A quick lesson on self-love and your own evolution

This one's a bit of a heart-on-sleeve post, and it's about something I feel very deeply about: Self-help and the idea of becoming the best version of yourself

I don't see self-help as fixing something that's broken in a shame-y way at all. I see it as having the self-awareness and courage to notice where things aren't working, and being proud of yourself for noticing. Because once you can see something clearly, you actually get a choice.

To me, being honest with yourself about your flaws isn't a bad thing. It's a rare and really important quality. Introspection is a skill. Growth is a skill. Learning how to look at yourself kindly and honestly feels like one of the most powerful things you can do.

A big admission

If I'm being really real for a sec (and this is hard to admit), five years ago I was a completely different person. I was hurt, angry at the world, resentful, confused, zero confidence. Things were happening that I didn't yet have the tools to deal with, and healing hadn't started yet, it was just this vague ache of knowing I wasn't okay, but wanting to be better.

Fast forward to now and I honestly feel like the opposite. I've healed a lot. I know myself. I trust myself. I feel content in a way I didn't even know was possible. And I genuinely don't think I've ever been happier in my life.

A huge part of that has been meditation. Specifically, using the Waking Up app by Sam Harris. I meditate every single day, and when I go for my morning runs, I listen to his lectures. It's been so transformative and everyone in my life can see it. This is not a sponsorship, unfortunately lol. I wish it was. But it's genuinely just really good.

Yoga's been part of it too, and just generally being on a very mindful, slightly spiritual, definitely intentional journey over the last few years.

My main goal in life now is simple: practising acceptance of reality exactly as it is, with peace and equanimity. Showing up with loving kindness. Softening instead of hardening. Letting life be life and people be people.

What this has to do with business

I think self-care is the first step of running a successful business. Not scaling. Not systems. Not optimisation. Taking care of your mind. Creating a life that actually feels like your dream life. Loving who you are, how you work, how you live, and being proud of that foundation.

The productivity rule I haven't stopped thinking about

In that same vein, I learned something recently that felt like such a kind way to think about productivity. It's Oliver Burkeman's Rule of 3-3-3, and I haven't stopped thinking about it.

Here's the version that stuck with me:

Three hours on one meaningful project:

Something important, something you care about. The thing that always gets pushed because emails feel urgent. You don't have to finish it. You just show up for three hours.

Three small, slightly annoying tasks:

The ones you keep avoiding but that actually only take 5–30 minutes. Sending the email. Booking the thing. Fixing the tiny issue.

Three maintenance things:

Exercise, meditation, cleaning, cooking, emails, life admin. Nothing impressive. Just keeping the wheels on so tomorrow isn't harder than today.

I love this because it's firm but kind. It doesn't pretend we can do everything and actually, it only amounts to maybe max 6 hours of work a day. But that's such a great way to stay consistently productive without over-promising things to yourself.

If you're on a meditation journey, or use the Waking Up app, I'd genuinely love to hear about it.