Things to remind myself about
A degree of relaxation is necessary to have good ideas because one doesn't have them so much as receive them—and one cannot receive anything with clenched fists.
Justin Murphy (cath/acc)x.comThe mathematical genius Alexander Grothendieck once had a metaphor for solving problems. He suggested that instead of forcing open an impossibly hard kernel with a hammer and chisel, one should simply let it sit in water and wait. Over time, the shell softens and opens with ease. This is also true in writing; time is the only non-substitutable... See more
Epiphanies Come From Waiting
Lack of patience derails more ambitions than a lack of ability — talent gets you noticed; patience gets you through the third draft, the tenth rejection, the year no one claps. In an age drunk on speed, same-day shipping, instant fame, viral everything, we forget that most masterpieces were once mistaken for messes. Genius isn’t a spark; it’s... See more
substack.com • Home | Substack
Creativity requires connecting the dots, and connecting the dots requires allowing time for my subconscious to consolidate my ideas and make associations. This means that, from time to time, I need to just stare out the window and do nothing.
This doesn’t feel productive, even though it is.
This doesn’t feel productive, even though it is.
Ozan Varol • You’re doing better than you think. Here’s why. - Ozan Varol
I worried about the next deadline, the next idea, the next story. There wasn't a moment for the next fourteen or fifteen years that I wasn't writing something in my head, or wondering about it. And I didn't stop and look around and go, this is really fun. I wish I'd enjoyed it more. It's been an amazing ride. But there were parts of the ride I... See more
jamesclear.com • "Make Good Art" by Neil Gaiman
The thing about patience is that you need to practice deliberately by slowing yourself down, taking a break, and not following the crowd.
By slowing down, you might not get to the finish line first. You might get an average result. But you are also more likely to stay in the game longer because you avoid burning yourself out over the short run.
By slowing down, you might not get to the finish line first. You might get an average result. But you are also more likely to stay in the game longer because you avoid burning yourself out over the short run.