The Forces We Carry (No. 14)
Every building is in a quiet, constant negotiation with physics. We’re trained to see the forces at play: compression, tension, bending, torsion. But physics doesn’t stop at the building. And it doesn’t stop at our skin.
No. 7 The willpower myth (and what actually works)
In some personal and professional development circles, growth is treated as a solo exercise - something that comes down to willpower and discipline alone. I take issue with this. Hyper-individualism creates the illusion that we're separate from each other, and it frames every shortcoming as a moral failure.
No. 5 Surge Time: Staying Steady When Life Speeds Up
“Surge time” is a busy season when we face more demands than usual, either personal or professional. Sometimes you see them coming, and other times you don’t.
I like to surf, so the analogy of a wave is apt here. How do you ride the wave of surge time, rather than be taken over?
No. 4 Loop-de-Loop: Becoming aware of burnout patterns
I’ve been exploring the neurobiology of burnout. While we often focus on external pressures, deadlines and demands as the main contributor to burnout, research shows that burnout is frequently driven by "unclosed loops", which is the lingering mental and emotional stress cycles we carry through the day.
Thinking of your incomplete to-do list or that performance review with your boss can impact your stress response.
No. 3 Acceptance: Doing your best and still growing
I struggled to write this newsletter.
The past two weeks have been busy with work, and I’m also in the middle of planning a wedding with my fiancé, so our weekends are fuller than they used to be. I’m grateful for it all, and yet when I sat down to write, I felt restless. I changed the topic three times and wasn’t sure I’d finish.
Therefore, the theme I ended up choosing is acceptance.
I chose this theme because whenever we step outside our comfort zone, discomfort is part of the deal. Our nervous systems are wired to respond in familiar ways, and change is scary for most of us, myself included.