What if you weren't paranoid...but pronoid?

Hello! If you've been following [my podcast]( for the last two weeks, you know I've been spending a lot of time talking with my friend Ryan Hawk. And among all of the things we've talked about, the idea that I keep thinking about is pronoia. That isn't a typo, though it's not technically a word either...currently, "pronoia" is classified by Wikipedia as a neologism: a relatively recent or isolated term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language. So, there you go, two new words for your vocabulary today. But back to my point...pronoia is the opposite of paranoia. Where paranoia is a belief that people or the world is conspiring against you, pronoia is the belief that the world is conspiring in your favor! What a beautiful concept. I think I've implicitly maintained a pronoid mindset for a while now. Granted, I think this concept can be too strong and detrimental...and, technically-speaking again, both paranoia and pronoia often pass into the realm of delusion. Toxic positivity is a thing (I'm guilty, at times) and no one wants to be delusional. But I think there's a really strong case to be made for towing that line before pronoia passes into delusion. I was listening to an interview with Austin Kleon (preparation for my OWN interview I wrapped up last week) and he talked about a mantra he's held onto over the last few years: Worrying is not preparation Sure, worry may lead to preparation...and that can be useful. But only if you're then able to release the worry. What if you flipped the script? What if instead of worrying that things are going to go wrong, you were able to believe that things are sure to go RIGHT? I know, it's much easier said than done. Reprogramming our neurology isn't something that can be done with the snap of a finger. But I do believe it's possible for us to condition ourselves and work on changing the stories we tell ourselves. Especially if you believe in visualization, manifestation, or the law of attraction...pronoia seems like a great fit. Give it a shot. Start with a simple question. The next time you found yourself pessimistic or paranoid, ask yourself, "What if this was actually all working out in my favor?" It may change the way you respond. It may even change the outcome. ​ --------------------------------------------------------------- ​ "I hate marketing myself and feeling salesy." I hear this from people constantly. And I get it – we hate feeling sold to. We hate feeling like we're being forced into making a purchasing decision. But think about the last thing you purchased. This week was Amazon Prime Day(s?) and I purchased a few things – happily! Because we don't regret every purchase we make. In fact, I bet you only regret a small number of purchases you decide to make. Here's the thing – we don't notice "sales" when they happen naturally. We don't notice the act of selling when it's something we WANT and appreciate. The best selling is totally invisible. And learning to sell yourself – invisibly – is one of the most valuable skills you can learn. I'm hosting a brand new, Invisible Selling Workshop on Friday, July 2nd at 11am ET (8am PT). What I teach will work for client services, digital products, and even selling your ideas to your boss, team, or other people around you. Dollar for dollar, this is one of the most valuable things I've made. ​[Click here to join the workshop]( ($40) If you can't make it live, those who register will still receive the recording. Hope to see you there! ​ --------------------------------------------------------------- ​ On Creative Elements 👨‍🔬 [Jay interviewed on Creative Elements]()​ This week was have a special crossover episode. After a while, all podcast hosts are asked by their listeners to spend some time talking about THEIR OWN journey. But it's weird to talk about yourself, and borderline insane to interview yourself. Luckily, my recent guest (and incredible podcast host) Ryan Hawk asked if he could turn the tables and interview me for a special crossover episode of Creative Elements and the Learning Leader Show. So in this episode, we talk about my “Why,” how I tapped into my creativity, my journey with podcasting, the Smart Passive Income acquisition, and why I believe Commitment is the most important creative skill today. ​[Click here to listen]()​ ​ --------------------------------------------------------------- ​ Thanks for reading! Did I mention that Mallory and I chose a wedding venue and date?! It's finally happening. I'll talk about that and more in the next edition of Life In Progress, which comes out this week! If you enjoy this newsletter, you'll love Life In Progress – and there are two ways for you to get access detailed below. Have a great week, and hit reply any time! Cheers, Jay ​ ​ 0 of 3 You're just 3 referrals away from unlocking Access to Life In Progress Next Reward Access to Life In Progress Life In Progress is a private, monthly newsletter that shares a deeper look at the life side of work-life balance. While Work In Progress documents what I'm learning about work, Life In Progress gives a transparent look into what I'm learning about living and becoming a better human. Available Rewards Life In Progress Access (3 refs) $50 off any course (10 refs) Free 1:1 Strategy Call (25 refs) Free Course + Public Shoutout (100 refs) [Share Work In Progress]() Shareable link: [ Want to skip the referrals? [Subscribe to Life In Progress for $5/mo](). [Powered by SparkLoop](=) ​ Thanks for subscribing! You can reply to this email or [contact me]( anytime. 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