Friday (bedtime) story!

by Sinclair, Friday July 30, 2010

I am staring at the screen.  It’s 2:30 am today, Friday.  And I’m actually tired.  That’s just weird.

I think it’s time to make an important distinction – what I talk about when I talk about action.

When I say, commit like hell, or go out there and get it going on, I’m talking about getting yourself really lined up and then taking authentic (to you) action.  I’m not saying, throw spaghetti and all other sorts of materials at the wall to see what sticks, (if anything!).  I’m assuming you’re getting the loud messages being broadcast from the rest of the world – “be careful.  better play it safe.  lemme tell you this list of things that could go wrong, so you run screaming in terror.  don’t stretch too far, you could look like an idiot.”  – so what you really need from me is that person to say – “You already know what you need to know.  You’ve already earned this.  You’re ready to go, whether you know it or not.  So get off your scary story and go write a new one that does your gorgeous self justice.  And oh, when should you do it?  About 30 seconds ago was the perfect time to start.”

When you’re tuned in to your genius and turned on about life, it feels great.  You are inspired (literally: from within) to move forward, to take risks, to jump in or barrel straight ahead.  Mediocrity or hesitation aren’t even blips on the radar screen, when you’re really on.

But that doesn’t mean you never rest.

It means acting on what you’re inspired to do – no more, no less.

Because you’re at choice – we’re all at the choice point, every minute.  Pretty amazing.

I bound out of bed almost every day.  If I don’t, it means something is up and I gotta take note, fast.  Same thing right now – I’ve got roughly 1300 words to write before falling asleep, and 5 hours between now and when I bound out of bed again.

My tough talks kit tip still has to get written for today, a few amazing clients are waiting to hear from me, and I’m pretty sure other stuff too. And you know what? My inspiration is telling me to go to bed.  Doesn’t mean I’ve lost my inspiration, it’s just telling me to go to bed.  And I’m cool with that.  Like I tell people in our sessions together – you haven’t done anything wrong, by not forcing yourself into action.  You knew it wasn’t the right moment, trust that.  You have plenty of time.  And while it would be so much fun to make now the right moment, it’s also ok if it’s not.

So, my darlings, I’m going to bed.  Maybe I’ll write you a go get ‘em post when I wake up in a few hours, maybe I’ll just share this.  It is Friday, after all.  Show of hands – who wants to be a go getter today?  If you want to get a mai-tai instead, I know a good spot for that.  I might beat you to it.

How about you?  What do you do when your inspiration tells you to rest?  Do you listen, or overcompensate?  If you’ve got any good ideas on the topic, share those too!

Related posts:

  1. Friday Story: Do you know how to individualize?
  2. Friday Story: When you all you lack is oomph.
  3. Friday Story: embarrassment and 2.1 cool things
  4. Friday story! Sisyphus vs. the Dreammobile
  5. Leaving the story behind
previous post: You cannot be less than you are. | next post: Don’t wait for the fork.
  • Sylvia

    1. I love that you actually get tired.
    2. I love how you talk about it.
    3. I’m still mulling the choice point thing. VERY cool.
    thank you!

  • Sylvia

    1. I love that you actually get tired.
    2. I love how you talk about it.
    3. I’m still mulling the choice point thing. VERY cool.
    thank you!

  • Drew

    Hi Sinclair – I think this is really important for me, because I’m actually really feeling drained. Normally I push even harder when I’m tired, so this is a good reminder to me that I actually have options, and it’s ok to rest. Thanks. TGIF. :)

  • Drew

    Hi Sinclair – I think this is really important for me, because I’m actually really feeling drained. Normally I push even harder when I’m tired, so this is a good reminder to me that I actually have options, and it’s ok to rest. Thanks. TGIF. :)

  • Jess

    ZOMG. Sooo helpful.
    “When you’re tuned in to your genius and turned on about life… you are inspired to move forward, to take risks… But that doesn’t mean you never rest. It means acting on what you’re inspired to do – no more, no less.”
    Yay Sinclair! I always want more of you.

  • Jess

    ZOMG. Sooo helpful.
    “When you’re tuned in to your genius and turned on about life… you are inspired to move forward, to take risks… But that doesn’t mean you never rest. It means acting on what you’re inspired to do – no more, no less.”
    Yay Sinclair! I always want more of you.

  • http://www.singyourtruth.com Natalie Peluso

    You seem to capture my thoughts like a magical not-so-insomniacal fairy :) I was writing about the need to pause and how important it is to the flow of music. That without the pauses there is no music. And that you listen just as intently during the silence as you do when there is sound. So I like to think that somehow this restful music was wafting into your room and whsipering “Get thee to bed now woman.” Great post as always. ;)

  • http://www.singyourtruth.com Natalie Peluso

    You seem to capture my thoughts like a magical not-so-insomniacal fairy :) I was writing about the need to pause and how important it is to the flow of music. That without the pauses there is no music. And that you listen just as intently during the silence as you do when there is sound. So I like to think that somehow this restful music was wafting into your room and whsipering “Get thee to bed now woman.” Great post as always. ;)
    Natalie Peluso´s last [type] ..Why Fear Is Really About Control

  • http://topsy.com/selfactivator.com/2010/07/30/friday-bedtime-story/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention Friday (bedtime) story! — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fabeku Fatunmise, Charlie Pettus, Abby Kerr, acdolph, Catherine Caine and others. Catherine Caine said: RT @selfactivator: New post – what do you do when you're *inspired* to rest? http://ow.ly/2j1j4 [...]

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    Ha! How right you are. You always make my heart sing.
    I was thinking about John Cage today actually – how sometimes, the pause *is* the music. And isn’t that fascinating.
    Thanks dearest. Lovely to have the ever-ongoing conversation with you.
    xo
    S

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    Ha! How right you are. You always make my heart sing.
    I was thinking about John Cage today actually – how sometimes, the pause *is* the music. And isn’t that fascinating.
    Thanks dearest. Lovely to have the ever-ongoing conversation with you.
    xo
    S

  • http://www.singyourtruth.com Natalie Peluso

    God I love that – the pause *is* the music. Swoon.

  • http://www.singyourtruth.com Natalie Peluso

    God I love that – the pause *is* the music. Swoon.
    Natalie Peluso´s last [type] ..Why Fear Is Really About Control

  • http://susanTblake.com Susan T. Blake

    There’s a reason the pause in the music is called a “rest.” :)

  • http://susanTblake.com Susan T. Blake

    There’s a reason the pause in the music is called a “rest.” :)
    Susan T. Blake´s last [type] ..Creativity- Problem Solving and Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    I love this! Thanks Susan – as usual, the poetry’s in the obvious. ;)
    xo
    Sinclair

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    I love this! Thanks Susan – as usual, the poetry’s in the obvious. ;)
    xo
    Sinclair

  • http://melodykiersz.wordpress.com Melody

    This is so So true! Thanks for the reminder.

    The part I always find so tough is figuring out when it’s inspiration and when it’s habit. I have a tendency towards the rest, so I know I have to keep the fire going and keep things moving more often than not. But sometimes, rest is exactly what I need to keep the fire strong.

  • http://melodykiersz.wordpress.com Melody

    This is so So true! Thanks for the reminder.

    The part I always find so tough is figuring out when it’s inspiration and when it’s habit. I have a tendency towards the rest, so I know I have to keep the fire going and keep things moving more often than not. But sometimes, rest is exactly what I need to keep the fire strong.
    Melody´s last [type] ..Getting Back Into Your Sexy – First Edition