“If you want to be good at something, you got to enjoy the process. You can’t aspire to be at that endpoint without loving the middle part: the ugly, the toiling, the seemingly futile efforts that provide little immediate gratification.”
"The best and most regrettable thing that happened to me (that I am in control of) was thanks to consistency or the lack thereof." what an intro! I relate to this deeply. Harnessing the power of consistency is what has really brought so much positive change in my life. Things that look like they were built in months actually took years. I wish this was a lesson I could apply immediately to anything I want to do but unfortunately it's one I have to learn over and over again. I loved your anecdote about learning and teaching English. It really highlights all the nuances there are in learning something new and that mastery is a decades long play, not months or years.
Also, totally related to the section about music! Earlier this year I was like, "how can I get better at playing the piano if it's not a priority?" Not in a way that self aware, like I genuinely believed I could passively get better at it. But I also realized it's hard to do if it's not something I want to focus on.
It is totally doable with the piano. It's actually one of those practices that take a long time to see improvement but out of no where you will see yourself getting better !
"Say you are thinking about becoming a writer, you should expect to tolerate writer’s block, laziness, slow growth, the feeling of no-one-is-reading-your-work pain. But even after all that, if you still enjoy writing, you are golden"
My favorite part👌🏾
“If you want to be good at something, you got to enjoy the process. You can’t aspire to be at that endpoint without loving the middle part: the ugly, the toiling, the seemingly futile efforts that provide little immediate gratification.”
Thank you Tre! I'm glad you enjoy it :)
"The best and most regrettable thing that happened to me (that I am in control of) was thanks to consistency or the lack thereof." what an intro! I relate to this deeply. Harnessing the power of consistency is what has really brought so much positive change in my life. Things that look like they were built in months actually took years. I wish this was a lesson I could apply immediately to anything I want to do but unfortunately it's one I have to learn over and over again. I loved your anecdote about learning and teaching English. It really highlights all the nuances there are in learning something new and that mastery is a decades long play, not months or years.
Also, totally related to the section about music! Earlier this year I was like, "how can I get better at playing the piano if it's not a priority?" Not in a way that self aware, like I genuinely believed I could passively get better at it. But I also realized it's hard to do if it's not something I want to focus on.
It is totally doable with the piano. It's actually one of those practices that take a long time to see improvement but out of no where you will see yourself getting better !
Wow, Minh! I’m really happy for your success on Substack! Your readers clearly love you! Keep it up 😊
Thanks Leo!! That means a lot :)
Loved this piece Linh! Your introspective insights served a good reminder for myself.
Thank you Chitra, glad you find it useful
"Say you are thinking about becoming a writer, you should expect to tolerate writer’s block, laziness, slow growth, the feeling of no-one-is-reading-your-work pain. But even after all that, if you still enjoy writing, you are golden"
ugh so true
Writing is magical :D