Detachment From The World

That's how you implement your own advice.

Dear Letter-Opener,

Much to the surprise of this newsletter’s avid readers, there’s been a slight change in its name. This change is but a minor one in the grander scheme of things and rest assured, apart from this, there’s not more that will differ. Lord knows that a catastrophic disruption isn’t required with everything that’s going on in the world.

Regardless, I’ve been writing this newsletter for quite a while and this month has been the most inconsistent I’ve been. Although, I knew this was going to be a back-breaking, arduous, long road when I first began, it wasn't until last month that I realized the magnitude of putting in efforts while waiting for results. I took a path that was very different from what my family does and I’ve got a point to prove, so wish me luck.

There are slumps. There always will be. The excitement of starting slowly fades away and the only thing that remains is consistency, not only with your work but with the passion you put into what you’re doing every single day. I’m learning this the hard way. I’m finding the switch box in a very dark room and I’m going to keep flapping my hands around until the light finally shines on my efforts.

During this slump, I’ve received advice and I’m grateful to have a bunch of people around me that I can count on when I’m down.

That’s when I got the idea of what I want to write about next. Writer’s block is real and I’m hoping this newsletter issue can finally end my detour and get me back on track.

The realization I had was that we’re such prolific advice-givers when it comes to other people. Do you ever notice how we pull out our analytical skills and breakdown a situation with such ease when we’re not in the situation ourselves? We’re bestowed upon with Solomon’s wisdom and the rare ‘gift of gab’ when we want to guide and motivate people with advice that we ought to desperately use more often in our lives.

But we can’t.

You see, we’re great at giving advice but not implementing it. We’re great at knowing what is right and wrong, but not knowing the difference between the two when the time comes. We’re great at giving directions but not walking down the road we advised in the first place.

And that’s not because ‘coaches don’t play.’ That’s because it’s more difficult said than done. We don’t factor in the number one deterrent when push comes to shove and that’s emotions.

Think about it. A friend experiencing a bad break-up? Pshh, several fish in the sea. Boss not promoting you? There are better opportunities that await. A loved one passed away? Everyone has to go one day. Not achieving results when you’re giving it everything you got? Stick to the process—the light falls after the darkest hour.

It is unbelievably easy to know what to do but when you’re emotional, your rationale goes for a toss. And that’s because we’re too attached.

Attached to materialistic things, people, places, prestige, money when there always needs to be a sense of detachment in life.

Mind you, I’m not a pessimist that’s advising you to neglect the important things or people in life. I’m merely suggesting attaching yourself to a higher sense of purpose—something that doesn’t or rather can’t disappoint you.

Think about this question deeply.

What is it that you want the world to remember you by?

More often than not, when you think hard and deep about this question, you automatically know what the answer is. It’s the gut that guides. You’re not in it for a beautiful spouse because beauty fades. You’re not in it for the materialistic goods because they’re easily replaced. You’re not in it for the promotion because a job is as fickle as a loosely-strung hair that’s about to be uprooted as you run your fingers through your hair.

So what is that mark that you want to leave on this world?

This doesn’t relate to ambition. You can define your world. Everyone’s world is different. Some aim for an entire country, some for the planet while some for their friends and family.

Select your people and make a mark on them.

Advice is best accepted when you’ve already implemented it. You can’t be a spokesperson without having gone through it yourself—that diminishes credibility.

And while you’re thinking about the two questions, I’m hoping you’ll find whatever it is that makes you happy—a passion that you can earn off of.

Cheers,

Aamer

P.S. Advice is also best given when you’re detached.