Throw the label, keep the action
Make consistency a lot easier...
I’ve always wanted to be a ‘creator’ and a ‘dancer,’ but I never considered myself a chef or a writer.
That’s why it surprised me to realize that I actually cook and write more freely, more consistently, and with far more joy than I ever create or dance.
And I think it comes down to the pressure of labels.
Labels come with standards.
Labels make you care more about how you’re perceived than about the act itself.
Labels shift the focus from the process to the outcome.
When I cook, I don’t worry about making the best dish. It’s about nourishment and taste, something personal. If I mess up, I just shrug it off. No big deal. But when I create content with the goal of becoming a ‘creator,’ any piece that falls short sends me into a spiral of self-doubt. It can take days to shake it off and get back to it.
Writing is simply an expression of my thoughts—easy, honest, cathartic. I don’t care about calling myself a writer; I just write. And because I approach it without the pressure of a label, I actually enjoy it most of the time.
Dance is the opposite. I wanted so badly to be a ‘good dancer’ that I became hyper-aware of every flaw, every misstep, constantly thinking of ways to improve. It drained the joy right out of it.
I’ve realized that what I’ll keep doing consistently is what brings me joy—not the things that make me feel like I’m not enough. And often, labels do just that.
Don’t you think?
Joy Circle
Last week I conducted my first-ever Joy Circle! It was a big milestone for me and I was so glad to hear that people who joined loved it too. So, I’m doing it again this week with a new set of fun activities!
Little Joys
“Joy is always around if only we pause to acknowledge it.”
With life's burdens and big ambitions, it's easy to overlook our everyday joys. These are my small joys from last week -
I had a special guest over and I cooked my coconut chickpea curry for her. She loved it.
I deep cleaned my house three days ago, and the joy of a tidy space has stayed with me every day since.
I attempted making mocha coffee and it was terrible!
I had a fun call with the people I work with.
I saw a rainbow after such a long time.
What were your small joys of the week?
It truly is very easy to skim over the everyday joys without acknowledging them. For me, yesterday's walk in the neighborhood I grew up in was joyful. This is in retrospect. However, when I was actually there my mind was only thinking about the changes and about future decisions. Now I will go back and "be in the moment".