MASTERING Inconvenience

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE # 019

In this edition, I explore how small inconveniences can quietly derail our focus, energy, and goals. Left unchecked, they can shape our days—and even our lives.

But the lesson is clear: you’re in control. By choosing how and when to deal with these interruptions, you reclaim your freedom and refocus on what truly matters.

Let’s dive in.

ADAM'S THOUGHT

Minor inconveniences can grow into major problems.

We face little hiccups every day. Some slip by unnoticed, but others can balloon into obstacles that drain our time, energy, and focus. Worse still, these tiny annoyances can pull us away from what truly matters, keeping us from doing the work we’re meant to do, the things we're best equipped for or dream about achieving.

Sometimes, the influence of these small problems is profound. They can shape how we see ourselves, convincing us we're not capable of doing something, even when that's far from true. They're subtle, creeping into our day and steering us off course before we even realize what's happened.

Think about it. A minor “bug” in a system can derail an entire project. Pulling a muscle might sideline your fitness routine. These lapses feel small at the start but can snowball, swallowing so much of our resources that, in hindsight, their impact becomes glaringly obvious.

A single inconvenience—even a simple one—can shift the trajectory of an entire day, and sometimes, if left unchecked, even an entire life.

ADAM'S LESSON

We can’t completely avoid inconveniences, but we can choose how we handle them.

When a minor problem shows up at your doorstep, you don’t have to open the door right away. This is your time, not its time. You decide when and how to deal with these interruptions. And that choice—that split-second realization of “I don’t have to do this right now; I’m choosing to”—is the key to reclaiming your freedom.

The next time an inconvenience demands your attention, remind yourself of this. You’re in control. Say to it, “Wait. I’ll handle you later, but not now.” Take the reins and put it in its place.

Consider this insight I heard years ago that stuck with me: “Emails are a to-do list of other people’s goals.” For many of us, that rings true. Minor inconveniences often stem from someone else’s problem, not ours. They’re someone else’s goals, not ours. And while it’s okay to address them, it doesn’t have to be on their timeline.

You’ve got goals, too. Bigger ones. More meaningful ones. Use your freedom wisely. Decide when you’ll tend to a disruption, whether it’s in five minutes or next month. What matters right now is that you stay in charge.

Because the choices you make today shape where you’ll stand tomorrow.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Don’t get caught up in being busy just for the sake of being busy. Live the life you imagine when you close your eyes. That life is yours to shape. You are in control.

Don’t hand that control over to someone or something else. Freedom isn’t given; it’s earned. Start choosing. Take control.

Then go do the thing you’ve chosen.

-Adam

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