Quotes
“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Your content has to make contact with the physical world” — Ayodeji Awosika.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffett.
"Your destiny is too important to be derailed by someone else’s drama." — Anonymous
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me?” — Ayn Rand.
"Staying Alert + Being Curious = Unlimited Opportunities" — Teronie J. Donaldson - (Yep that's me Cool Right?)
Notes/Observation
Watch out for destructive thought patterns.
“I would, coulda, shoulda…..did this/that” is an example of a destructive thought pattern because you play Monday morning quarterback.
Monday morning quarterbacking is when after watching a football game on Sunday, you dissect critical moments and say the quarterback should have done this play or ran this way, etc., but there is nothing that you can do because what is done is done.
When you play Monday morning quarterback, you start to foster regret and constantly relive that moment because you were unhappy with the outcome.
Such behavior can weaken your future decision-making because you start to doubt your confidence, which might play into other areas.
The best solution is to be mindful of these thoughts you ruminate over. Then, realize once the moment has passed, all you can do is move on and learn from it.
Do your best not to beat yourself up; allow some personal grace. Focus on the solution and be comfortable with your choice.
Articles
The Person You Will Be In 5 Years Depends on These Six Things.
60 Thoughts on Risk-Taking That Will Encourage You to Get Over Your Fear of Taking Risks.
Watched
I watched interviews pertaining to the books I read this week.
Strategy
Create a not-to-do list of time-wasting actions and refer to it frequently
Write down ideas that interrupt your workflow and go back to them later.
I find this strategy very helpful especially during writing. My mind goes to many different things during that process and it can be easdy to get side tracked.
Books of the Week
For decades, serial entrepreneur James Prince presided over Rap-A-Lot Records, one of the first and most successful independent rap labels. In his memoir, he explains how he earned his reputation as one of the most respected men in Hip Hop. By staying true to his three principles of heart, loyalty, commitment, and unwavering faith in God, he has defeated many adversaries. Whether battling the systemic cycle of poverty, record label executives, boxing promoters, or corrupt DEA agents, Prince has always emerged victorious.
Respect isn't given, it's earned. In recounting his compelling life story, Prince analyzes the art and science of earning respect - and giving respect - and how to apply these principles to your own life.
I was fascinated by J Prince for a while now I have heard his name many times over the years but didn't know his story. I regained interest when he brokered a truce between Drake and Kanye West and managed to get them to do a concert together as a benefit to free Larry Hoover. I kept seeing his name pop up in unfamiliar places and clearly, he is a man that commands a certain type of respect. Figures like him usually play behind the scenes and they are the ones that make things happen. Overall a good read.
They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South, Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers challenges the idea that white women were passive bystanders to the slave economy in the US, instead of demonstrating their active participation in its structures of brutality and exploitation. Compellingly written and centering on the testimonies of formerly enslaved people, this award-winning book is an important contribution to both historiography and contemporary politics as it adds to an ongoing conversation about the scope of women’s agency – and white women’s culpability – in the nineteenth century, writes Ben Margulies.
This was a tough book, as the content is graphic. Every time I read about history I have to read it objectively so as to not get mad or put my own feelings involved. But this book is one that will make you think about how people can be so cruel and how a system can turn a blind eye in the name of profits. THIS IS A MUST-READ. As the book is tough in terms of emotion it is necessary to understand history so it doesn't get repeated.
Question
It is not a problem to think over an issue, especially if we are emotionally attached. However, the issue with overthinking comes when we let overthinking stop us from creating solutions or taking action.
What are some ways you overthink?
What are some tactics you use to combat overthinking?