Sometimes you have to walk away

It starts off simple enough.

You think, “I’ll engage more on social media.”

And you do. But you realize it’s work to post real-time, so you pick up a scheduling app to take some of that weight. You craft posts and schedule them out. You work on replies.

You feel pretty good about all that “work” you’ve done. But there’s a problem.

The more of yourself you try and put out there, the less you you become.

Social media is a Trojan horse.

You invite the apps into your life, but “showing up” morphs into scheduling tools, self-doubt, and a relentless barrage of people trying to sell you packaged advice that last worked two years ago.

After months of messing around on socials, I took a breath in September.

I let scheduled posts run without adding more. I replied less. I let go.

And it felt good.

I’d found a writer friend to build something with, and instead of stressing over content gaps, we’re focused on building something real.

Whatever real is for you, make sure you’re writing toward that.

Real results, real outcomes, real you.

“Learn” will be a bit shorter this week, since I caught a cold from my son that knocked me out for a few days. He only had sniffles . . . but the bug had different ideas for me.

Are you showing up for your appointment with yourself?

Saying yes to social engagement means you’re saying no to other things.

What are the things you’ve said “no” to?

It’s autumn in the Northern hemisphere now, and the start of a new season is a great time to reset on what matters to you.

To you.

This week’s Learn is a list of things that might help you reset, if you’ve needed to as much as I have.

• David Perell’s 50 Days of Writing free email series—prompts, tips, and advice, worth a welcome into your inbox

• Alan Watts on “the eternal now,” an excellent and meditative watch (9:43 YouTube video)

• Station Eleven—a beautiful book-length reset (also made into a wonderful HBO miniseries, both are worth your time). Currently re-reading (again).

• For something completely different, The Rook—currently $2.99 on Amazon

• Not an ode to pickleball so much as an argument for finding new things in life to explore, learn, and love (3 min read)

Here’s to a new season of showing up to more of what matters.

• This is an incredible way of describing what love of the journey is like—and what to aspire to (Tweet)

• Relax, writer’s block is telling you (2 min read)

• Maybe fantasy is your thing, maybe not (I love it). But everyone who tells stories should watch this excellent video lecture series from Brandon Sanderson, recorded from live lectures to his students at BYU. Guaranteed to teach you things. (series of hourlong videos)

• The Drone Photo Awards 2023 will show you angles you’ve never seen before. (Gallery)

• Need to walk away from works for a little while to reset? Here are 59 beautiful places to admire. (Gallery)

🧠 and ❤️

Lauren