The Yaaas Column | The Eisenhower Matrix, Feedback, Potential & Unalome
Hi frens,
I've had a crappy past few weeks, so I'm using this forum to compile positive and motivational things to stay optimistic.
Yaaas Worthy Finds
#1 The Eisenhower Matrix
I've been struggling with prioritizing tasks lately, and it's become overwhelming. It seems like all the tasks are priorities. Long-term deadlines are a must, but countless short-term tasks waste time needed to progress on long-term projects. Is this what they call a Catch-22?
Logically, I can only see a solution if days magically become longer, I get more help, or I prioritize tasks by setting boundaries. Hence, the Eisenhower Matrix. Sahil Bloom writes a good summary of the tool here.
Essentially, the goal is to determine if the task at hand is urgent vs. not urgent and important vs. not important. Based on these categorizations, tasks can be placed in their respective matrix quadrants for prioritization and delegation.
#2 A quote on feedback
Recently, I've been thrown into a lot of new and unfamiliar situations, many of which I did not thrive in. As a result, I received a lot of feedback, and it was hard to feel like I was performing adequately. This quote in James Clear's newsletter helped put this into perspective:
The trick to viewing feedback as a gift is to be more worried about having blind spots than hearing about them.
#3 A quote on potential
Another quote from James Clear's newsletter that I found comfort in:
People usually judge you based on where you are at currently, not what you could become eventually. Don't let one comment stop you from trying. File it away or use it as fuel. Focus on getting better. Someone else's analysis of your current position doesn't tell you anything about your current potential.
#4 Unalome
In an attempt to find a symbol as a reminder to enjoy the process before the destination, I came across the unalome symbol.
It's a Buddhist symbol that represents the path we take in life. The twists and turns in the lines symbolize the messy journey of life, facing struggles, setbacks, and lessons learned. As the line continues up, it becomes straight, leading into dots indicating having reached your goal.
A mindset like this is difficult for me to accept because I've always strived for perfection. Someone recently advised me to give myself some grace, which I know is logical but feels shameful. I know this thought process doesn't make sense, so I'm working through a mindful self-compassion workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer to cultivate more self-compassion. I'll let you know how it goes.
