December 8, 2024 | #17 | read on The Happier Studio | Free Version
Welcome to The Happier Newsletter, a weekly newsletter where I provide actionable ideas to help you build a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.
What’s On Today
- Living at Full Power by Listening to Your Inner Voice
- You Only Get 4000 Weeks
- 4 Lessons To Make The Most Of Your Time
- 3 Things I’m Grateful For This Week
Living at Full Power by Listening to Your Inner Voice
Have you ever felt torn between two voices in your mind? One tells you to play it safe, stick to what you know, and avoid risks. The other whispers dreams of a life that excites you, urging you to break free from fear and limitations.
In his speech to the Class of 2024, entrepreneur and educator Graham Weaver captured this inner conflict beautifully. He calls these the two voices:
- The Voice of Fear – Loud and ever-present, it’s driven by survival instincts, constantly second-guessing and criticizing.
- The Second Voice – Quiet and subtle, it speaks through energy, intuition, and a deep sense of knowing.
The truth is, the voice you choose to listen to shapes your life. The Voice of Fear leads to a life that feels "too small." The Second Voice? That’s where your true potential lies.
Graham Weaver’s advice boils down to three promises you can make to yourself right now to unlock your full potential:
1. Take the Nail Out of Your Head
Often, we find ourselves stuck, unable to move forward, held back by habits, fears, or unresolved issues—our metaphorical “nails.” These obstacles keep us from fully stepping into our potential. The hard truth? Removing them isn’t easy.
To pull the nail out of your head, you first need to acknowledge it. Speak your truth and admit to yourself what’s holding you back. Maybe it’s a fear of failure, a toxic relationship, or a job that drains your energy. Whatever it is, facing it honestly is the first step.
Then comes the courage to act. Removing the nail often brings discomfort or even temporary setbacks. Growth almost always feels worse before it feels better. But on the other side of that discomfort lies the freedom to move forward.
Ask yourself: What’s keeping you stuck right now? What’s your “nail”? Facing it might feel daunting, but it’s the key to unlocking your full potential.
2. Follow Your Energy (Not Your Passion)
“Follow your passion” is advice we hear all too often. But what if you don’t know your passion? What if the idea of one singular purpose feels overwhelming? Instead, Graham Weaver suggests a simpler, more flexible approach: Follow your energy.
Energy is the feeling of excitement and flow—the things that make you light up. To find it, try an exercise called Nine Lives. Imagine nine parallel lives you could live starting today. In each life, you’d do something different that excites you. Write down what energises you about each one.
Now ask yourself: What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?
These answers reveal your Second Voice—the one that knows what truly excites and fulfills you. Start incorporating elements of those lives into your current one. Maybe it’s learning a new skill, starting a side project, or pursuing a dream you’ve sidelined. These small changes can create a spark that energizes everything else in your life.
3. Go All In (Now)
How often do you find yourself hesitating? One foot in, one foot out—whether it’s in relationships, jobs, or pursuing your dreams. This indecision creates internal conflict and drains your energy.
The truth is, waiting for “perfect conditions” is just another form of fear. As Graham Weaver says, “Most people say ‘Not now.’ But ‘Not now’ eventually becomes ‘Never.’”
Instead, commit fully. Go all in, right now. When you do, something powerful happens: Your identity shifts. You stop questioning yourself. The Voice of Fear loses its grip, and you begin living in alignment with your Second Voice.
What’s one area of your life where you’re holding back? What’s stopping you from going all in today? When you fully commit, you stop fighting yourself, and your energy becomes boundless.
You Only Get 4000 Weeks
The average human lifespan is just 4,000 weeks. A number that feels impossibly small when you consider everything we want to experience and achieve. Yet, it’s this finitude that makes time so valuable.
When you understand this, excuses begin to fade. You stop waiting for “someday” and start using the time you have right now.
This ties back to the three promises:
- Take the nail out of your head—don’t waste time stuck in what doesn’t serve you.
- Follow your energy—prioritise what excites and energises you today.
- Go all in—stop waiting for the “perfect moment” that will never come.
Time is always ticking, but that’s not meant to scare you. It’s a reminder to live intentionally. You don’t need more time to start living at full power; you just need to use the time you already have.
4 Lessons To Make The Most Of Your Time
Time is our most valuable, non-renewable resource. With only 4000 weeks in an average lifetime, how we choose to spend our days matters more than we often realise. To help you make the most of yours, here are four powerful lessons I’ve learned along the way—so you don’t have to spend years figuring them out yourself.
- Accept Your Limits. It’s tempting to believe you can do everything if you just try hard enough, but the reality is, time and energy are finite. Recognising your limits isn’t a weakness—it’s liberating. When you accept that you can’t do it all, you’re forced to prioritise the things that truly matter. This shift allows you to focus your energy on what aligns with your values and goals instead of spreading yourself too thin.
- Focus on What You Can Control. A lot of time is wasted worrying about things beyond your influence—the past, hypothetical futures, or others’ opinions. Your real power lies in how you respond to the present moment. When you focus on what you can control—your actions, reactions, and attention—you reduce stress and regain a sense of agency over your life.
- Stop Trying to Optimise Everything. Productivity culture often pushes us to optimise every corner of our lives—our routines, to-do lists, and schedules. But the pursuit of perfect efficiency can lead to burnout. There will always be more emails, more projects, and more opportunities. Instead of focusing on maximising every moment, focus on aligning your time with what truly matters.
- Embrace the Joy of Missing Out. Every “yes” to one thing is a “no” to something else. When you say yes to what aligns with your priorities, you naturally let go of what doesn’t. This is the essence of embracing the Joy of Missing Out: finding peace in the choices you make and not worrying about the rest.
Which of these lessons will you focus on this week? Let me know how you’re making the most of your time!
3 Things I’m Grateful For This Week
- Grateful for the chance to take a holiday and step away from the daily routine.
- Cherishing quality time with my family in beautiful Bali, creating lifelong memories.
- Appreciating the warmer weather and the stunning sunsets it brings.
What are you grateful for this week?
