The deep end approach.

If you have been within hearing distance (or texting or instagramming) of me within the last week, you'll already know that I got a dog and am freaking out-ly excited about it. The learning curve has been too real, however the joy is outweighing the stress ten to one. 

I've learned innumerable new things this week, and in doing so been reminded of something I already knew: that the most effective way to start doing something is to change the circumstances of your life so that you are required to do that thing. It sounds a bit obvious and can certainly be a bit reckless under the wrong circumstances, however it's hard to argue the effectiveness of this "dive directly into the deep end" approach. 

I reflected on this as I realized how much walking around the neighborhood I was doing with the dog (2.5 hrs worth per day, to be specific). Before this mutt, I'd been meaning to get out and walk more. I miss the hell out of walking since moving from New York. But in LA, few things are walkable and honestly, it's gross and awkward to walk many of the places that are. 

But now I have to. So I do. Viola, deep end.

The obvious rub comes when you set your sites on a deep end to dive into, but don't know how to do all the things required of you there. Example, I cannot even tell you how many dog training videos I have watched this week. Probably on the order of hours. This is not even counting the time on the phone with dog owning friends, begging for advice. 

There is a paired logic required to the approach. In order to work up the nerve to make a jump in the first place, you need to have an almost blind faith in your ability to learn on the go when you arrive. And I don't mean arrogance. In fact, learning while on the spot requires an incredible amount of humility and a nearly superhuman ability to manage frustration. It requires a willingness to try, fail, ask for help, fear that you are looking like a dumbass, rethink the approach, use brute force, try again, fail again...towards infinity. Drowning in frustration or fear of losing face is the most surefire way to cut off your own energy reserve. Which you need in order to pick yourself up and throw yourself at the problem again. And again. 

(and again.)

Why I like being in the deep end is that the outside pressure of needing to get something done also acts as a positive force for me. I have to. So by hook or crook, youtube tutorial, all-nighter, rerun the whole job kinda stubbornness, I do. Likely why I'm a hackathon addict.