I usually read through the previous day’s post before creating a new one. After 24 hours I take a look back and review the topic I was thinking about yesterday.
In looking at “A Quick Trip to Hell” from 2/18/21 I was reminded of a saying: “It’s ok to suck, but just don’t skip.” I thought of this as yesterday’s post seemed discombobulated to me, but refrained from going back and editing it all over the place.
Like any skill we want to improve, writing takes practice. Sometimes I feel like it, and sometimes I don’t. But I am committed to a minimum number of posts in 2021, so I don’t over think my new habit, I just show up.
Not every post is created equally…but I make sure not to skip practice. The highest achievers in the world agree that we have to fail many times if we want to grow, improve and achieve mastery. Research has quantified that 10,000 hours of “practice” leads to mastery. Other studies have challenged that number, concluding it takes more like 20,000 hours.
I don’t have 20,000 hours in my current life’s cadence to write, and may never master the skill of writing. But I will keep practicing whether or not I feel like it. When practicing anything, consistency outweighs content. Some days are better then others. And I comforted to know that it is ok suck, as long as I don’t skip.
If you are trying to get better at something, training for a marathon, installing a new exercise program or implementing a gratitude or meditation practice, maybe this mantra will help you too. Starting anything, is sometimes the catalyst that helps us keep the streak of executing a behavior repeatedly. Eventually, it may even become a habit.
Just don’t skip!