Talkerism

In the world of work, a meeting without creating an output of value is a drain on energy and time. Incessant thinking is the perpetual meeting in the head; and if it is just going over and over the same issues without providing constructive insight, then it is pointless at best, destructive at worst. Outside this room of perpetual thinking is the freedom to notice and enjoy what is happening, instead of what you are imagining.

Journal 2020-11-20

Never ever put yourself down. 

Reasons:

1. Some people will revel in doing it for you. For their sake as much as yours, don’t make the conditions easy for them.
2. Don’t diminish life; whoever you are, you are amazing and unique.
3. Faux modesty is dishonesty.
4. Don’t insult other people’s good opinions.
5. Be strong for others. 

 Some personal pep talk points:

1. Be in a position to help.
2. Your growth should enable others to grow too. 
3. This isn’t a zero-sum game.
4. Relative measurements are irrelevant.
5. Have fun!

Journal 2020-11-19

A little target I’ve set myself is to make it to 100. Yes I know, quality is more important than quantity, and yes many of the factors are out of my control. I don’t take it too seriously but I like having something to aim towards.

The best way to be in good health is to be grateful for each day and appreciate the moments I am living – ironically this is a lot easier when in good health.

Journal 2020-11-15

Noticing the aliveness of the body feels pleasurable - and there is palpable relief when any tension is found and released. Mindfulness can be as simple as noticing the breathing.

Journal 2020-11-14

I’ve been writing a thought a day here for the previous few days. I will flip now to an actual pen and paper because the closeness to the handwritten words feels more personal to me.

Journal 2020-11-13

If you are truly happy, it is impossible to be petty, self-absorbed or unkind. Happiness lives in a much better place.

Journal 2020-11-12

Cats and dogs are similar, only in that they both like living with you. Cats are beautiful, elegant, magical; it feels like you are honoured if they grace you with their attention. Dogs love you - all they want is to run and play, sniff things, eat food, and most importantly: your affection.

Journal 2020-11-11

I form tears when I’m moved in any meaningful way - so if I produce them in a performance, I’m not pretending, I’m genuinely feeling what I’m doing.

Journal 2020-11-10

I add to a file any interesting little phrases that occur to me, removing them later on if used in a song or other writing; for example, I just added: “A lived life transcends its genre.”

In retrospect similar phrases may grate on the ear with cheesiness, but if I like the sentiment at the time, then it goes in.

The content is currently about 8,000 words.

Journal 2020-11-09

If you choose to share in the happiness of others, rather than compulsively dwelling on negatives, then you have happiness for free.

Journal 2020-11-08

I seem to get satisfaction out of pushing myself physically – maybe because in my mind I am subscribing to the motto “no pain, no gain”. A variation on the theme is that anything initially perceived as negative can be viewed as part of a greater improvement process.

Journal 2020-11-07

Writing a screenplay for a romance story... it’s a bit sexy!

I might develop it into a novel later, if I can make the time.

Activities

Inventions:

• Most importantly: Trendline Syncing System (TSS) – an algorithmic trading model.
• First To 7 – strategy board game.
• Also: WIBAMU Easy Accounts – simple accounting system for small businesses.

Songwriting:

Yes, many songs are online.

Other writing:

Some pieces are available but the bulk is within unfinished projects – would like to actually finish something substantial.

Singing:

Yep, lots of recordings.

Acting:

Yes, years of research and practice – looking to greatly expand this in the future by filming scenes and podcasts.

Public speaking:

I know this is a strength but haven’t pursued it yet.

Off and On

The old line with IT is that if you want a problem fixed “turn it off then on again”. The reason is that resetting can untangle mixed-up memory and processes.

The mind if not switched off will often relentlessly loop on the same set of thoughts, gradually wearing you down, sometimes with its own errors and fictions.

There are exercises that help you apply the IT solution, and they’ve worked for thousands of years.

Journal 2020-11-06

Tip:

Whenever you are talking about someone, assume they can hear every word. Hopefully this will remind you to be kinder.

Journal 2020-11-05

I wouldn’t call London a beautiful city, but it is endlessly fascinating. The maze of streets emerged not by grand design but grew from what had been before. It is eccentric, hickety-pickety, throbbing with history and humanity.

Journal 2020-11-04

Muddled, confused, unaware - what on earth were you doing? Why were you sleep-walking for so long?

Journal 2020-11-03

In the distant pre-internet days when I was a kid, I designed a board game then forgot all about it. The game actually looks pretty fun; it has a blend of strategy, risk and probability - like many good games. So I think I’ll have a few physical sets made-up, thanks to the internet and finding out there are specialist businesses that do this sort of thing.

Combining football with golf was another one of my games, which I called “Folf”. Well if I had the internet, I would have been able to find out that the sport has been around for a while and is called “Foot Golf”.

Journal 2020-11-02

Just 15 years ago or so, it wasn’t particularly easy to share photos and updates with friends and family; there were fewer easily accessible outlets for self-expression and it was more difficult to find interesting information or media.

The downsides are well-known, although if fully acknowledged there would be more energy in finding effective solutions. There was a speed in breaking things but less appetite in clearing-up the mess.

Journal 2020-11-01

I walk and run about 50 miles per week, usually while listening to podcasts.