Week 6 of 2026: On uncomfortable truths, looking away as a choice, and a big fat middle finger
EXPERIMENT – shorter newsletter
I notice that I myself don’t always feel like, or make time for, long newsletters anymore. So why would I keep serving them to others? On top of that, I’ve recently become a huge fan of James Clear’s 3-2-1 format. So: experiment. Inspired by Mel Robbins’ 5 Second Rule.
5-4-3-2-1 → ACTION! 🎬
Here we go.
5 – BOOK
Susan Smit, The Second Half of Your Life. I don’t think I’m there yet, I trust I’ll make it close to 90 years, but better to be prepared, right? Beautiful how vulnerable Susan gets. One passage that really hit me:
“Sometimes you and I simply do really stupid and foolish things. We all struggle with our own shortcomings and regularly fall short. Acknowledging that is the first step…
When you feel regret, you fully acknowledge your part in what happened. The mere fact that you don’t justify it or sweep it under the rug is formidable.
Do you know how many people try to keep their self-image as a saint intact by making up a story around it? They cover it with after-the-fact arguments and bring in mitigating circumstances so they can continue to see themselves as completely innocent.
That may be nice for that polished self-image, but it does little for personal development. Moreover, the soul will always keep protesting, the story doesn’t sit right. The truth, however painful, brings peace, so that you can begin to process.”
4 – FILM
Mr. Nobody Against Putin. Impressive. I usually stick my head in the sand when it comes to the news, I take it in too deeply, but I wanted to see this. How children in Russian primary schools are being educated since the invasion of Ukraine… multiple times: swallow hard.
3 – ARTICLE
Ryan Holiday wrote this on LinkedIn. Partly because of the film above, I’ve started reading the headlines again a bit more.
His point:
“You can also commit an injustice by doing nothing.” (Marcus Aurelius)
We can’t fix everything. But looking away is also a choice.
2 – THE FIELD
The new season of Shrinking is out. HIGHLY recommended!
In the first episode, Harrison Ford, who plays Paul, based on Phil Stutz, explains what The Field is. Beautifully woven in.
What is The Field? According to Stutz: “An invisible, creative force that is not so much focused on what you want, but on what you need.”
The Field is a feminine force. You can’t control or force her, you have to relate to her. And to receive her help, there are four laws:
- Nonattachment: You may want something, desperately even, but you must be willing not to get it.
- Microtransactions: Your influence doesn’t come from one big gesture, but from every small interaction.
- Commitment: If you promise yourself something, you do it. Period.
- Self-restraint: If you let your worst habits run free, you sink too low. Then the higher forces can’t find you.
Want more? Listen to the podcast “Ask the Shrinks” by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels, or read this article.
1 – STATE SHIFT STEP
I’m busy developing a new training. And I FELT resistance at every step.
Suddenly they were back: procrastination, impulsive behavior, self-doubt, perfectionism, negative thinking. Lovely.
My Part X must be very aware that what I have to bring is valuable. Otherwise he wouldn’t fight this hard.
When does it go wrong? When I let him and listen.
So I do the opposite and cosmic rage him straight out of the pan with the tool of the same name. Together with my shadow. Big fat middle finger. This MUST and WILL happen.
(Drawing: Natalie Elfers)
And now I take step by step what’s needed. It will be the best I have at that moment.
Let’s freaking…..
→ GO
THE STATE SHIFT WORKSHOP February 20 @ Wonders of Work
I’m testing this workshop. It’s new. So: free.
If you also regularly deal with procrastination, self-doubt, perfectionism, or that voice that says “who do you think you are to do this?”, then you’ll want to know how to move through that.
The official registration link with more info will go online soon, but you can find the short version 👉 here.
Thanks for reading. Curious whether this new format works for you too?
May the Life Force be with you,
✨ Syl
