So you’ve been going through some old note books looking for inspiration from yourself. You’re seeing a lot of recurring and ruminating thoughts around “What’s Next?” going back for years and years.
Stop it!
Just stop it. Stop asking yourself that. If it worked, you wouldn’t keep asking. It doesn’t work – so stop it!
You are forbidden from asking that again. It doesn’t work. It’s never worked.
It was never the tool that took you from one thing into the next. What took you from one thing into the next is something came along that got your attention, and then you did it. You did it until you didn’t feel like it anymore, and then you did something else.
You’ve done a bunch of “things” these past 6 years. This has included taking time for your own healing, and self-mastery. You’ve been active in your “t-shirt philanthropy” generously sharing your time, talent, and money with the world; writing articles for your Frolic 100, sharing your story through books, showing up powerfully in communities you are a part of, hosting powerful Zooms sharing what you’ve learned, and testing yourself by taking what you’ve learned to the biggest of world stages. And now you are bored. So, time for something else.
It doesn’t have to be a business, because you’ve been operating without a new business for many years now. If that was important you would have done it. You didn’t. And that’s OK.
Clearly you’ve been finding other ways beyond money to stay engaged. That will continue to pay off for you.
So, here’s the task: A “What’s Next?” ban of 6 months. For the next 6 months, starting May 1st and ending November 1st, you will not write those words. You will not ask yourself that question. If you do, once you realize you have, you will immediately drop it.
What can you do instead? Anything else. Literally ANYTHING else. Watch a TV show, read a book, go for a walk, have lunch with Robin, reach out to someone, make a phone call, send a text message, play a video game, go grocery shopping, record a Loom for someone, go for a drive, take a serendipitous trip, go for a swim, write something (but not THAT!), do something nice for someone, a random act of kindness, look for inspiration in unusual places, compliment someone, share some good news, write a blog article, donate some money to a cause that moves you.
Still need more ideas? How about this; next time you write or think the words “What’s Next?” you immediately change it to “Who’s Next?” and contact that person. Maybe it’s an old friend, a colleague, a new member of your community, an old member of your community, a person you’ve never spoken to before, a person that scares you, a family member, someone else you’d like to nurture connection with, anyone will do. And reach out to them. Deal?
Whatever you do, you are forbidden for the next 6 months of using that particular tool of asking yourself “What’s Next?” It’s a terrible tool with blades that are dull and rusty and all you’re doing is damaging other things and risk hurting yourself.
Stop it! Can I be any more clear?
(Like most of my writing, this article is for one person – me. It’s always a counter intuitive lesson in how when I get hyper specific it connects with more people. How does this article connect with you?)
