“If 2020 didn’t bring the hustle out of you…”
Behind the quote series: Part 2
Welcome to the second edition of my ‘behind the quote’ series. If you missed the first, just head over to the Time & Pace IG account and check it out in the ‘quote series’ highlight where you can read it in full there.
"If 2020 didn't bring the hustle out of you, it's not in you."
I may have enthusiastically nodded my head to one or two of P.Diddy’s songs back in the day, but I can hand hand on heart say that I’m 100% not a fan of this quote he came out with last year at the height of a global pandemic. Much like last week’s quote - at first glance, I looked at it and thought ‘yea, he’s so right.’ Last year (and much of this year thus far) was spent indoors with significantly less social opportunities and for some, what would have been commute time was now cut - this quote indicated that even those with typical 9-5’s had more time than ever to ‘hustle’ and make their dreams happen. ‘Yea.’ I thought to myself. ‘Like what were you even doing if you weren’t working on your hustle last year?’
And then, I’m happy to say, I came to my senses.
This quote is problematic in a number of ways, but let’s start with what I think is the most important criticism I have… This quote perpetuates this capitalistic notion that we essentially live to work and with ‘all the luxurious free time we’ve amassed’ we should use it to hustle, to be more productive, to work harder and produce more.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of reiterating the fact that we’re human beings and not human doings. And so if you did, by some stroke of luck or of God’s grace, manage to have a bit more time back during the height of a global pandemic, you 100% shouldn’t be guilt-tripped into believing that you should have done more. There is never any ‘should’, especially not in this current climate.
This quote sniggers accusingly at people who found (and are finding) dealing with the coronavirus madness hard. It makes a mockery of people who were just about surviving through loss, financial uncertainty and homeschooling, to name just a few curveballs which COVID threw our way
The Time & Pace framework is definitely about supporting you in being productive, but it first asks the question about where you need to be present.
Perhaps, during the past 13 months or so, you have thrown yourself into your work more than ever and have seen some exciting shifts as a result. There’s truly nothing wrong with that. In fact, congratulations!
However, the issue arises when our public performance becomes the benchmark of our success. If you’ve spent more time with your spouse or kids than ever, or made more room for spiritual disciplines or quiet reflection, these are aspects of your life which will not only fill you up but also hugely serve the other areas of your life where you are productive, because that’s where the foundations are built.
But foundations aren’t often met with fanfares, are they?
Let’s get used to being okay with that. Let’s get used to enjoying going deep in the dark room of development, even if we don’t have anything outward to show for it.
Here’s some alternative endings of Mr Diddy’s quote, which you can try on for size:
If 2020 didn’t bring the hustle out of you…
You were putting your energy into coping and you’re much better now for not spreading your already thinly spread self even thinner.
You were healing and recharging either after contracting COVID, dealing with a loved one who did, or after any other mental or physical trauma experienced.
You were grieving lost loved ones and/or lost opportunities.
You were spending more time with your family.
You were sacrificing your work in order to be able to effectively homeschool.
You were resting.
You were taking stock and reevaluating what you want your life to look like on the other side.
… I mean I’m sure the list could go on, but hope you get the point I’m trying to make here?
I am a huge fan of working hard and being productive, but in recent months, I’ve also taken a journey on understanding the importance of the other parts of me - and I’m still learning.
Before reading a quote like this and lamenting that you’re not ‘further along’ (whatever that means), take a few minutes with your journal and instead ask yourself what 2020 did bring out in you. Write out as many answers as you can. E.g. ‘More peace with myself and who I’m becoming.’ Or, ‘a better relationship with my family.’
Just look how far you’ve come.
Keep going. Keep growing. 💜
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