I’ll be honest; life feels a bit messy for me right now.

I’ve been going through a massive season of change in every area of my life, and some days it feels like I’m just trying to grab onto clarity wherever I can find it.

So this letter is a little raw. I like to write these on the day of posting, so that I don’t over prepare, and write from my heart as well as my head.

Here’s what I’ve realised recently:
Every part of your environment is either an accelerator or a brake.

The accounts you follow on Instagram. Accelerator or brake?
The mates you hang out with every Friday. Accelerator or brake?
The desk you work from, the music you listen to, the places you spend time at…Accelerator or brake?

Most people don’t even notice that they’ve got both feet on the brake, while wondering why life feels stuck.

The truth is, you don’t rise to the level of your motivation every day. You fall to the standards of your environment.

And lately I’ve realised that when life feels chaotic on the inside, my environment becomes even more important.

It’s easy to spiral in your head, but if the space around you is grounding - the people, the habits, even the physical room you sit in - it’s like an anchor you can hold onto. Sometimes your environment holds the clarity you can’t find in your own mind.

I learned this through something as simple as reading.
I used to want to be a “reader” but could never make it stick.
Then one day I changed my environment: put a book on my pillow every morning when I made my bed, and bought a cheap lamp for my bedside table (thanks Atomic Habits)
Suddenly, reading wasn’t a question of willpower anymore. It just became to obvious to ignore. I wove something positive into my environment, where my phone, alcohol, and video games were previously much more enticing.
Now it’s one of the best accelerators in my life. I read because I want to, and for the enjoyment. It moves me towards my lofty dreams, instead of pressing the brakes on my progress.

Your environment sets the tone for your future. Spend enough time around people who settle for mediocre, and you’ll settle too. Spend enough time around people who chase growth, and you’ll grow. We’re wired to adapt to our surroundings, which is why choosing those surroundings is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

Challenge:
This week, shift one brake into an accelerator.
Unfollow one account. Rearrange one space. Reach out to one person who inspires you.

Small tweaks compound into massive changes.
And with that, freedom starts to feel like a natural progression in your life, not forced.

I talk about spirituality for Gen Z while skipping stones. Have a listen:

Thanks for spending your Sunday having a think about life with me. My inbox is always open :)

Talk soon,

Sam

ps: If you need cinematic colour grades, copy mine here

pps: My youtube is lit (here)

bye