Category Archives: Breakthroughs

The reinvention of daily life means marching off the edge of our maps

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“The reinvention of daily life means marching off the edge of our maps.”

—Bob Black, American Activist

Image of a collection of old maps

Image from Unsplash by Abyan Athif

If you happen to be a passionate advocate for your personal growth and development, you’ve probably heard of Tony Robbins.

Since the late 70s, he has impacted millions of people through his seminars, self-help books, and infomercials. He and his numerous companies earn about $6 billion in annual sales.

I recently watched his “I am Not Your Guru” documentary, which highlights his 6-day “Date with Destiny” event, in which 2,500 participants invested about $5,000 each in their own reinvention efforts toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Fundamental to each participant’s quest was the generation of breakthrough thoughts and actions well beyond the personal maps and mental models that limit all of us.

In my opinion, he delivered on his promise and earned every penny.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways it is time to leave your own predictable life and venture off the maps that seem to limit your horizons?

What specific changes can you implement immediately to shift your thinking, modify a habit, or alter a daily routine to begin this reinvention process today?

Friday Review: Breakthroughs

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Friday Review: Breakthroughs

Click on the links to read the full message on these posts related to breakthroughs.

Image from Flickr by Eric Lockhart

Image from Flickr by Eric Lockhart

 

 

“The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there – you build yourself.”

 

 

 

 

QC #971b

“Our business in life is not to get ahead of others but to get ahead of ourselves, to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by outperforming today.”

 

 

 

 

“If an egg is broken by outside force, life ends. If broken by inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from inside.”

 

When the Student is Ready

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“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

-Gautama Buddha, on whose teaching Buddhism was founded

image from kevingcook.com

image from kevingcook.com

When people say, “perception is reality,” they often mean that the way we perceive something makes it real. What if we don’t perceive an issue, challenge, or lesson to be learned, simply because it is invisible to us?

As a student, we must first see a situation and determine that there is value, opportunity, or benefit in it. Only then is there the potential to hear the teacher and see how they might assist us in understanding the lesson.

EXERCISE:

Where are you stopped or stuck in your life? Where are your efforts to move forward being thwarted? To whom could you go with the challenge you face, to determine your readiness and receptivity to the lesson?

The Worst Walls

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“The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there – you build yourself.”

– Ursula K. LeGuin, American 20th century science fiction writer

Image from Flickr by Eric Lockhart

Image from Flickr by Eric Lockhart

Many years ago, I was having a conversation with a fellow coach. The discussion centered on the claim of “breakthrough results” in his company’s marketing materials.

Although this phrase is often considered jargon or “consultant-speak,” he pointed out that in order for a breakthrough to occur, a barrier must be overcome.

This quote reminds us that we are the architects and builders of some of our own barriers. What makes the walls we build the worst and perhaps the most difficult to break through is the fact that we may not even know we have constructed them, or that they are actually stopping us.

EXERCISE:

In the next day or so, spend some time working with a mentor, close friend, colleague, or coach, who can help you examine and explore some of the internal walls you have built. Once identified, develop a plan and a support structure to get to the other side.

 

Break Our Own Records

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“Our business in life is not to get ahead of others but to get ahead of ourselves, to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by outperforming today.”

– Stewart B. Johnson, artist

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One of the key concepts I use in my work as a coach is “creative tension.” I came across this term in Robert Fritz’s book The Path of Least Resistance, published in 1989. It points to the power of a better future to literally pull us from our current realities, to act each day to make that future a reality.

We have the opportunity to become better than ourselves in any areas we wish.

Exercise:

Select one area in your personal or professional life where you wish to outperform your current self. Develop a project action plan with a coach, colleague, friend, mentor, or family member to help you break your own records and outstrip your yesterdays.

Consider replying to this message and let me know which area you select, for a bit more accountability.

From the Inside

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“If an egg is broken by outside force, life ends. If broken by inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from inside.”

– Jim Kwik, learning expert

Image from Flickr by Nathan Unstead

Image from Flickr by Nathan Unstead

In many ways, the coaching process can be compared to helping individuals or organizations come out of their shells.

Just as a bird forces itself to emerge from its shell, the coaching process, with its powerful questions, taps into the power of people’s commitments to help them break free of the confines of their own limits.

Exercise:

Select one area of your life today where you plan to break out of your current constraints, to spread your wings and fly.

Press reply and let me know what happens.