Hey Friends, Fam and Collectors,
Hope this finds you staying cool in the summer heat!
Brief recap: In my last update, I shared about receiving a rejection email for a position I was hoping to get, standing next to the paper towels in Target. In the wave of emotions that came with the rejection, I realized, what I was hoping for more than the position was an answer to the question: How can I be a full-time artist grounded in creative expression as a means towards personal and social liberation? (Here's the full story incase you want a refresh). Gaining clarity on what I really wanted helped empower me to create the solution without being selected for the position.
To do so, I dove into one of my favorite resources for personal empowerment- my planner. I'm someone who loves a paper planner, and I recently came across the idea of a 'productivity planner.' Generally speaking, this category of planners helps you organize tasks, aka get shit done. I tend to create endless to-do lists and have used planners that feed into my desire to write everything down as a line item. However, my most recent planner has helped me to prioritize exactly what shit to get done first, connected to goals I have set.
Mic-drop.
The end.
Haha.
But for real, the connection of daily tasks to long term goals is what I was missing in my previous efforts to get organized. I would get an amazing amount of tasks done but didn't feel like I was moving closer to long term goals. This prioritization of tasks can be outlined by a manager or in a job description, but can feel a bit illusive in pursuing personal/ life goals and entrepreneurship.
The planner I have been into and found really helpful this past month in pursuing creative entrepreneurship and personal development is called the Full Focus Planner. No affiliation link or advertising- just something I'm into and excited to share. It is the most encompassing and grounded approach I've found for organizing which tasks to do and why, related to all aspects of life- not just work. One helpful tip I've learned from the planner so far is to determine which three tasks you want to complete first based on how you want to feel after having completed them. It prompts the question: what three things would make me feel really good to have done by the end of today? This has been very helpful in reining in my run on to-do list and giving me a sense of accomplishment vs exhaustion at the end of the day.
I've introduced the planner to my Dad who navigates ADHD and it has been transformative. This week he accomplished a self-determined “life-long goal” which was to get clear on a monthly budget! Being from a low-income family, finances can be stressful, but his ability to approach something that has caused immense anxiety and overwhelm in the past was amazing to witness. And he felt proud. We have now established weekly Father Daughter dates where I take him out for coffee, we bring our planners, and complete the weekly preview prompt in our planners together. This is what I want from a planner. Something that helps me do the things that are actually important, instead of running around doing “all the things” while still not feeling like I am moving towards what really matters.
A good planner is a tool that empowers me to grow, to prioritize, and to show up for myself and others in meaningful ways. This is what I was hoping the teaching position would help me with, but I am so glad to have been rejected so I could find a way to do that for myself.
With love,
Vessna
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