SOLICITED ADVICE #5: How to balance curiosity with discipline?

My Year of Lore and Locking In

Hey Sherry, firstly I just want to say a quick thank you for the help you’ve given me so far. I’m a recently graduated sports guy that by chance came across your page on twitter and and since fallen in love with your writing precision and eloquence. Unironically I say that if I had more time I would’ve written a shorter note (or indeed if I was more articulate) but nonetheless these are questions that I have pondered and would love your take on. [thank you!]

How do you balance the need for discipline and hard work with the importance of curiosity and exploration in creating art and/or following your passions ? Have you found value in allowing yourself to wonder and explore different ideas while maintaining traditional productivity. How do you navigate the extremes of being intensely focused on a single goal to the point of excluding other possibilities versus being so curious and spontaneous that it leads to scattered efforts and prevents mastery in one or a few areas ?

Very warm regards , M.

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There’s a really good Substack Note that I can’t find anymore that goes something like, I have to keep posting and every time I post it’s like cumming in a sock instead of pouring all my creativity into a novel or something.

(if anyone finds it PLEASE send it to me!!! I regret not hitting follow)