In Vipassana meditation you start by focusing on the breath.

It’s pretty much the same with any type of meditation, but Vipassana (what I practice) is very deliberate and methodical.

Focusing on the breath serves a purpose – to check in with yourself and fine tune your attention.

It’s preparation for the actual technique.

The goal is to get to a point where you can focus on the breath in and out your nostrils, and start to feel sensations around the upper lip area.

As I said, very methodical.

Anyway, I found it interesting, as this morning, I struggled a lot with it.

Sometimes I can get to that point of focus in 5 minutes, leaving me with the remaining 15 minutes to dive into the technique (which is basically scanning the body for sensations and avoid judging them).

But today, I spent the entirety of my 20 minute session just trying to focus on the breath.

I kept losing my attention, letting it veer off into distant thoughts.

But that’s exactly what I mean by “checking in with yourself”…

The level of focus I can reach will tell me a lot about how I’m about to approach the rest of the day.

Was I super dialed in during the whole session? I know my day will be productive without me putting much intention into it. Did I stumble my way through to the end of the 20 minutes? Then I will likely have to put more effort into making sure my focus is there during the day.

It’s the same with writing copy.

The first words you write are nothing but you checking in.

“How am I doing today?”

So, don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself.

Even when it doesn’t feel like it, you’re still practicing, putting in the work and tuning into your state and feelings.

Great copy starts there.

Have a great weekend.

Quote and reflection of the day:

“To straddle that fundamental duality is to be balanced: to have one foot firmly planted in order and security, and the other in chaos, possibility, growth and adventure. When life suddenly reveals itself as intense, gripping and meaningful; when time passes and you’re so engrossed in what you’re doing you don’t notice—it is there and then that you are located precisely on the border between order and chaos.”

• Jordan Peterson, 12 rules for life

We associate a balanced life with a frictionless one. Balance is stability, but in order to be stable you have to grapple with opposites and constantly work to find the right set point. Balance requires the possibility of failure. Don’t shy away from it.