Put Down the Shiny Object, John 🤪

EDITION 3

I have shiny object syndrome—often.​

When my anxiety flares, it only intensifies.

For the unfamiliar, “Shiny object syndrome (SOS), also known as magpie syndrome,” is when we’re easily distracted by new, exciting ideas and drop our current goals to chase them.

It’s fun at first, but ultimately leaves behind a trail of half-baked potatoes.

(And we all know there’s nothing remotely satisfying about a half-baked potato.)

Feeling the familiar spin, I fired off a message to my coach—he identified and diagnosed SOS in my words instantly.
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​(And no, the acronym doesn’t escape me. LOL.)

His advice? Rather than chase this new, shiny idea, get centered—heart-centered, specifically—and really sit with the question: What feels most real and right in this moment?

Things may evolve, sure, but what is your most true answer right now? Go with that.
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Best part: he reminded me that the answers lie within.

I could feel my mind quiet—like I’d just hopped off the not-so-merry-go-round.
​Sugar-high dropped.​
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He was right.

I vowed to pull myself toward myself.

Slow down.

Breathe.

The deeper I think about it, the more I realize it’s about presence and commitment.

There’s a quote by Amit Kalantri that captures this perfectly:

Because that’s what I’ve been missing—going somewhere (in this case, my writing path), but not taking all of me. Instead, letting my anxiety fling me in a million directions the moment a fresh idea glitters in the distance.

And so, here I am—writing. Saying no, for now, to the bright, flashy idea that tried to derail me late last night.

I feel like many of us experience this pull. We decide on one thing, one path—then someone says, “Hey, have you thought about…?” and we’re off chasing another shiny possibility.

Before we know it, we’re fragmented, frazzled, forgetting why we started in the first place.

But what if we did as Amit suggests: if we’re going somewhere, we bring our whole self?

We pick a rock (starfish-style at high tide) and stick—fully seeing one thing through.

And it’s not that you can’t explore new roads or go after that new thing eventually—just maybe not all at once.

One shiny object at a time, John.​
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One pile of muck at a time, as I said last week. Finish trudging through the first load before tackling the second.

Because that’s how you find the pony—by sifting through your current mess with intention, instead of leaping to the next big (or slightly less intimidating) idea half-done.

Everything else goes into a box labeled “Later, John.”
​(And who is John? I’m not entirely sure. But we chat often.)

So if you’re prone to shiny object syndrome like me, take a breath, do a woosah if you need, and remember that if you really want to go somewhere, take all of you there.

No half measures. No ghosting your current dream the moment another winks at you.

Stay with me.

Starfish yourself down, keep going, and trust that clarity will come from finishing—not from starting something new every five minutes.
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That's all for now.

Until next week.

Always light,

Shanna "one pile at a time" Lindinger

WILDER ESSENTIALS

What's On Shanna’s List of Things Right Now

▶ Thinking Spot: Coastal path walks with the pooch

▶ Podcast pick: The Rich Roll Podcast

▶ Current read: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

▶ Writing setup: MacBook Pro + simple notebook and pen

WRITER OF THE WEEK

Amit Kalantri: Philosopher of Presence & Commitment
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Amit Kalantri isn't just a writer and doctor — he's a master of distilling complex human tendencies into elegant, actionable wisdom. Through precise and contemplative prose, he captures the essence of what it means to live with intention and wholeness.

His powerful insight, "If you are going somewhere, take all of you there," isn't just advice. It's an invitation to integrity.

Kalantri reminds us that presence is a practice — that our fragmented attention diminishes not just our work, but our experience of life itself. In a world that constantly tempts us with the new and novel, his words call us back to the power of complete commitment.

Let’s keep exploring together