October 8Some Absorbing Errand
True happiness, we are told, consists in getting out of one's self; but the point is not only to get out—you must stay out; and to stay out you must have some absorbing errand.
Henry James—Roderick Hudson (1875)
Entrepreneurial chaos is fertile ground for getting “in one's self.” You've never done it surely, but it's likely you've heard others talk about the resistance they refer to as “head trash.”
Sometimes the answer is to stop thinking so much already and just go pull some weeds. Not metaphorical weeds. Really, go out and get dirty, rake some mucked-up leaves, turn over some pots, plant some dill, change your mental and physical chemistry with intention.
Now, after the medicine of “some absorbing errand,” go back to that thing that captures your ambitions, deserves your aspirations, and consumes your efforts, happy to be out of your mind.
Challenge Question
- What's your go-to method to get out of overthinking things? When is the last time you did it?
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access