I'm doing #ship30for30 because there's something I want out of it: to publish more writing. But I am feeling some resistance to it. I'm put off by its social-media-marketing vibes.

There's a fear that a program with this vibe will not help me produce writing that matters to me. Writing that deeply examines values and moves people.

But writing surely won't matter if it's never read...

So I'm going to show up and do the work. And the work within the work. See, there's an old belief, held by a young part of the mind: "I'll be safe if I follow all the rules."

This one has been in the subconscious all my life, vigilantly noting rules, framing everything in terms of obligation, reward & punishment. So as soon as it comes across a program like this, the first thought is, "How do I follow all these rules?" Not, "Which of these ideas do I want to try?"

So the work within the work is: Be aware of this part, have compassion for it, and remember you have a choice.

Try following some rules you don't yet understand, because there's no substitute for learning by doing. Stick with a new practice long enough to get a feel for what it's about. Then practice not doing it.

How long is long enough? Coaches & community can give invaluable guidance, but ultimately it's up to your own intuition.

That's the beauty of this work. There's no right answer. Only developing your intuition. Learning how to learn. Also, learning how to feel safe. More on that to come.