Morning Journal

In today’s session we discuss declaring your focus and embracing constraints.The PromptsWhat am I focused on right now?What constraints am I willing to embrace?PS Sometimes it is worthwhile to state the obvious. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

Today we talk about productive failure, trusting ourselves, and trusting the process. Today’s PromptsWhat was my most recent, productive failure?Today I trust myself to ___________P.S. Growth requires moving through “I don’t want to do this now” towards “This is just what I do now.” Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

We talked about raising our standards and making at least one wise decision today.Today’s PromptsWhat would I be stronger without?In what area of our life do I choose to raise my standards?What is one wise decision I can make today?PS If you stay ready you don’t have to get ready Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

This session is about growth—the evidence of our growth to this point and the potential for growth in the future. Today’s PromptsWhat is possible for me today that did not seem possible before 3/5/10 years?What do I intend to accomplish that is challenging and significant?PS. Sign up for an adventure Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s session we talked about how we make ourselves through what we make, and the value of doing difficult things. Today’s PromptsWhat am I making and what is it making of me?How can I enjoy how long it takes?PS. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s session we explore sacrifice and letting go of perfectionism. We then talk about displacement and the people, places, and things that feel like home.Today’s PromptsHow do I make myself at home?When I think of home… Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s session we consider the beauty that is within our sight and how important it is to view things from the right perspective to fully appreciate them. Today’s PromptsWhat is the most beautiful thing I can see from where I sit?Who has been my best teacher? What did I learn from them?What can I teach?PS. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In today conversation we discuss the what we miss about who we used to be and what excites us about who we are becoming. Today’s PromptsWhat do I miss about the person I once was?What excites me about the person I am becoming?PS. Version Control Pt.1 seems like a lifetime ago. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

Today we discuss how noticing physical objects can be a path to mindfulness and some of internal obstacles to growth.Today’s PromptsWhat have I learned that I have yet to put into practice?What am I resisting that would improve my life if I allowed it?What am I in the process of outgrowing?PS. Setbacks are a part of the process. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In this session we discuss preemptive gratitude; recognizing that we may not yet have the perspective to see the good in challenging circumstance. We then examine the “set pieces” that we build our days around—the habits and routines that we follow consistently, and we consider where they might be leading us. Today’s PromptsI am grateful for…What are the most stable and consistent aspect of my daily life?Where is my momentum taking me?P.S. Be careful with the phrase might as well. You don’t have to chase your losses. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s session:* How pursuing a goal can enforce order.* How removing friction can advance your most important work.* How adding friction can help prevent distraction.Today’s PromptsWhat is the most important goal I am actively pursuing?What is the most important action I can take in support of that goal?What is am I doing instead? h/t Joey Schweitzer for today promptsPS. I try speak at a pace that allows you to journal along, but sometimes you might need to hit pause. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In todays session of Morning Journal we discuss the things that deserve more of our time and attention and ways that we may be able to rescue some precious time.Today’s PromptsWhat deserves more of my time and attention?From where can I rescue some time?Bonus Prompt: Where do I need to restore order?P.S. Seek ways to express your gratitude with both words & actions. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In this session of Morning Journal we discuss things that bring joy into our lives and ways to manage our energy from day to day.Today’s PromptsWhat would bring more joy into my daily life? What activities energize me? What activities drain me?What am I looking forward to?P.S. See how this Mystery Link relates to today’s conversation. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In this session of Morning Journal we consider our relationship with abundance and discuss ways we can take concrete actions to improve our immediate environments. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In this session of Morning Journal we examine ways to apply the best of ourselves to become who we aspire to be. Catch us live at 6am Monday-Friday on Instagram (@gvforte)Morning Journal with G. Forte is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.P.S. Morning Journal is best enjoyed with a pen in hand and the beverage of your choice. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to Morning Journal. This morning I woke feeling all kinds of anxious and worried. So in this session we re-visited a framework that I frequently return to that helps me work through it. Join us live on Instagram (@gvforte) at 6am Eastern Monday-Friday. Morning Journal with G. Forte is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.P.S. Morning Journal is best enjoyed with a warm beverage and a pen in hand. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to Morning Journal. Today we're gonna break down momentum, and that tricky balance of when to hold on and when to let go. So, join the conversation, and let's get into it!Morning Journal with G. Forte is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

We're diving into a few prompts today. What are you actually grateful for? And commitment? It's not just saying "I'm in," it's about what you're willing to put on the line [00:08:57-09:12]. Then there's submission, which might not be what you think. We're untangling all of it. So, yeah, give it a listen, see if it sparks something.Morning Journal with G. Forte is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In this session of Morning Journal, we dive into the complexities of attention and focus. The discussion centers around self-reflection and recognizing the patterns that shape our experiences. We explore the challenge of breaking negative cycles, the anxieties tied to missed opportunities, and the importance of setting clear targets to guide our actions.Morning Journal with G. Forte is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

I am surrounded by music production gear—some digital turntables, drum machines, midi controllers, mixers. When I first arrived here, the one thing I was willing to try was all of it. So much of my creative works happens in the undifferentiated confines of my laptop computer, I wanted to touch some keys, buttons, dials, faders. This wouldn’t be new for me. It would be a return to my creative roots. Standing in the CornerThe first studio I operated in was a blend of analog and digital and I stayed firmly on the digital side. A guy from New Jersey had settled in South Korea and opened up a night club outside Camp Casey and the “studio” was his DJ booth. Unlike most of the clubs along the strip which were staffed by trafficked sex workers from the Philippines or Russia, the Black Rose was an American-style club that played Hip-Hop and R&B music. Soldiers from bases all over S. Korea would use their weekend passes and take buses or trains down to Black Rose to catch the party every Saturday night. On other nights, the atmosphere was more like a quiet dive bar. And on those nights I would be in the corner of the DJ booth, tapping away on the pads and spinning the dial on the MPC 2000XL that was bought with the proceeds of the mixtape we performed on and sold. The other gear in the booth included a Roland JX-305 Groove Synthesizer that had some really cool sounds but would occasionally crash and lose you projects; a Roland VS 880 Workstation for recording, a DJ set up with Technics 1200’s and Numark mixer, and a criminally under used collection of thousands of vinyl records. I rarely touched the turntables and didn’t learn how to do the one thing that the MPC was really made for. Sampling. Such a missed opportunity.Let’s Get PhysicalEven though the tools I was using at the time were digital, they required direct physical interaction. You had to use your hands and your ears because the visual feedback only came in the form of meters registering sound levels and the minimal information available on calculator-sized displays. The workflow made sense to me and I was hesitant deviate from it. I resisted software production tools for years. Even after the output was indistinguishable from what could be produced on hardware, I didn’t think the process of using it would be fun. But sometime around 2005 I made the switch to software, endured the learning curve and eventually made some things that I felt pretty good about. The lure of hardware never left, but since I was creating primarily as a hobby, I couldn’t justify the expense. During and after my failed marriage I was barely scraping by so if it didn’t make dollars, it didn’t make sense as the saying goes. Out of PracticeOver the years, I’ve had a few periods of immersion in studios with lots of gear. Each time I am excited to dive in. Each time I notice the atrophy in the skills required to execute an intentional idea. Each time I feel the twinge of regret for not staying in practice. I imagine how good I might be had I just stayed the course and invested focused time in mastery rather than chasing the next thing. Eventually, if there is enough time, I start to have fun with it. Occasionally I make something that I can bear to listen to again. This morning, I download the latest version the software that I've been using for almost 20 years. They've been continuously updating it over the years and I was a few versions behind. Even after two decades of casual use I have barely scratched the surface on the capabilities of the program. So as I sit here, surrounded by all these opportunities for novelty, the new thing that I most want to try is right here on the laptop where I am typing these words. In DepthShiny new objects can give you a spark of motivation or inspiration to start creating, or they can be a distraction to keep you from doing things that need to be done. You can chase novelty in an effort to avoid the difficult things. There is a balance to be struck between exploring the new and making use of (or sense of) what you already have. Once you find a process, approach, or tool that works, you want keep working it. But if you don't continue to explore, and things stop working, you may not have the resilience and flexibility to pivot.One way to find balance between exploring new things and executing on what already works may be to seek novelty in depth. Seek a deeper level rather than a different approach. If the goal you are pursuing remains the same, the differences in the processes and tools you may employ are superficial. Go deeper.Even if the process you master becomes obsolete, the skills you acquire can still serve you. You gain a deeper understanding of the problems to be solved and questions to be answered as you move towards mastery. When you really know where you are trying to go, you can find a way to get there. What is one thing you are willing to try?I am willing to try out some of this gear in the room where I sit. But I plan on skipping the nostalgia and regret and get straight to the part where I am having fun. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

Grab your journal and follow along. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe

In this guided journaling session we explore the prompt: Right now I notice. Get full access to Morning Journal with G. Forte at geradforte.substack.com/subscribe