Mckeown Greg

There are three deeply entrenched assumptions we must conquer to live the way of the Essentialist: “I have to,” “It’s all important,” and “I can do both.”

To embrace the essence of Essentialism requires we replace these false assumptions with three core truths: “I choose to,” “Only a few things really matter,” and “I can do anything but not everything.”

In spare moments, I would write. It was a classic “straddled strategy” of attempting to invest in everything at once. The result was that while I was not entirely failing in any pursuit I was not entirely succeeding at any either

“If you could do only one thing with your life right now, what would you do?”

Up to that point I had always known logically that I could choose not to study law. But emotionally it had never been an option

when we surrender our ability to choose, something or someone else will step in to choose for us.

The ability to choose cannot be taken away or even given away—it can only be forgotten

These dogs didn’t adapt or adjust. They did nothing to try to avoid getting shocked. Why? They didn’t know they had any choice other than to take the shocks. They had learned helplessness.

One example I heard is that of a child who struggles early on with mathematics. He tries and tries but never gets any better, so eventually he gives up. He believes nothing he does will matter.

These people don’t believe they have a choice in what opportunity, assignment, or challenge to take on. They believe they “have to do it all.”