Are you 'productively paralysed?'

Hey Climbers, today —

• How to tell if you’re productively paralysed

• Stackin’ rocks

• And the art of self promotion

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
The Sneaky State of Productive Paralysis

Recently I was watching Chris Williamson’s podcast where he’s chatting with comedian Whitney Cummins, when I heard her say this:

“Perfectionism leads to procrastination, which leads to paralysis.”

Heck yes. Hard agree.

But - there’s something important I think she missed.

When we think of someone who is paralysed, we think of stillness. We think of someone who, instead of moving towards their goals, is sitting starting at a wall.

But the reality is that paralysis is a lot sneaker than that.

Paralysis can be disguised as productivity.

We all have that one friend who has been writing a book, an album or starting a youtube channel for the last ten years.

What these friends may not realise is:

They’re at Cringe Mountain Basecamp

Before Cringe Mountain starts, there’s something called Basecamp.

And at basecamp, there are all these tents you can take a nice little nap in.

And it feels amazing.

You don’t have to confront the gruelling incline of the actual Cringe Mountain, but you’re still making progress… right??

It even looks to others like you’re making progress! Because you’re at basecamp! You’re about to start climbing any moment now! You’re just preparing for the journey ahead, with:

• researching

• finding the ‘right’ equipment

• to do lists

• organising your calendar

• downloading the ‘best’ software

• getting ‘inspiration’

• making it ‘good enough’

But - here’s the thing

(and I say this with love)

((and also directing it mostly at myself))

you can get stuck camping out at basecamp for the rest of your life, always feeling like you’re starting and never actually starting.

Because the only thing that is writing a book is writing the book.

The only thing that is writing an album is writing the album.

The only thing that is starting a youtube channel is starting the youtube channel.

So how do you get out of productive paralysis?

1. Identify that you’re in it (this is the hardest part!)

2. Remember that everything you do in life is just practice

3. Remind yourself that it’s your job to do the work, not judge the work, and

4. Step out of the tent, and just show up!!

You got this!!

CREATIVE INSPO OF THE WEEK
Things that made me feel creative this week

This guy stacking rocks

This creator on Youtube, Ryan Ng, talking about the tension between art and self promotion:

Ok that’s all for now.

Until next time

Keep climbin’

Erica x

pssst! if you got this far, that means you’re a loyal reader so your opinion really matters to me. Do you prefer emails where I’m giving technical advice on social media strategies and branding, or where I’m talking more broadly about creativity and psychology? Or both? Pls hit reply and lmk ❤️