I know I know, you just received Whimsical Wednesdays in your inbox earlier today.

What do you mean you didn’t see it 😠 It’s titled “Whimsical Wednesdays - I should have told her” and I put alot of thought and heart into writing it okay, so go read it now! *hmmph*

Actually I’m joking, read it or not I’m still glad you’re reading THIS. Besides, I feel like the intimate style of Whimsical Wednesdays might not be everyone’s cup of tea. If that’s you, let me know! It won’t make me stop writing it lolol, but at least I’ll know MUAHAHAHAHA

Okay.. where was I?

Ah, right.

Today’s a special day, so you get a special double edition in your inbox!

Whimsical Wednesdays AND Heartstrings.

I’m forwarding all replies saying “but today isn’t Wednesday!” to idontcarethisismynewslettericandowhateveriwant@michchow.com. That is to say, don’t even bother. And yes, I love you still. You’re awesome, but.. just don’t bother.

Today, I feel like sharing 3 mindset shifts I’ve been adopting recently that has made me a changed person.

It’s somewhat of a pivot year for me, and with that I think it’s fitting to adopt new perspectives that will better myself. These are all in place of “not so good” opinions that I’ve been feeling about myself. So, even if you think the mindsets are meh or duh, I’ll still take it as a win.

So far, doing this has opened me to more perspectives, more insights, more ideas, and more opportunities.

Mindset shift number one: I am a beginner at most things

It’s not difficult being a beginner in a new situation, we all have things we know nothing about at all. For example, I still have zero idea how Bitcoin works.

The challenge is when you’ve dabbled in something for years but haven’t seen progress. It’s difficult to see yourself as having experience, but still being a beginner at it.

Experience has value, but years of lousy non-productive experience doesn’t make you an expert.

Case in point, I first learned guitar when I was 18. I had a crash course on it when I was home for a month during school holidays. After that, I rarely picked up a guitar to play, much less for practice.

It’s been more than a decade, and I still can’t play most of the open chords. I can barely remember to play an E chord, definitely can’t do the F chord.

Knowing the basic four chords (G, Em, C, D) does NOT make me a guitar player, no matter what others say.

Took me awhile to come to terms with that. But once I accepted that I’m a complete noobie *erhem I mean newbie* at playing guitar, I could see it in a different light. I’m more receptive to “beginner guitar tips”, and as a result, more eager to properly learn the skill.

Mindset shift number two: I am no better than the person I’m talking to

I’m quite a humble person.

I get it, who the fuck says their humble?! That statement in itself already shows how NON-humble you are, dumbdumb.

And I agree! Maybe I’m not as humble as I think I am.

Look, I’m a nice person. I treat people with respect, no matter who they are, from janitor to CEO, and I fucking hate double, heck, triple standards when it comes to “VIP treatment”.

But perhaps that isn’t the result of humility.

Maybe it’s the result of wanting to be seen as “good” and “well-mannered” by society.

I dunno.

Anyway, whatever it is, I now constantly remind myself "I am no better than the person I’m talking to”. It has been a gamechanger. I listen more closely during conversations. I care more about how people reply my “how are you?”s. I feel more connected to vibes someone is giving off, indicating if they’re having a bad day or if something is weighing on their mind.

Who knows, maybe I really am just a humble idiot HAHAHA.

Mindset shift number three: Help others as much as you can

Think this one goes without saying.

I read before in Ali Abdaal’s wonderful book Feel-Good Productivity that helping others makes us feel good about ourselves. It sounds self-serving, but I think it’s awesome.

You see, feeling good is the first step to lots of other good things, like happiness, self confidence, a sense of fulfillment. And that’s just what you feel in yourself, after helping someone.

What about that someone you helped?

It means less stress, gratitude, improved relationships, and a better day in general. Who wouldn’t want that!

I think for me, trying to help others is also about just putting out goodness into the world. To do something that adds value to another’s life without anything in return.

Don’t get me wrong, I still feel like a lot of our human interactions are transactional. And sometimes, that can’t be helped, it’s just how reality works.

But helping someone to the best of your ability?

There’s something magical and lovely about that.

Alrighty, that’s all I have for you today. I hope you got a thing or two out of Heartstrings today.

As I said, today’s a special day.

So I would not-so-humbly request you send your best thoughts to me so I can pass it along to someone special. She won’t be reading this, I’m sure, but I sure pray that she feels all the love coming her way.

Thanks again for your readership.

Until the next one!

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With hope, joy, and love,
Mich