And so I began to grapple with the truth that people-pleasers are prone to resist until it halfway kills them: that very often the best way to benefit others is to focus on doing your thing.*
Oliver Burkeman

Why are people gonna be glad they saw your show? And whatever your answer is, rehearse it, grow it, feed into it, make it the main thing.**
Gabe Anderson

How long have you been
holding back on what you have
to give?

Not wanting to upset others, or
sound jarring, or be misunderstood or
be hurt?

Ignoring or missing
your cue to bring what only
you can?

I do it so to compensate for something I think is missing in the common message. My public writing is a counterpoint to complement the popular point. Of course, I don’t think the stuff I say is the only way to go. I’m just the counter melody.^

There it is again: your cue to
enter stage right (or left or
from above or below) – or will you miss it, again?

How do you measure on this little test –
How curious and questioning are you, how deep is
your gladness, how much of you is present in this moment?

Curiosity is one way we know that our souls are functioning. So is deep gladness. So is presence.^^

*Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals;
**Gabe Anderson’s blog: They Want a Great Time;
^Derek Sivers’ Hell Yeah or No;
^^Anne Lamott’s Dusk Night Dawn.