Now, Not Later - Issue 05

Confidently Suck

Learn how to confidently suck at anything.

Look, sucking at something and being good at something are no different.

Both are subjective.

While someone might think you suck at something, another person thinks you are truly great at it.

To suck, or to be good.

Neither matter, because they are both a perception.

Perception - “a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression”

So you are telling me that to suck or be good at something is an interpretation? A mere opinion from a “perceiver”?

Okay, so I guess you suck now because someone else interprets you this way.

Congrats, you now suck forever….

Seriously though, this is what stops people from reaching their fullest potential.

The fear of perception.

The worst part about perception is that 99% of the time you make it up in your head.

People naturally pre-meditate the perception “people are going to think I suck”.

or

You actually do something, and immediately think “that person thinks I suck” when that person could care less.

It’s all in your head.

Even if 1% of people think you suck at something, whatever that means.

Do you agree with those people?

Why do you care?

It’s just a thought. That is it.

Now that we have the idea of perception in our grasps, we can move onto how to embrace your suck and become confident at everything, even the things you “suck” at.

If you went to the park with a pair of new rollerblades but you’ve never rollerbladed in your life, odds are you are going to fall.

Odds also are, people will see you fall and think “you suck at rollerblading”.

But YOU, you have 3 options.

1. Decide to turn around and go home before even trying because you fear “sucking”, aka you fear perception.

2. Strap up the blades, give it a try, fall down, feel embarrassed and ashamed because people are looking at you, eventually driving home crying and throwing your rollerblades in the garbage.

3. Realize whether you fall down (suck), or take off flying through the park like a natural (doing great), both are perceptions that don’t matter. You are there to learn, and have some fun. THAT IS IT.

If others want to perceive you as “sucking”, let them.

“Confidently Sucking” is continuing to do what you are doing without batting an eye at “the perceivers”.

And again, “perceivers” represent “sucking” and “being great”.

The focus on YOUR desired outcome is the only thing that matters. If that means making a fool of yourself, so be it. Don’t break the focus of your desired outcome. If your desired outcome is to impress others, your in a heap of trouble and I’m sorry but I can’t help you.

(in reality, that last paragraph is the answer on how to confidently suck)

Lets take this framework into a new aspect of life, I’ll use myself as an example.

I’m newer to making content, and it’s something I am super interested in pursuing a large amount of my time and efforts towards.

But I absolutely fear the perception of sucking.

(I am writing this newsletter to myself)

I’m very vulnerable about where I stand as a person, I struggle with perfectionism, fear of perceptions, as well as many other things.

But here is how I am working through it.

I am using the 3 options I have, the same ones I listed above.

1. Quit before I even try, because I don’t want to confront my fear of how others perceive me.

The outcome of option 1 is worst case scenario.

I will never realize my fullest potential, and never know what it’s like to make a living traveling and making content. I never even tried, there is nothing to be proud of.

2. Post content that others may or may not think “sucks”, and eventually give up because I cared about other peoples opinions MORE than my own goals and I couldn’t overcome it.

The outcome of option 2 is probably the most relatable, and the hardest pill to swallow.

I failed. I wasn’t strong enough to overcome my emotions and GAVE AWAY MY POWER & MY POTENTIALLY AMAZING LIFE OF LIVING OUT MY DREAMS to complete strangers simply because I feared there perception of me.

3. Kept posting content ruthlessly. I learned how to only care about my desired outcome which was to give it everything I had and not give up. I kept going because I enjoyed it, and I knew as long as I kept going for myself and my dreams, I would be proud of myself regardless of my outcome.

The outcome of option 3 can either be you absolutely surpassing your wildest dreams, or still working at them because you never gave up. You’re still growing, overcoming, and still hold all your power. You are proud everyday that you keep going, regardless of where you are.

Alright, I just went deep there.

But to drive this home, “Confidently Sucking” is prioritizing your desired outcomes over other peoples perception.

Choosing to keep your power and focus on building your dream life, instead of giving your power away to someone else.

Even the little things in life, going to your first yoga class and your stiff as a board.

Focus on your desired outcome. Not others staring at you in the mirror.

Focus on your stretch. Focus on your breath.

Confidently suck while your hands don’t go past your knees.

Confidently suck for a couple months and BOOM. You can touch your toes.

See you next week for Issue 06 “The New Standard”.

Til then!

JP.

If you are new to my content, thanks for reading!

Quick about me

I’m a content creator in Los Angeles.

I’ve been creating content for 8+ years for other creators.

I am starting 2024 on a pretty clean slate focusing content creation on my own personal brand & interests.

My content focus is; content creation, mindset, fitness, entrepreneurship, digital products, travel & creative work!

Basically my entire life and everything I learn along the way.

If this sounds relatable to your interests, follow along for the journey and shoot a dm saying hello!

Cheers everyone and see you on the interweb - Jacob