My Mantra for Success When Things Fall Apart

Summary

The speaker shares a personal story about a series of unfortunate events, from a dead creature in their heating system to a cascade of other challenges. They reflect on the frustration and chaos that life can bring, comparing it to being a punching bag for the universe. However, they offer a solution: 'Make before you manage.' By creating something, even small, before tackling the day's problems, it helps set a positive tone and reassures them of their creative power amidst the chaos. This mantra encourages prioritizing creativity to maintain balance during tough times.

Takeaways

• 💀 A creature died in the heating system, spreading death fumes into the bedroom, leading to a disgusting situation.
• 🥶 The couple had to choose between freezing without heat or enduring the stench of what seemed like a raccoon carcass.
• 🤒 A series of unfortunate events followed, including the dog getting sick, paperwork piling up, and issues with contractors.
• 🚗 The speaker scraped the side of both their car and another vehicle, and Christmas presents they ordered got canceled.
• 🤹‍♂️ The speaker compares this period to clowns piling into a clown car, with the chaos lasting three to four weeks.
• 🥊 The speaker reflects on how everyone has their turn as the universe’s punching bag, no matter how successful they are.
• 🧑‍🔧 During periods of 'firefighting,' the speaker feels impatient and tries to fix things quickly, which often creates more problems.
• 🎨 The speaker shares a helpful mantra: 'Make before you manage,' suggesting creating something, no matter how small, before handling problems.
• 📝 Even tiny acts of creation, like writing an email or making a short video, can set a better tone for the day.
• 🔄 The psychological difference between doing zero and even a small act of creation is immense, reminding the speaker they are more than just a problem-solver.

Q & A

What caused the initial issue in the speaker's home?

A creature, likely a raccoon, died in the heating system, releasing death fumes into the bedroom.

What options did the speaker and their ex-girlfriend have to deal with the smell?

They could either turn off the heat and freeze or continue to endure the stench of the decaying creature.

How did the situation with the raccoon escalate further?

The speaker's dog got sick, unrelated paperwork began piling up, onboarding contractors became difficult, and the speaker scraped their car while parking.

How did the speaker feel during this series of unfortunate events?

The speaker felt overwhelmed and frustrated, describing the experience as a '15 car pileup of nonsense.'

What analogy does the speaker use to describe life's unpredictable challenges?

The speaker compares life's challenges to being a boxer and a punching bag, where everyone eventually gets their turn as the punching bag.

What is the speaker’s instinct when dealing with problems?

The speaker's instinct is to try to fix things as quickly as possible, but they recognize that this often creates more problems.

What mantra does the speaker use to manage stressful periods?

The speaker uses the mantra 'make before you manage,' which reminds them to create something before dealing with problems.

What does 'make before you manage' mean to the speaker?

It means taking time each day to create something, no matter how small, before handling tasks like fixing problems or responding to messages.

Why is the act of creation important to the speaker?

Creating something, even something small, helps the speaker feel productive and reinforces their sense of control and purpose.

How does the speaker view the difference between creating something and doing nothing?

The speaker sees the difference as 'binary,' with even a small act of creation making a significant emotional and psychological difference.