How to Be Here

1. Your life is an unfinished creation; you are a co-creator.

What will you do with your blinking line?

The blinking line. Every blank page, new day, or challenge represents a blinking line, waiting for you to bring something into existence. This perspective views the world not as finished, but as an ongoing, dynamic creation. Ancient texts, like the first chapter of the Bible, depict a world in constant becoming, inviting humanity to participate.

You create your life. Your life isn't just happening to you; you actively shape it through your choices, time, and energy. This is fundamentally creative work, participating in the world's ongoing creation. The concept of ex nihilo (out of nothing) applies to our very existence and our ability to make something from what we've been given.

All work is creative. Whether you're an accountant, a parent, or a CEO, your work contributes to the world's shape. Even suffering can be a creative act, as we choose how to respond and what new good might emerge. Life itself is a mysterious, inexplicable gift, a truth that underpins our capacity to create.

2. Face the blank page by getting out of your head and ignoring comparisons.

Who am I not to do this?

Intimidation is normal. Staring at the blinking line or blank page can be paralyzing, prompting the question, "Who are you to do this?" This doubt often stems from internal voices and comparisons to others. To move forward, you must get out of your head and silence these destructive messages.

Ignore who you aren't. Focusing on your perceived inadequacies or past failures drains precious energy. Similarly, fixating on "them"—those who seem to have it easier or are more successful—is a distraction. As Jesus told Peter, when asked about another disciple's path, "What is that to you?"

Comparisons steal joy. Comparing your life to others, especially based on limited information, robs you of joy. Everyone, regardless of experience or success, faces their own blank pages and challenges. Recognizing that everybody starts from the same place can be liberating, shifting the question from "Who am I to do this?" to the empowering "Who am I not to do this?"

3. Discover your "ikigai," your reason for being, through exploration.

Your ikigai is your reason for being.

Find what gets you up. The Japanese concept of ikigai describes what gives your day meaning and purpose. It's your calling, vocation, or path, and it's something you're always in the process of figuring out. Finding it requires patience, insight, courage, and honesty.

Explore and listen. You discover your ikigai by trying different things, following curiosity, and paying attention to what grabs your attention. Listen to your life, reflecting on moments of connection or strong responses to injustice. Sometimes, the "someone should do something about that" is you.

Ikigai evolves. Your ikigai may or may not involve your paycheck, and it will likely change over time. Don't let others' opinions or financial pressures dictate your path. Take steps, make leaps, and try new things that clarify your ikigai, even if others don't understand. Sometimes, simply reframing your current work reveals its deeper meaning.

4. Focus on the "craft" of the work itself, not just external success.

There is a difference between craft and success.

New fuel fades. Starting something new is exciting, fueled by novelty and adrenaline. However, this "new fuel" quickly burns out. To endure and thrive long-term, you must discover why you truly love the work itself, beyond external validation like fame or money.

Love the craft. Craft is a profound gratitude for the opportunity to do the work, a relish for details, and an awareness that effort builds skill and character. It's a deep respect for the process and a recognition of being part of a larger tradition. Craft is humbling, knowing there's always room to learn and grow.

Success is fleeting. Success, often tied to external goals and outcomes, can be a seductive but ultimately unsatisfying motivator. It constantly creates new anxieties and rarely delivers the lasting joy it promises. Craft, however, centers you, reconnects you to your ikigai, and finds joy in the present work itself, regardless of external results.

5. Start with "the 1" and suspend judgment; you don't need to know the whole path.

Stop thinking about shit that ain’t happenin’.

Overwhelm prevents starting. We often don't begin because the entire path seems too daunting, or we get stuck worrying about future steps or potential problems. But you only need to know the first step, "the 1." The seventeenth step is sixteen steps away.

Focus on the next step. Break down any large task or goal into the smallest possible next action. Focus only on completing that "1." This requires mental fortitude to
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Last updated: May 4, 2025