Something to help along the way is to have those small products - not projects (Jake Parker) so you can finish them and see them pile up in your “Done” list. You can do this!
That's a helpful way of reframing. Thanks for sharing! What's been helpful to me in this uncharacteristally urgent season of toomuchery has been to not allow the 'PRODUCTIVITY!!!' to stress me out, but instead focus on presence -- just trying to bring the best of what I can bring in each moment to the work at hand. Little at a time! SAID EASIER THAN DONE, IT IS! - not Yoda
Thank you always for your encouragement Brad and your amazing writing. I have a post on my list to write about my own toomuchery, but there’s been toomuchery going on so I haven’t written it, along with about 20 other ideas all clamouring for my attention. This is a keeper. I may need to invest in the poster for my studio 🤍🧡
So encouraged by your kind words and the many ways you so warmly and wisely make Substack and the world a better place. May you know just how much you matter and that you're more than enough for all the toomuchery!
Amber! What an excellent suggestion. I must admit Weezer holds a forever special place in my heart, yet I have fallen off the wagon when it comes to listening to each new release. There was a time, though, when such a thought was unimaginable. The gap between Pinkerton and Green album was my college/high-school years and I was obsessed with whether Rivers would ever pull it together and put anything new out. Now, here we are. Ha. You've given me a gift as I dive back in and remember just how much I still love them.
Hi my name is Sandy Glasser I teach in Mattawan Michigan. This is my 35th year teaching. I follow you on everything and have all your books. I recently wrote a grant to do a community read for our parents using your book Becoming Better Grown Ups with our foundation but was denied:( I haven’t given up Hope on this idea as I think this is such an important book for all to read. I am part of your Joy Rebel club too. I want to share with you the FBI badges my students created. I also wanted to share how my students each made their own figment and wrote their figment represented in their imagination. I sent you email with pictures that I hope you got and wanted to attach picture here to bring you and everyone joy and to thankyou for the work you are doing in the lives of grown ups and children but I can’t find an attach here:(
“Toomuchery” officially added to my vocab. Thanks for giving language to what I haven’t been able to find a word for. Loved this piece and glad to have found you tonight through a re-stack.
My friend Michael Wright reminded me that it's often described as "context collapse". True. Yet less fun to yell than IT'S ALL TOOMUCHERY!!!!! Truly a relative of tomfoolery. haha.
MORGAN!!! I would *love* to catch up soon. Apologies that it's been such an odd season. Will be on the road the next three weeks, but looking forward to being home and at my workshop after Thanksgiving. Was just thinking what fun it would be to be able to open them back up around then. Will let you know. THANK YOU!!!
Oh thank you!! I am so grateful that this post found me at a particular moment in time when I need it most. I’ve been in one of the most challenging periods of my life for several months. The rare moments of thought that I’ve been able to briefly spare on the subject of my creative pursuits have primarily centered around my fears that the daily/ hourly demand to focus all of my internal and external resources on the sudden and unexpected need to secure many of life’s fundamental and basic needs for survival over the past 4-5 months has exhausted my creative reserves and/or permanently shut down the portal to my imagination and creative potential.
This post and your invigorating insights and perspective provided the much needed match to light the spark of hope and trust that will hopefully guide my way through the perceived obstacles and roadblocks to my inner sanctum of creativity with a renewed understanding and confidence in my ability to recommit to my creative projects as well as my ability to access and apply creativity in every aspect of my life - especially in my approach towards navigating the “toomuchery” of my recent (and inevitable future) life challenges and obstacles.
P.S. As a screenwriter who inherently views the world through the narrative lens of three-act structure, I am immediately drawn to the striking similarities between the traditional three-act narrative structure of “The Heroes Journey” and John Hendrick’s illustrative “Guide to Surviving Every Long Project”!
“When toomuchery abounds, we need each other. We need reminders that we’re not alone. We need reminders that there’s good to be done right around us. We need a kind of delightful disruption that invites us to do what so often seems impossible: keep trying”
Is it cheating to send your own quote back to you, to thank you for saying what has been in my heart? “How do we use what little energy we have to create light for ourselves and others when there’s so much that’s wrong in the world?” 🙏🏼☺️ Thank you
Loved this encouraging post. I agree with you and disagree with Yoda. I feel that there is no doing without trying. Trying is the attempt we make to do the things that we want to do. Nobody achieves anything without trying to achieve it.
Brad, what can I say? I think every one with a heart feels the crushing weight and pain of this moment. Toomuchery! I'm glad my words comforted a bit, as yours have for me many a time. Thank you for sharing them with your kind community. It really helps to gather in these little spaces.
Something to help along the way is to have those small products - not projects (Jake Parker) so you can finish them and see them pile up in your “Done” list. You can do this!
That's a helpful way of reframing. Thanks for sharing! What's been helpful to me in this uncharacteristally urgent season of toomuchery has been to not allow the 'PRODUCTIVITY!!!' to stress me out, but instead focus on presence -- just trying to bring the best of what I can bring in each moment to the work at hand. Little at a time! SAID EASIER THAN DONE, IT IS! - not Yoda
Thank you always for your encouragement Brad and your amazing writing. I have a post on my list to write about my own toomuchery, but there’s been toomuchery going on so I haven’t written it, along with about 20 other ideas all clamouring for my attention. This is a keeper. I may need to invest in the poster for my studio 🤍🧡
So encouraged by your kind words and the many ways you so warmly and wisely make Substack and the world a better place. May you know just how much you matter and that you're more than enough for all the toomuchery!
Dear Brad, and all posters! When you need a break, a breath, some encouragement, may I suggest this wonderful auditory gem:
“A Little Bit Of Love”-Weezer
A sort of antidote to all the TOOMUCHERY 🥰
Amber! What an excellent suggestion. I must admit Weezer holds a forever special place in my heart, yet I have fallen off the wagon when it comes to listening to each new release. There was a time, though, when such a thought was unimaginable. The gap between Pinkerton and Green album was my college/high-school years and I was obsessed with whether Rivers would ever pull it together and put anything new out. Now, here we are. Ha. You've given me a gift as I dive back in and remember just how much I still love them.
Loved this post--and especially the "Toomuchery" video...with gratitude for your work! D
Diana, thank you so much. I'm so grateful this found you and was encouraging. Keep going!!! Your voice matters in this world. Truly!
Hi my name is Sandy Glasser I teach in Mattawan Michigan. This is my 35th year teaching. I follow you on everything and have all your books. I recently wrote a grant to do a community read for our parents using your book Becoming Better Grown Ups with our foundation but was denied:( I haven’t given up Hope on this idea as I think this is such an important book for all to read. I am part of your Joy Rebel club too. I want to share with you the FBI badges my students created. I also wanted to share how my students each made their own figment and wrote their figment represented in their imagination. I sent you email with pictures that I hope you got and wanted to attach picture here to bring you and everyone joy and to thankyou for the work you are doing in the lives of grown ups and children but I can’t find an attach here:(
“Toomuchery” officially added to my vocab. Thanks for giving language to what I haven’t been able to find a word for. Loved this piece and glad to have found you tonight through a re-stack.
You are AH-MAZING Brad. Not only are you amazing, but so very inspiring and encouraging. You have the light that shines.
I've definitely experienced toomuchery lately, and in fact I love the word. It sounds like the not-so-awesome cousin of tomfoolery.
My friend Michael Wright reminded me that it's often described as "context collapse". True. Yet less fun to yell than IT'S ALL TOOMUCHERY!!!!! Truly a relative of tomfoolery. haha.
Haha! Yes, sooo much more appealing than context collapse! 🤣
<3 I know it's probably some of the toomuchery but are office hours coming back any time soon?
MORGAN!!! I would *love* to catch up soon. Apologies that it's been such an odd season. Will be on the road the next three weeks, but looking forward to being home and at my workshop after Thanksgiving. Was just thinking what fun it would be to be able to open them back up around then. Will let you know. THANK YOU!!!
Oh thank you!! I am so grateful that this post found me at a particular moment in time when I need it most. I’ve been in one of the most challenging periods of my life for several months. The rare moments of thought that I’ve been able to briefly spare on the subject of my creative pursuits have primarily centered around my fears that the daily/ hourly demand to focus all of my internal and external resources on the sudden and unexpected need to secure many of life’s fundamental and basic needs for survival over the past 4-5 months has exhausted my creative reserves and/or permanently shut down the portal to my imagination and creative potential.
This post and your invigorating insights and perspective provided the much needed match to light the spark of hope and trust that will hopefully guide my way through the perceived obstacles and roadblocks to my inner sanctum of creativity with a renewed understanding and confidence in my ability to recommit to my creative projects as well as my ability to access and apply creativity in every aspect of my life - especially in my approach towards navigating the “toomuchery” of my recent (and inevitable future) life challenges and obstacles.
P.S. As a screenwriter who inherently views the world through the narrative lens of three-act structure, I am immediately drawn to the striking similarities between the traditional three-act narrative structure of “The Heroes Journey” and John Hendrick’s illustrative “Guide to Surviving Every Long Project”!
The video at the end is very cute. It makes me wish my kids were still small enough to sneak notes like that on my desk.
“When toomuchery abounds, we need each other. We need reminders that we’re not alone. We need reminders that there’s good to be done right around us. We need a kind of delightful disruption that invites us to do what so often seems impossible: keep trying”
Yes!!!!
Is it cheating to send your own quote back to you, to thank you for saying what has been in my heart? “How do we use what little energy we have to create light for ourselves and others when there’s so much that’s wrong in the world?” 🙏🏼☺️ Thank you
I needed this. Thank you Brad! 🙏💖
Loved this encouraging post. I agree with you and disagree with Yoda. I feel that there is no doing without trying. Trying is the attempt we make to do the things that we want to do. Nobody achieves anything without trying to achieve it.
Brad, what can I say? I think every one with a heart feels the crushing weight and pain of this moment. Toomuchery! I'm glad my words comforted a bit, as yours have for me many a time. Thank you for sharing them with your kind community. It really helps to gather in these little spaces.