How To Think Like A Day Crafter

I'm fortunate enough to control my schedule, so why does the 9 to 5 work ethic, among other influences, still loom and cast a shadow over my thoughts? I feel like a long-departed influential industrialist striking a pose like Isambard Kingdom Brunel is shaping my decisions. Alongside him is a sports (or business) coach who talks about goals, winning, and success. I also suspect there's a capitalist media mogul lurking within, pushing rumours and feeding worries about insecurities that I can buy my way out of.

When I make decisions about what is important, certain influences are hard to ignore. They are part of our upbringing and are reflected in the culture around us. But I've been reconsidering my thinking. I find myself prepared to think differently, to set aside the industrialist, coach, and capitalist mindset and instead think like a craftsperson.

Think like a Day Crafter:

Instead of thinking, what is my mission in life? Think instead, how can I make today meaningful?

Instead of thinking, what future state will make me happy? Think instead, how can I craft time for this today?

Instead of thinking, what should I add to my bucket list? Think instead, how can I fully experience today?

Instead of thinking, how can I make more money? Think instead, how can I release more time?

Instead of thinking, who do I want to become? Think instead, how can I be more myself today?

Instead of thinking, how am I ever going to finish this task? Think instead, how can I break the task into complete-in-a-day size chunks?

Instead of thinking, how can I cope with the fear of big changes? Think instead, what small change can I experiment with today?

Instead of thinking, what is urgent? Think instead, what is important?

Instead of thinking, what should I know about the future? Think instead, what problem can I solve today?

Instead of thinking, how can I win the game? Think instead, how can I practice better?

Instead of thinking, how can I keep everyone else happy? Think instead, how can I make time for what I need today?

Instead of thinking, how can I face tomorrow? Think instead, how can I make sleep and self-care effective today?

Instead of thinking, what great results should I focus on? Think instead, how can channel my energy into better practice?

Instead of thinking, how do I make a successful innovation? Think instead, how do I do brilliant innovating?

Instead of thinking, when will I arrive? Think instead, how do I take the next step?

The Practice

Future you doesn't exist.

Think like a craftsperson, a Day Crafter, bring your attention to the working surface of the day. Keep your tools sharp. Invest as much of your energy as you can into your daily rhythm and practice.