From Chaos To Clarity: 3 Steps To Build Your Own System and Never Feel Overwhelmed Again
I had my first break up 5 years ago.
It was then that I started in the self-development world. I became obsessed with trying to figure out the best way to design my life. I wanted to achieve my goals, find my purpose, etc. Thus, I started to apply methods from others,
But all methods had flaws.
The ones I didn’t choose were always more shiny than the ones I was using. I never could be consistent in applying them. I always end up having to start from scratch with a new one.
They were not built by me. They were not built FOR me.
Until now.
The Secret To Sustainable Clarity In Your Life
Aren’t you tired of not having a clear vision and a path to get there?
The worst part is that when it seems you find it, it just goes away. Having to start from zero the next day. Is it actually possible to find sustainable clarity?
Yes it is, but you need to balance these two things:
To strongly believe in the long-term benefits
To feel short-term benefits
The way you will be sustainable is by getting to 1 between these two elements.
How much you believe in the l/t benefits goes from 0 to 1. The same with how much you feel the s/t benefits.
If adding up the two you get to 1, you will tend to do it.
If that is a good habit, GREAT you did it. If that is a bad habit, you will struggle to stop doing it.
How is that related to building your own system?
Because by building your own system:
1. You become invested in time and ego making you believe more in the l/t benefits
2. It suits you better, thus enjoying the daily process –s/t benefits–
AND “you beat the shiny object syndrome” –read this– You won’t have the FOMO for applying all new tactics or methods you see out there
This is why, building your own system to design your life is key to achieving long-term success.
How To Build Your Own System To Design Your Life
These are the steps I followed to create mine, if you want my system so that you can expand your awareness and get inspiration from it email me or DM me on Twitter.
Most content creators would have done this letter explaining their system, but I’m here to teach you to do things on your own.
To teach you the thinking and reasoning behind it, so that you can translate it to your own understanding and provide unique value.
Step 1) The Requirements
First, you need to answer this
Which is my desired outcome?
What elements do I need to get that outcome?
How will I know I finished designing the system?
It's HIGHLY important to notice that you do not need the ultimate answer, you just need a MVI (Minimum Viable Iteration) or hypothesis to get things going. Once you apply it you will be in a better position to redefine the parts that are not working.
This is how my system looked after the 1st step:
Desired outcome: To have daily clarity about what I want, why I want it and how to get there
Needed Elements: A journal page answering those three questions.
Finished MVI: I read the journal page and I have motivation for my goals and clarity on the path
Most of the systems are composed of sub-systems. That's why a repeated step 1 inside the needed elements, to define how I would answer those questions –again email me if you want my system–
Step 2) The Tools
When step 1 is completed, you end up with a bunch of elements you need to fulfil, or answers you need to find.
Side Note: Try to stick to 3 elements. If you have 9 elements group them to create more layers of 3 elements. I’ve found that for me, it is clearer when I don’t use more the 3 elements at the same time.
In step 2 you defined the tools you will use to develop the elements. Here is when all the external information starts to be useful. All the tips and tricks you see from others can be implemented here. The difference is that now you have clarity about what you need from each technique and why you need it.
Now you have a magic lens to detect what's relevant to you and what's not.
Remember to make sure to determine why is each tool useful, and what is helping you to answer.
Here is a list of tools I like to design my life:
Find your why by Simon Sinek
Essentialism
Purpose statement
Odyssey Plan
Ideal week
16 Personalities Test
Experimental Goals by Ryder Carroll
Step 3) Document The System
Finally, you need to have documentation about how the system works, so that you can recall it, but also so that you can detect what didn't work and iterate it.
Important things to document are:
System Description: Explain how the system works
System Design Diagram: Graph to summarize the elements and how they interact
Implementation Details: Step-by-Step process to carry out the system
Maintenance requirements: Does your system need a periodical review?
And more that you will figure out from experience
Now What?
Designing your life with a system of your own is an empowering process that can help you reach the goals and dreams that matter most to you.
You don't have to follow someone else's system in order to be successful, especially in areas of your life that you really care about and know about.
With this newsletter as a starting point, I hope that now you feel equipped with the mental framework to begin designing your ideal life.
I'd love to hear your feedback or any question. You can reply to this email or send me a DM on Twitter
Live Intentionally,
–Nil Gambit