Consumption Over Implementation

Original Post on Facebook (EOL: EShift), copied directly from the FB post to here. Some of the posts I’ve shared in my private groups that end up being the most related-to by others are the ones I go deep into my heart and find the courage to express, even if it’s embarrassing, shed’s light on a certain dark part of who I am, or even seems “unnecessary” to share for me but ends up being needed for others.

Originally posted May 13th, 2018 at 7:56 pm

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Taking so many notes, saving so much stuff, and not using any of it.

(i.e., “Darkness” #2 from Call #2)

It seemed helpful to get it out last time, mostly for me, but others seemed to relate as well. — If it’s something you relate with, I’d love to hear your take/experience too.

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I spend so much of my time consuming things, reading things, watching things … and not actively utilizing what I learn.

While the point for me isn’t to “do every single thing I learn,” as I think lots of what we consume feeds into our subconscious, and that there can be value in decompressing/relaxing when it comes to consuming entertainment…

For me there’s a huge contrast between how much I “consume” and how much I actually implement.

To the point that I have hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of “notes” I’ve taken from various webinars, videos, inspirational stuff, books, facebook posts … etc. And I would say that most of the time I re-read or reference less than 10% of them. A lot of what I written ends up being similar if not the same as what I’ve written before – because I get “inspired” again. — Which in a way can be useful to emphasize what is (still) important.

Why do I do this?

I think maybe I’m just afraid of taking the next step, of actually moving forward and trusting myself.

Like my first ‘darkness post’ on “jealousy/attachment,” this probably stems from a lack of self-love and self-trust.

I am getting to the point that I think I would probably fair the same, if not better – if I took virtually ZERO notes on anything for some time. And just trusted what felt like the right thing to do in that moment.

I look at things like Google Keep and my OneTab (500+ saved chrome tabs) and I realize I don’t actually use those saved tabs and notes 98% of the time. Most of the time I end up searching for it again simply when I actually need it. I have so much saved stuff that I don’t actually know that I have something “useful” stored for me for later.

So my next process is a combination of the following:

(1) Stop taking so many notes, stop saving so many tabs, links or whatever.

I’m becoming more aware of my “saving” habits when I’m watching something (even Kyle’s stuff) and not writing it down just because I heard it.

(2) Only take notes and save stuff that is really-super-hyper-muchly-very important. Aka the stuff I can implement now or asap.
When I have less notes, it creates more emphasis on the things that are “most important” or “most relevant” for me in that moment or period of my life.

(3) Keep appropriate “buckets” for my projects and only keeping in the most important things in there.

As I pursue minimalism, this is creating more open space for me to “sort my projects” with. Now I can simply pick up a stack of papers/binders for one project and work on it. Or open one folder on Chrome/Drive and have that be everything I need for my project. The less I have to go looking for all the relevant stuff, the more present I can be.

(4) Archive everything else that’s not super relevant and trusting that I can find it online with ease or within my subconscious.

For my paper notes, I literally just have a box that I throw papers into as I periodically purge “motivational” stuff or other to-do lists; when time passes, what was “inspirational” or “important” then may not be anymore. I still struggle with saving things, so even though this box goes into the closet at the end of the year, it’s at least getting it out of my field of vision and takes it out of that space in my head that could be used for what’s actually important.

(5) Intentionally create time to “sit down and look at stuff” that I’ve written or other saved bits of content – either in the morning for personal mindset/heartset stuff, or later in the day for the various “project buckets.”

Simply being present and immersing myself in what’s important is probably the most important of it all. Creating and sticking to some kind of morning ritual has been an ongoing process, but gradually improving my life in this area; meditation, reading my personal declarations, values, north stars, etc., help me to get in that right frame of mind/heart and keeps me in the present instead of consuming content.

In a nutshell for me: save only the most relevant, stay in the present moment, trust my subconscious, and create time to go through what’s relevant (and then implement it).

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Curious to know if others go through something similar – and maybe what has worked for you or what your take is on your experience with this. 

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Follow-up (May 24, 2018)

I received a lot of great comments from people in the group and some of my favorite takeaways from them (i.e., these are not my suggestions/advice, but are what resonated well with me and want to incorporate myself):

“There needs to be a scheduled processing time for the notes. Otherwise, it is wasted effort.” – J

I end up feeling really great when I spend a couple of hours just going through saved stuff and deciding whether or not it’s going to be useful (or whether I’m honestly going to do something with it).

“Consider taking notes of the ideas that come to your mind rather than what the person is saying. The ideas triggered by a lesson are more valuable than the teaching.” – J

Taking notes on ideas that come up, the inspired actions and the “things I can do” with what I’m learning is a really great idea. That’s a great way to not only focus on what I can personally do, tangibly, but also in helping me place an emphasis on what is coming through “for and because of me.” In other words: practicing this means creating more confidence and faith in yourself and what you can do.

“A friend shared something interesting with me the other … ‘if it’s important, you’ll remember it – not by writing it down or saving it!’ I have SO much information that I’ve never looked at and when I do come across it I usually laugh because I’ve implemented it or discarded it already!” – L

“… Find out what you are distracting yourself from. What triggers you to consume? …” – M

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Photo by William Iven on Unsplash