Welcome to Issue 101 of Clearly YOU. Every second Wednesday, I serve up ideas that help you share the clearest, realest, most unforgettable version of yourself with the world. Not a subscriber? Let's fix that: https://kimscaravelli.com/newsletter/
Today was a hard day to write a newsletter.
For the past nine months, a significant portion of every day has been spent painfully separating from my 35+ year marriage.
Sometimes work is a welcome relief from the overthinking, grieving, and occasional panic. But there are also days when the enormity of it all takes over and it’s damn near impossible to settle into the silliness of my regular routines.
Today, I’m signing a mortgage.
On the plus side, this is a massive over-the-finish-line moment. I’m exhausted, but I made it. By the end of the day, I’ll own my home and have housing security.
Well… I will also have a massive mortgage and a family income that’s less than half of what it was a year ago. But I’m calling it a win.
It’s a big day.🏆 And I was sorely tempted to skip writing Issue 101. The voice in my head whispered, “It’s only one issue. You can do it tomorrow.”
The voice isn’t wrong.
But that same argument might show up tomorrow. And maybe the day after that.
So today I’m writing this issue. It will not be my best. It will not be filled with pearls of wisdom.
It will be mediocre.
There. I said it. And the sky didn’t fall.
Two weeks from now, maybe Issue 102 will be brilliant.
I don’t have a crystal ball. But I do know this: consistency works. And the occasional dollop of mediocrity is not fatal.
Stopping is the problem.
Stopping and starting. Losing momentum. Drifting further from the things you want to accomplish.
So today, I wrote Issue 101.
Cool Quote
“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.”
Octavia Butler, Writer
How to Embrace a Mediocre Moment
I think we're all rather hard on ourselves. We set high standards, lean towards perfectionism, and view our work through a critical eye. These habits make it hard to do stuff when we know the end product may be mediocre.
That said, consistency is priceless and no one performs at their highest level all the time. NO ONE.
So on a day like this, when the bar simply has to be lowered, here are three things that help me embrace reality and just get 'er done:
- Set a timer. I gave myself 40 minutes. Enough time to fall down at least one small rabbit hole (like the search for a good quote) and climb back out again.
- Condense the output. This issue doesn't include a "Stuff Worth Sharing" section, which is a bummer, because I like sharing things. But shaving off that one requirement meant I could finish within my 40-minute window.
- Send it. Accept that whatever you have at the end of that timed period is what DONE looks like.
Lowering your own expectations can be uncomfortable. But try looking at it another way.
Today, I didn't skip writing my newsletter. I wrote it. I sent it.
And TODAY, that's not a failure. It's a success.
For the Word Nerds
Get 'er done is a commonplace phrase on Canada's East Coast. But it's more than a phrase.
It's a mindset.
When you decide to get 'er done, you roll up your sleeves, do the thing, and give yourself credit for the effort.
Perfection not required.
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Want a little help writing with clarity? My book, Making Words Work, goes deeper into writing that’s clear, confident, and human.
🩷 Thanks for reading. I’m glad you’re here.
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