Craig Constantine

Change is good →

Published April 10, 2022 · All posts on Apr 10

Total efficiency constrains us. We become super invested in maintaining the status quo because that is where we excel. Innovation is a threat. Change is terrifying. Being perfect at something is dangerous if it’s the only thing you can do.
~ Shane Parrish from, Getting Ahead By Being Inefficient

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Change is good. (Although, Don Draper’s comment stands, making a different point.) Today I’m making a big change to some of my personal routines. I want different results than I’m currently getting… or pessimistic-me would say, I want some results rather than the none I’m currently getting. I’m not going to dive into what exactly I’m changing.

Instead, I want to touch on the how I’m changing things. I imagined a blank slate— a day with nothing. Then, what’s something I’d like to do? Okay, let’s put that into my day, (or week, month, life, etc..) Then, what’s something I keep “falling into?” …some habit that I see repeating, which I want to avoid. Okay, put something in which blocks that habit. One might have some non-negotiable blocks. (I’ll point out that those are not truly non-negotiable. They’re just costly to change.) Okay, I’ll put those back into my day.

The hard part is not putting too much back in. It’s the same as with packing my bag for a trip. I set out what I want to take. Then I pack the bag. I assess the degree of over-stuffage. (Notice the verb “to lug” lies within “luggage.”) Next, I unpack the bag, and reduce things. Finally, I repack the bag.

So, when is the last time you dumped out your luggage?

This is the last time →

Published April 9, 2022 · All posts on Apr 9 · Perspective, 7 for Sunday

There was, or will be, a last time for everything you do, from climbing a tree to changing a diaper, and living with a practiced awareness of that fact can make even the most routine day feel like it’s bursting with blessings. Of all the lasting takeaways from my periodic dives into Stoicism, this is the one that has enhanced my life the most.
~ David Cain from, The Last Time Always Happens Now

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This is by far the most important thing I’ve learned in my several decades. I’ve written about this previously, try my “perspective” tag for some tastes, but this item bears endless repeating. Do it as if it is the last time. Think of it, in the moment, as if it is the last time. And for a bonus multiplier—but don’t do this too often or you get disappointed too—think about that thing you’re about to do, the same way. Tomorrow, when I ____ , that will be the last time I get to _____ .

The doldrums →

Published April 8, 2022 · All posts on Apr 8 · 7 for Sunday

[T]he comfort zone. This is the bane of all athletes, the enemy of all entrepreneurs and creative[s], and the graveyard of dreams.
~ Dan Edwardes from, Risk and Reward

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This is a ubiquitous problem. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “stuck in the doldrums“? It’s a literal place where there isn’t much wind, and thus the bane of old-timey sailors. But the metaphorical doldrums are just as real. You can avoid the literal doldrums. You can at best only try to avoid the metaphorical ones. Whether it’s literal or metaphor though, the way out is the same: Concerted, intentional effort to go somewhere else.

If only →

Published April 7, 2022 · All posts on Apr 7

The day is actually quite spacious, if we don’t try to overfill it.
~ Leo Babauta from, Unrushed

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It took me far too long to learn this lesson. Or, perhaps I should practice improving my self-talk: I’m so glad I understand this now. For a couple months early in 2022 I had a sticky-note about “urgency?” on my monitor. That had a profound effect on me. Is the house on fire? …okay, then where is the urgency coming from? Hint, Craig: You brought the urgency to the situation.

But, why? Why does the urgency creep in for me? I make long (long loong) arguments out in my mind about how each of the things that I’m doing, represents an intentional choice. At one time, I used to allow other people to choose for me. (I know, right… That’s nuts.) But these days, I’m working out the lesson that just because I choose, that doesn’t mean it’s a good choice. One choice, two choices, three choices, four, five, six… and the day is over-full. Quick! All these things need to be done—I chose them. Hello, urgency.

Social with Damien Puddle →

Published April 6, 2022 · All posts on Apr 6 · Movers Mindset

Social with Damien Puddle

What insights can be gained about the culture, practice, and academic study of Parkour?

The conversation explores how Parkour evolved into a subject of academic research and its broader cultural implications.

I just got so interested in Parkour that I tried to spin every single project of any kind that I did, towards Parkour. Because I realized there was no— there’s hardly any research written about it at all.
~ Damien Puddle (3:50)

The conversation covers the cultural and academic dimensions of Parkour, including its growth as a global practice. Parkour’s physical techniques are explored, particularly how they contribute to biomechanical understanding and injury prevention. This ties into broader academic efforts to document and analyze Parkour, positioning it as a boundary object uniting diverse interpretations.

Attention is given to the social and philosophical aspects of Parkour. These include its global adoption, differences in regional practices, and how practitioners perceive and engage with the discipline. The conversation concludes with reflections on the broader significance of Parkour as both a personal journey and a collective cultural phenomenon.

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Authenticity with Aaradhya Tiwari →

Published April 6, 2022 · All posts on Apr 6

How do personal approaches to podcasting, storytelling, and authenticity evolve over time and influence podcast production?

A storyteller shares insights on transitioning from solo episodes to engaging interviews.

If it’s not the real me— If it’s not something I love to do, then it won’t be authentic enough to actually go forward with it.
~ Aaradhya Tiwari (8:46)

The conversation explores the evolution of podcasting as a personal and creative medium. Aaradhya reflects on the transition from solo episodes to guest interviews, emphasizing the challenge of overcoming initial fears of rejection and the perfectionist tendencies that often accompany such projects. The importance of authenticity in podcasting is a recurring theme, with a focus on how genuine connections and natural conversations enhance the listening experience.

A mindfulness approach to creativity also features prominently. Observing daily life and being present in the moment are identified as essential practices for sparking creativity and storytelling. The discussion also touches on navigating differences in perspectives during interviews and how such exchanges can enrich a podcaster’s understanding and production quality.

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Rhyming →

Published April 6, 2022 · All posts on Apr 6

There comes a moment in doing your reading where new work begins to rhyme. When you start to see the connections. When you understand who influenced the person you’re engaging with right now.
~ Seth Godin from, On doing the reading

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I find it difficult to figure out when to shift from empty-cup, learn-everything mode into the mastery mode. Godin’s insight about “rhyming” strikes me as a great test. In the beginning of some new learning adventure, everything is new and everything is surprising. The idea of noticing when a lot of things start to rhyme… of noticing when you can tell who or what influenced this thing you’re currently studying… that is when you notice that you have shifted into the mastery level of practice. Mastery does not—not by a long shot!—mean you are done. It’s more like the point where the airplane pivots and leaps into the sky: Now I am ready to begin my own journey.

Nope nope nope →

Published April 5, 2022 · All posts on Apr 5

The History of Philosophy is an interactive tool enabling users to dig into a visual timeline of 2,500 years of philosophical thought and discover lines of agreement and divergence.
~ Ahmed Kabil from, The History of (Western) Philosophy

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I glanced at this when it appeared in my RSS feed and I had two simultaneous thoughts: “Wow, I should really dig into—” And, “RUN AWAY!” Because, this is exactly the sort of maximally complicated data visualization that I would create.

What we seem to have forgotten →

Published April 4, 2022 · All posts on Apr 4

Here is what we seem to have forgotten: America is not some finished work or failed project but an ongoing experiment. And it is an experiment that, by design, will never end. If parts of the machine are broken, then the responsibility of citizens is to fix the machine—not throw it away.
~ James Mattis from, The Enemy Within

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I’ll just drop that there.

…and I’ll go on to add that it’s interesting how, through loops and curly-Q’s, I often find myself at the same place. There’s a copy of The American Idea: The Best of The Atlantic Monthly in my currently-reading stack.

Seek to learn →

Published April 3, 2022 · All posts on Apr 3 · Books

Embracing a growth mindset means to get pleasure out of changing for the better (inward rewarding) instead of getting pleasure in being praised (outward rewarding.) […] to seek as many opportunities to learn as possible is the most reliable long-term growth strategy.
~ Sönke Ahrens from, How to Take Smart Notes

Ahrens of course discusses, and gives credit where credit is due, to Carol Dweck’s ideas. (See Dweck’s, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.) Her comment about “reliable long-term growth strategy” struck me as insightful. Her use of, “most reliable,” is an understatement. What other strategy would even be reliable?

If I want to grow, I need to learn. If I want to learn, I need to maximize those opportunities.

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