is because growth happens in strange ways, and the outcome doesn’t always look like the one we plan for.
3. Commit in quarters
Especially when it comes to yearly resolutions, these goals feel daunting because there’s just so much we cannot control within the period of 12 months.
What helps in to commit to things in quarterly portions. That means committing to a project or regime three-months at a time. Yes, this includes using three months to fully recuperate if you need to. Doing so doesn’t just help alleviate so much uncertainty-anxiety, you also get to celebrate mini-milestones four times a year!
💝 noteworthy
Book: The Mind/Body Prescription | John E Sarno
Dr. Sarno reveals that many medical conditions, including most neck and back pain, migraine, repetitive stress injuries, are a psychogenic expression of unconscious rage. Through connecting the dots between the mind and body, and understanding how the brain distracts us from repressed emotions, Sarno has helped thousands alleviate medically unexplainable conditions without drugs, physical measures, or surgery. (Not a reader? Here’s a great video summary of this book.)
😌 calm corner
Video: Cozy Cabin Ambience
Grab your book and enjoy this cozy nook next to the crackling fire and soothing rain. This 8-hour sleep ambiance video was created by carefully manipulating layers of ASMR sounds like rain and fire to help reduce stress and anxiety. Playing this video in the background will help with deep sleep, focus, and general relaxation.