You Don’t Need More Focus

50 people had breakthroughs this week. Will the next one be you?

One thing for you to think about

The one productivity system that controls all others: your emotions.

When you are in love with what you’re doing, everything gets easier.
When you hate what you’re doing, no productivity hack will save you.

Two things for you to ask yourself

What would it look like if you didn’t hate that thing you’ve been forcing yourself to do? Would that make things easier?

One thing for you to try this week

Before you start an important task this week, take ten seconds to note how you feel. Let me know what you find, and if it changed how you worked.

Last week’s breakthroughs

In last week’s newsletter, I asked you to do one small thing that scares you—not because it’s dangerous, but because it means something. Here’s our first reader:

That’s exactly what I did yesterday when I asked a dear friend and shaman and artist to check the draft of my first collection of poems! I felt so nervous because nobody else knows about it, not even my husband and family! It’s something I’ve been doing in the moments when I’m myself and still feeling very nervous to share with others after an incident with a teacher back in high school! But I felt such a relief afterwards!! My body was shaking and I cried, just like after you put down a great burden you’ve carried for too long!!

Paul is taking the plunge:

You said to do one small thing that scares me and then let you know what happened, so here goes.

I’ve spent the last few years rebuilding my life after decades of false starts, no starts, serious fuck-ups, and a breakdown that almost took me out. I’m 51, finally building something that feels meaningful, and I’ve been writing openly about the climb back from all that.

The thing that scared me today was putting myself out there more. I’ve always told myself the story that I didn’t belong in certain rooms or networks. So I reached out to a few people I admire, shared some of my writing, and forced myself to stop hiding behind the ‘maybe later’ excuses.

And now, I’m sending an email to a guy who does great at coming off as a completely normal guy but who’s actually a genius to people like me so therefore is slightly intimidating as well.

It’s not comfortable that’s for damn sure, but as always, forward action feels great when after you actually do it.

Anyway… you asked us to report back. So here I am. Thanks for the nudge.

Finally, back in September when our community was working on finding a healthy way to live with shame, I asked members to share a small but real truth. And Margaret opened up:

Share: I’ve taken on a project way outside my comfort and skill zone, not sure if I’m totally wasting time or if the project will have a happy ending! I feel shame over the fact that I haven’t got it all together.

Ask: Yesterday I asked for help from my partner, he said yes. I also asked another person helping me for more time to deliver what I needed to, he said yes.

Hold space: I turned inward for this. I’m holding space that at some level I know what I need to do, that I’m not wasting time/money/effort, that I’m doing what I need to do, regardless of the end result.

Since our community launched in May, we’ve tackled many of the key issues that might hold us back in life—from values to emotions, resilience to friendships, and more—through daily action prompts, accountability, and support. A single subscription to The Solved Membership gives you access to all of our Solved Courses, including this month’s on Purpose. Learn more in one click here.

As always, send your breakthroughs by simply replying to this email. Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.

Until next week,

Mark Manson

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author
My Website – My Books – My YouTube Channel – My Podcast – My Community