We’re almost a quarter of the way through the century. Surprise.
I used to love December at the office. In my friend's words, “It's the most lols-y time of the year.” Everything's quiet.
People aren't doing much. It's the perfect time to take a break.
This is the first time in years I've not had a corporate job in December. Everything's quiet.
People aren't doing much. It’s the perfect time to make progress on my crazy ideas.
I probably sound delusional. But this December, my goals look very different than December of any other year.
What changed?
The Deadline Exists Even If You Don’t Perceive It
People procrastinate their dreams because there’s no deadline. Or so they think.
Most people don’t realize this until death, or another life-changing experience, smacks them in the face. It might be a cancer scare. A sudden death in the family. A depressive spiral so intense it shifts your entire perspective on life.
Some call it a quarter-life crisis. Others, a mid-life crisis.
If you’re lucky, this hits early in life and you survive.
Death can strike at any point. Tens of millions of people in the US alone got COVID and never fully recovered. Life as you know it is simply not guaranteed.
I say this from a very positive mindset.
Have You Thought About Death Today?
Maranasati is the Buddhist meditation practice of being mindful of death.
The point is that death is inevitable. It’s universally uncertain how much time you have left.
It’s not morbid. On the contrary, it’s a strong reason to be grateful for and take advantage of everything you have now.
What if you or someone you loved were to die tomorrow?
What would you make sure to say to them?
Would you be proud of how you spent your last day?
In essence, time is running out. How much time? Nobody knows. So why do we act like we have infinite time?
You are alive. That itself is filled with overwhelming opportunity.
Spread positivity whenever you can. Say nice things to friends and strangers.
Be intentional about how you spend your time. Find your ideal balance between work and play.
Time is precious. Life is precious. Don’t spend yours waiting for death.
Some Extra Anti-Motivation
So we’re all going to die. Now what?
What if you don’t know what you want in life? What if you don’t have a passion or clear purpose, or even a short to mid-term goal?
Interestingly, most people are actually crystal clear on what they don’t want.
Forget goals, focus on anti-goals. Some anti-goals of mine include:
A career that feels meaningless
A body with limited capabilities
A relationship that takes away from life
A mind that’s constantly stressed, depressed, and anxious
A life that’s the same as everyone else’s
It’s easy to see how to avoid these outcomes:
Bring creativity and hard problem-solving into everything I do, in or outside of a job
Move, dance, and maintain a body I can keep strong and mobile for as long as possible
Be very selective about the people I allow in my life
Expand my comfort zone and reflect on my experiences to build mental resilience
Be authentically myself, especially if it means not caring what other people think
If the thought of death isn’t enough to motivate you, picture your absolute disaster life. Fill in the gaps to build out your dream life.
This Week: Try It Yourself
Write out a list of your anti-goals. Include everything you can think of, even if it feels small and trivial. “Being bad at chess” counts too.
This Week’s Update
In the spirit of deadlines and taking advantage of the last month of the year, I’m doing a 30-day mindset series on Instagram and TikTok. Follow along if social media’s your thing. =)
Hi, I’m Kat! Welcome to my newsletter—your weekly dose of mindset, perspective, and mental health for sustainable success.
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— Kat