Inviting the Sweet Spot: A Gentle Approach to Life's Flow

 

For this 17th edition of The Distillation (formally the Joyful Sovereignty Weekly), my intention is to introduce a perspective of the Sweet Spot that will lead to easeful integration into your life.

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Ever feel like you’re being jerked around by life?

That feeling where you’re tugged in one direction one day, then a completely different direction the next.

Part of you wants life to be easier, but you know that’s not the deepest truth.

Welcoming the challenges is good in theory, but often difficult in practice.

In addition to becoming anti-fragile, you can integrate the Sweet Spot in your life.

It’s a simple concept, but there are some best practices (and obstacles to avoid).

Read further to explore this concept deeper and how to avoid unnecessary detours.

You’re probably familiar with the concept of the Sweet Spot.

A definition from Dictionary.com: “a point, range, or particular set of conditions that will achieve the most desirable or effective outcome.”

Achieving the most desirable or effective outcome can be a tall order.

An empowered perspective is that a Sweet Spot already exists for this moment.

Aligning yourself with it is the answer.

Meaning, you don’t have to “create” a Sweet Spot. You can intend to gain coherence with the Sweet Spot that is already here.

If that perspective sounds daunting, continue reading.

If this sounds interesting, also keep reading.

The last thing you want to do is force the Sweet Spot.

It’s like smothering someone against their will to take some “joy” you have.

It almost sounds nice, but it’s actually annoying (and a bit rude).

A “loose prompting” of the sweet spot is key.

Not concentrating, focusing on or forcing it too much, but rather a soft invitation.

The sweet spot “arrives” into your life in a flowing and sometimes even magical way.

The harder you try to force it, the more elusive the Sweet Spot becomes.

Always just out of reach.

To avoid this painful dynamic, invite.

This is one stumbling block for many, but there is also another.

Another hurdle on your way to the Sweet Spot is perfectionism.

This is: “it’s gotta be perfectly perfect for it to be the perfect sweet spot.”

This type of mindset leads to things are never good enough.

The idea is to welcome the sweet spot, while not succumbing to perfectionism.

The first secret is to embrace the iterative process.

Meaning, do it once and see what happens. Then reflect at what you did and see how it can be improved 1%.

Then repeat.

The second secret is to embrace the journey and the unfolding process, not what the “idea” of the sweet spot “should” be.

The Sweet Spot is a feeling, not an idea.

The idea sets the wheels in motion for the Sweet Spot, while feeling it anchors it in your bones.

Going back to a previous Distillation, we discussed the formula: Stress + Rest = Growth.

If you have too much stress, then it’s no good.

If you have too much rest, that’s no good either.

The only way to know what is “too much” one way or the other, is to explore the edges.

If you’re present with the process, you’ll know when you’ve hit the edge (outside of the sweet spot) and can return back.

Don’t shy away from the edges, welcome it.

Experience is the validator.

There is a point when you will hit diminished returns when you explore one side or the other.

Each exploration of the edge is a data point your subconscious can organize on your behalf.

This constant experimentation allows for you to flow with the adaptive sweet spot.

The Sweet Spot isn’t static, it’s adaptive.

The Sweet Spot not only adapts to the situation, but also to the person.

Your Sweet Spot is different than any other persons Sweet Spot.

Further, your Sweet Spot changes (adapts) over time.

Know that the sweet spot is in constant change.

Once you “arrive” to the feeling of the sweet spot, then ride WITH it.

Not being attached to yesterdays Sweet Spot.

In another Distillation, we discussed the integration of structure and flow.

The Sweet Spot can be applied to that dynamic.

Establish just enough structure for you to explore the flow of the adaptive Sweet Spot.

The structure gets you going, helps build momentum.

Then let go of the structure and explore what it feels like to flow with it.

This weeks action steps are a simple ask.

1. Schedule 15 minutes to contemplate on what area of life you’d like to operate more in the Sweet Spot. You can also do this spontaneously (like in 2 minutes from reading this).
2. Identify one thing you can do that will help you operate in the Sweet Spot.
3. Do the thing within 3 days.

That’s it for this edition of The Distillation.

Wish you a great rest of your day!

With Joyful Sovereignty,

Lane

P.S. If you enjoyed this edition, share this link on your social media or with a friend who you think would enjoy reading this.