I'm back

perfectionism got me again

Dear reader,

I should really take my own advice more often.

Like the advice I gave in my newsletter titled Without perfectionism, there is unbounded freedom, for example.

Because the truth is, I’ve been in the grips of perfectionism paralysis for—I don’t even know how many months.

That’s one reason you haven’t seen me here in a while. :’)

(To be fair, I’ve also been dealing with a lot in my personal life—health, money, relationships—but isn’t everyone? I digress.)

I haven’t been creating much. I haven’t been expressing much.

Lately, I’ve been wondering whether these quiet, reclusive periods are a natural ebb and flow I should honor, or if they’re actually the result of perfectionism and fear keeping me stuck.

I’m focusing on two practices in an effort to gain clarity on this question:

1. I’m meditating again.

2. I’m sober again.

The mind has a tendency to forget. These practices help me stay sharp.

If I can sustain them, I hope to better observe and understand what happens when I start to clam up.

I will keep you posted on what I find.

For now, I’m frolicking in a period of feeling less fearful and more freely expressive. ❤︎

A recent skate session with the boys <3

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Here are some updates on what I’ve been working on, in no particular order. ッ

1. Building my side businesses.

I’ve been really grinding to build my freelance content creation + affiliate marketing businesses, and recent success in these pursuits, I think, has also helped me feel less pressure + more free when it comes to my loftier/dreamier creative pursuits, as I don’t feel so financially dependent on them. I’m feeling grateful for this newfound balance. (By the way, are my side hustles something you’d like to hear more about? Let me know in a comment or an email! I’m never quite sure how much to share about these more businessy things).

2. The podcast is back, baby!

I’m so back sharing my spiritual + creator journey in a raw podcast format on Patreon. This is one of my favorite mediums of expression, and it feels really good to be back. I’ve settled on a super affordable $1.99/mo access price, which makes me feel like it’s a private & supportive space where I can be vulnerable, yet it doesn’t put so much pressure on me to enforce a schedule. I’ve also defined some community agreements, which have made me feel more free and bold in the space.

3. Online identity transformation & 1:1 coaching.

My YouTube channel is evolving as I continue shedding the “skate influencer” identity and emerging more authentically as myself. I’ve given myself permission to post some “bad” videos (according to my inner critic) recently, which has created more space and freedom. I also re-listed a bunch of videos that I had previously unlisted due to embarrassment around low view counts. I keep repeating this phrase to myself:

It’s time to let go of high view counts so I can be free now.

Likewise, my Instagram and website are going through transformations as I’m being a bit bolder about shedding old identities and playing around with new ones. There’s a common theme going on here!

I’ve also featured my 1:1 coaching/mentorship offerings more prominently, and I’m feeling excited about it. You can check them out here.

4. Public speaking milestone.

I recently guest taught at the Meditation Teacher Training at Three Jewels, sharing advice on writing and recording a MedTalk presentation. It felt like my first real public-speaking gig, and I’m proud of myself for showing up and trying my best. Here’s a little Instagram Reel capturing the moment’s energy.

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Inspiring Me This Week

Chad Caruso. I can’t say enough. You’ve probably heard me talk about this guy before, right? He’s been inspiring me lately not only with his positive energy and presence during our recent skate sessions together (he makes an appearance in my recent skate vlog), but also with this incredible book he just published about his Guinness World Record breaking 56-day solo skate across America. Yes, he skated across the entire length of America completely by himself, and yes, he’s exactly the kind of person who would do such a thing. By the time I closed the back cover of the book, my entire body was consumed with chills. I felt like I had just been on the journey with Chad. In addition to the book being physically beautiful, it takes you along the ride through America with stunning photos, stories, anecdotes, and interactions with strangers, all sprinkled with Chad’s deeply inspiring inner thoughts and personal philosophies on life, to the point where it’s as much a skate across America as it is a journey inward. And the fact that so many of the photos in this book were taken by my friend Josh Katz makes this book even all the more special to me. In short, I can’t recommend it enough, and if you’re looking to get yourself or a loved one an amazing gift for the holidays, you can grab a copy of Pushing Through America on Amazon or through Chad’s Website.

Side notes since I’m talking about Chad:

• Will I see anybody at his documentary premiere on December 12th?

• And since I mentioned sobriety in this newsletter, I’ll mention that Chad has been sober for many years (which you’ll read about in his book) and he’s one of the only reasons I’m considering sobriety myself—something I never would have considered before. This is quite similar to the way he introduced me to meditation in 2020. He’s got a mind-opening perspective on just about everything. This video of his in particular got my mind moving and thinking about sobriety recently. It made me think of how complex and confusing the creator journey is, and how I could use every ounce of clarity I can get to successfully navigate it. I care deeply about this journey.

Thanks for continuing to inspire me and many others, Chad. Love ya.

And love you too reader.

I’ll catch you next time.

Sincerely,
George Poulos ❤︎