If you’ve ever gotten to the end of a long day and thought, “What the hell did I even do today?” — this post is for you. Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day dig into the strange mystery of who we are beneath our daily routines and how much effort we actually give… or think we give.
Spoiler: it might not be who you think doing the heavy lifting.
Thought of the Day: “In each of us there is another whom we do not know.” — Carl Jung
Carl Jung has a way of saying things that sound like riddles but feel like mirrors. If I’m honest, there are plenty of days I feel like someone else is living my life — usually a less efficient, more snack-driven version of me who forgets why he walked into a room.
But Jung isn’t just talking about forgetfulness or bad habits. He’s pointing to the unconscious — the parts of ourselves we don’t control, or maybe don’t want to admit are there. The fears that shape our choices. The assumptions that run our mouths before our brains catch up. The shadow self.
What fascinates me is how often this “other” version of us steps in when things get hard. When we’re tired, stressed, hungry, or feeling overlooked — the polite mask slips and something deeper takes the mic. Sometimes wiser. Sometimes not.
I’ve learned (the hard way) that ignoring that version of me doesn’t make it go away. But listening to it? Sitting still long enough to hear what it’s really trying to say? That’s where the real self-awareness begins.
For more thoughts on the layers within us, check out this post about convincing ourselves to believe.
Question of the Day: How hard do you work on any given day?
Okay, be honest. How hard do you actually work?
Not “how long are you logged in” or “how many tabs are open.” How hard do you really go?
Some days I feel like a productivity machine. Other days, I swear I could be replaced by a houseplant and no one would notice — though the plant might answer emails faster.
But here’s the twist: sometimes the hardest work is invisible. Listening well when your kid is melting down. Resisting the urge to clap back at someone online. Getting out of bed when your brain is whispering “stay under the covers forever.” That’s effort too.
And let’s not forget the days when the “other self” Jung talked about is the one doing the heavy lifting. The days you move on autopilot, get things done, and later wonder: Wait, who was driving?
We measure work by output, but maybe we should measure it by integrity — did I show up? Did I act with kindness, even if I had to grit my teeth? Did I do one thing today that felt like progress?
Related reading: What part of your life is circling the drain the fastest? and life without a map
Join the Conversation
Which version of you showed up today — the one you know or the one you don’t? And how hard did they work?
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