What can we learn from Thomas Edison?

In 1914 one of the most prolific inventors of all time suffered a great tragedy. His factory had burnt down. Reportedly costing Thomas Edison $ 1 million dollars approx. $29 million in today’s money. What a terrible low point. Chemical flames shot 100 feet in the air in a fire that smoked on for days. All of his workings, inventions and future profit streams were destroyed in one fell swoop.

But instead, it wasn’t any of these things.

Edison, while watching the blaze, reportedly turned to his son and said ‘‘Go get your mother and all her friends. They’ll never see a fire like this again.’ When his son objected in confusion he reassured him ‘It’s all right. We’ve just got rid of a lot of rubbish.’

This was a man at 67 years old that had no issue with starting again. An expert in choosing how he felt. A man that was able to see the silver linings in even the darkest of clouds.

Not allowing negative emotions isn’t something that comes naturally to all, in fact, quite the opposite. Human beings have evolved to be inherently negative. It is not the optimistic one that shrugs off the potential noise of an incoming lion that usually lives to pass on their genes. It’s the cynical one that is cautious and looks for the danger that survives. While we still need an element that is necessary so we don’t get hit by a bus, for most of us, the world is pretty safe now. 

We want to do more than just survive. We want to thrive.

So in a safer world, these negative emotions that saved us throughout history hamper us from enjoying life to the fullest and all it has to offer.

How can you reframe negativity?

One of the great ways you can stay away from our inherently negative nature and start training that positive brain muscle is to reframe events, setbacks or negative emotions.

You very much have the choice of how to view the world and the lens you adopt.

Sometimes your emotions may seem so strong or overwhelming that you feel your negativity is an inevitability. Just remember we are gifted to be the only naturally rational beings on this planet, part of this gift enables us to choose.

Like most things, this is a process the more you practise this the more you will conquer.

If you are choosing to be angry or upset then you can also choose the opposite.

A terrifying challenge that seems way out of your depth can become the opportunity to test yourself.

Edison could have chosen to catastrophise and mourn all that was lost and moan about how much he would be delayed. Instead by accepting it, seeing the upside and moving on he has practised tranquillity allowing him to remain in equilibrium despite outside forces.

This is someone that will be happy with something and nothing a lot alike.

Try and think of some of the things that you could reframe in your daily life. Look for the silver lining in your clouds. Or better yet don’t see them as grey clouds looming but just a magnificent part of nature. Without them after all, we would run dry. We would miss out on the natural beauty and the life that comes with them.

What is Wabi-Sabi?

‘Lookin' through a wabi-sabi lens so I get a wabi-sabi view

I don't wanna hear bad news

Look at how far we've come

At a time when we've got the most shit to lose’ 

Lil Simz – Control from her album NO THANK YOU

It was a weird turn of fate that inspired me to write this blog post about Wabi Sabi. I had heard the concept in a podcast a week before and found it fascinating, I had spent some time reading into it and then when listening to the album above, there it was slapping me in the face. I felt it was a message worth sharing.

It is a term first thought to of originated from Zen monks, one that they used to describe the impermanence of all things and the beauty in nature, in the imperfect.

What does Wabi-Sabi mean?

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic and philosophical concept that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, transience, and the natural cycle of growth and decay. It is a term that doesn't have a direct English translation.

Why is Wabi Sabi worth thinking about?

It is ancient wisdom, a worldview, and a mindset that I believe is critical to living an empowered life.

Wabi Sabi is having a mindset that reminds you of the impermanence of the present moment and its ever-fleeting nature. We can use it to live in the present moment, without being overly attached to the past or the future, and can lead to greater peace and fulfilment in life. It’s a powerful tool to help us accept the one true constant is an inevitable change, so when faced with setbacks and challenges we know they are only temporary.

“When you look at the clouds they are not symmetrical. They do not form fours and they do not come along in cubes, but you know at once that they are not a mess. They are wiggly but in a way, orderly, although it is difficult for us to describe that kind of order. Now, take a look at yourselves. You are all wiggly. We are just like clouds, rocks and stars. Look at the way the stars are arranged. Do you criticize the way the stars are arranged?” Allan Watts 

Is perfection a goal worth pursuing?

In the modern world like never before we have comparison tools at our fingertips, product reviews to social media profiles, are brains are whirring and often the default is to look for perfect. This comes at a cost as when you naturally reflect you realise at this moment things aren’t perfect, or certainly not as perfect as the content Marco just posted of him backpacking through the Pyrenees with thousands of likes while you are sat on the sofa hungover in your underwear (real example).

This is a source of suffering, and for what? This is exactly why I am on a low-media diet to limit my exposure to such ‘Marcos’. 

How envy plays a role

It's envy, the envy of others. Envy of the future life you aspire to have but don’t so it turns sour the present moment. It can lead to such feelings of demotivation and dissatisfaction in the present moment that it deters us from taking action. It ironically moves us further away from our own aspired perfection.

 Don’t whatever you do, beat yourself up because you feel envy. In Robert Greene’s “48 Laws of Power,” he argues to feel envy is inherently human, it is hard-wired into us and designed to drive us to be better.

Take Salvador Dali.

(Google his artwork now before reading on if you’re not familiar)

Greene writes about Dali who was envious of the fame and success of his rival, the artist Pablo Picasso. Instead of allowing this envy to consume him, Dali channelled it into motivation to work harder and create more interesting and innovative art. Through this, Dali was able to rise to fame and become one of the most renowned and successful artists of his time. He wasn’t paralysed by competition or his own imperfections, he accepted the beauty in the struggle.

To quote another great song ‘Cause there's beauty in the breakdown’ Let it go - Frou Frou.

Adopting a Wabi-Sabi View

So don’t make perfection the goal, allow yourself the freedom and peace of mind to appreciate the struggle and the imperfections of life, that’s where the beauty is.

Viewing the world with your new Wabi Sabi glasses will reduce the stress and the pressure you put on yourself and keeping it front of mind will help you appreciate some of what perhaps annoyed or disappointed you before.

That trait in a friend or a partner need not be an annoyance but a very real reminder that they are human, complicated and flawed. It is not the things themselves after all, but your perception of them. One of the most powerful things we can do is reframe and use them to our advantage. This is exactly how you can use Wabi Sabi in your everyday lifestyle, to reduce stress and anxiety, improve motivation and boost your appreciation.

What does Eat the Frog mean?

Are you tired of feeling unproductive and overwhelmed? Have you ever heard of the productivity technique known as Eat the Frog? The idea behind this technique is to tackle your most important and challenging task first thing in the morning, before you have a chance to procrastinate or become side-tracked.

This one habit alone can change your life. It forces you to focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions. Additionally, by getting your most important task done early in the day, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment that will carry you through the rest of the day.

But it's not just a productivity technique, it's a mindset that can change your life. Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, was a master at time management and believed in the power of tackling the most important task first. He wrote in his famous autobiography, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." By rising early and getting to work on his most important task, Franklin was able to accomplish more in a day than most people could in a week.

Mark Manson, in his book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" writes "Most of us have an innate desire to do what feels good and avoid what doesn’t. But if you want to change your life, you’re going to have to start doing things that feel bad."

But, what if you're struggling to hold yourself accountable or you feel like you're not making progress?

How can you Eat the Frog to become more productive?

Start writing down your frog everyday and make sure you've completed the task so you're able to cross it off before you go to sleep and you’ll start to see your marginal gains compound.

The Evening Standard agreed with us when they featured The Evolve Journal in their list of 'Best wellness journals to help you get your act together in 2023'. They said 'We especially like the daily ‘Eat the Frog’ section – an area dedicated to identifying the day’s least attractive task (and forcing yourself to complete it first).' This is a critical part of having a successful daily productivity planner. 

How do you know which tasks are most important?

Often when you analyse someone's productivity they spend a lot of time focusing on tasks that are seemingly urgent but perhaps not most important. This can lead to frustration as there's a lot of work completed, but perhaps not the most valuable work. 

That's why we recommend using the Eisenhower Matrix to help you decide which task are important and therefore get the privilege of being the frog of the day.

Does Eat the Frog give you marginal gains?

The principle of marginal gains is your best friend. This principle, made famous by the British Cycling team, states that small improvements in multiple areas of your life can lead to significant overall improvement. Just think about the knock on effect Eat your Frog will have in other areas of your life.

Where would you be in 6 months if every single day your most important task was completed without fail? Every day you would do what the average person takes a week to complete. That's approximately 182 important tasks vs 26. 

So, if you're looking to boost your productivity and change your life, try Eat the Frog every day. And don't forget to apply the principle of marginal gains to other areas of your life.

Does Eat the Frog stop procrastination?

Just like a frog in gradually heated water, we often don't realise the danger of procrastination until it's too late. We may think we can handle putting off our most important task until later, but before we know it, we're in over our heads and it's too late to turn back. The key to avoiding this trap is to be aware of our tendency to procrastinate and to take action to prevent it, by setting a schedule and sticking to it, and by Eat the Frog every day.

But, don't just take my word for it. Imagine what your world would be like after six months of consistently completing Eat the Frog. Imagine the sense of accomplishment you'll feel, the progress you'll have made, and the doors that will have opened for you.

As the famous quote goes, "A year from now you may wish you had started today" by Karen Lamb.

So, don't wait any longer. Start Eating your Frogs today and see the difference it can make in your life. It may not be easy at first, but the rewards are worth it.