Welcome to the Mind Fuzz newsletter, a recap of three things that are on my mind this week.
1. The Value Of Social Proof
Have you ever heard of the term social proof?
In a digital world, this is people following you on social media because you’ve already got loads of followers.
It’s people buying your product because it’s already got a bunch of good reviews.
Without social proof, you look a bit silly.
And I think this concept carries over into our daily lives.
When we start something new – a new hobby, a new job, we look silly because we don’t yet have the validation that we’re doing it right.
Sadly, this is what usually stops us from growing.
Being able to push through that truly uncomfortable, awkward stage of not really knowing what you’re doing and looking a bit silly in the process is what separates those who make it from those who don’t.
You think I didn’t cringe when I sent my first email newsletter to two people?
Everything you do looks silly until you succeed.
I’m nowhere near that point, but I promise you it gets easier with time.
2. The Yin and Yang Of Self-Improvement
To me, self-improvement is a journey of finding balance.
And I think the yin and yang of this balance are self-love and accountability.
It’s so easy to trade one off for the other.
When you realise you’ve been slack, you go into monk mode – no social media, no socialising, no fun – only hard work until you reach your goal.
This inevitability ends up failing.
Finding balance is realising self-love is a key part of the self-improvement journey.
Recognising you’ve slipped up, but acknowledging this as a tendency of human nature.
This is why having a clear goal and a defined path to get there is so important.
So, when you deviate from it, its easy to find your way back.
3. Taking The Road Less Travelled
“The introvert may need to get out of the house, engage with the world, get public. The extrovert may need to stay home and read a book.”
“Sometimes we need to get out there, sometimes we need to get in there. Some days our road less travelled is a solitary dirt trail. On others, it’s the subway on the 7 line,” Matthew McConaughey in Greenlights.
We all know discomfort is crucial for a better life.
But what’s uncomfortable for some may be part of someone else’s daily routine.
Whether it’s an extrovert spending time alone, or an introvert putting themselves out there – true evolution is taking the road less travelled.
A closing question for you
What is something you know you need to do, but you’re putting it off because it’ll make you uncomfortable? Would your life be better if you just did it?
