“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.”

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Barry

“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.”

—Cathrynne M. Valente, American fiction writer, poet, and literary critic

Image from Unsplash by Daniel Lerman

As we examine our thoughts carefully from time to time, we can all take an extra step to explore whether they are focused on the past, present or future.

When we look backwards, we may smile about the good times or sometimes experience a sense of regret for opportunities missed.

Today’s quote points to those times when we look forward. Ideally, we look to the future with optimism and hope for better times. Sometimes however, we notice fear and worries enter our thinking where we sense a level of doom and gloom on the horizon on a day that has yet to begin.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you notice and augment your thinking toward the positive aspect of life to more fully appreciate and enjoy every morning, noon, and night?

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude.”

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Barry

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing attitude.”

—Colin Powell, 65th United States Secretary of State

Go back in time and take a look at your report cards from your days at school. How were your grades, what were your favorite subjects? Where did you intentionally pursue and achieve levels of excellence?

How have things been going for you in your personal and professional worlds since those days? What would your report card look like today, given the many roles you play in your various communities?

In what areas and in what ways have you developed the habit of pursuing excellence in matters both big and small?

EXERCISE:

What are a few areas of your life in which an adjustment of both attitude and effort would make the biggest difference and help you achieve big things?

”It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power!”

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Barry

”It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power!”

—Robert Kiyosaki, American author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Image from Unsplash by magnet.me

Thoughts become things. In a typical day, we actually use our inner voices far more than our external ones.

We are constantly having what Susan Scott describes in her book, Fierce Conversations, as versations — which is simply a conversation with ourselves.

The power of bathing in our own thoughts is a form of leadership where we repeatedly speak about our reality and our vision for the future. This repetition carves deep grooves in our conscious and unconscious minds, which can and often do lead to behaviors that determine our lives.

EXERCISE:

Notice your inner voice whispering to you throughout the day. What is it saying?

Is this voice positive and affirming or negative and judgmental?

How can and will you use the power of versations to enhance your life?

“Do it well, finish it properly, and move on.”

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Barry

“Do it well, finish it properly, and move on.”

—Eunice Kennedy Shriver, late American philanthropist & member of the Kennedy family

Image from Unsplash by Michal Balog

How often do you find yourself lingering over a past activity or replaying a conversation with others?

As part of our move to Pennsylvania early this month, Wendy and I looked over the many VHS tapes, DVDs and CDs we have accumulated over the years.

The question of keeping some of our favorites to review again or discarding many of them before the move had us consider our use of time and space and how we wish to spend them going forward.

The idea of moving on and properly finishing things from the past offered us a great sense of freedom to explore activities within our new community.

EXERCISE:

What are some areas in your world where moving on is far most important at this point in your life?

Friday Review: Teamwork

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Barry

FRIDAY REVIEW: TEAMWORK

What are your thoughts and beliefs about teamwork? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Vital to every operation is cooperation.”

“Drop the hammer and pick up the shovel.”

“You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time.”

“To better the future, we must disturb the present.”

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Barry

“To better the future, we must disturb the present.”

—Catherine Booth, 19th Century co-founder of The Salvation Army

Image from Unsplash by Ronnie Overgoor

What comes to mind when you think about goal setting and the achievement of your personal or professional objectives?

What has been your track record in meeting or exceeding your desired intentions?

For many, the course taken is often the path of the New Year’s Resolution — most of which are slowed down or completely stopped by mid-February.

A common reason for giving up may simply be that we believe we must always go big and have tectonic shifts in our reality if we are to realize our dreams of a better future.

Many pioneers in the world of human achievement and behavior suggest it is better to go small.

Books such as Tiny Habits and Atomic Habits point to the power and sustainability of even the smallest of actions taken on a routine basis, producing big, long-term results.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you make small but subtly disruptive changes in your life to help you realize the better future you desire?

“Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value surprisingly quickly.”

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Barry

“Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value surprisingly quickly.”

—David Maister, former Harvard Business School professor

Image from Unsplash by Fredy Jacob

Where are your skills and knowledge not keeping up with the times?

Where have you dropped your intellectual anchor, letting the whole world know you have stopped at what seems like a safe spot to rest and sit things out?

I was recently asked to help a friend with her printer, to make copies of her resume to secure a new job. Although she had brand new cartridges installed, her computer couldn’t communicate with her printer due to an old, unsupported operating system.

EXERCISE:

Where are you falling a bit behind in the skills and knowledge needed to be successful professionally or personally? What investments can and will you make that will appreciate in value in the years ahead?

“We have two lives, and the second one begins when we realize we only have one.”

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Barry

“We have two lives, and the second one begins when we realize we only have one.”

—Attributed to Confucius

Image from Medium.com

Groundhog Day with Bill Murray is one of my favorite movies. Beyond its humor is the central message of waking up to our lives anew each day.

Take a close look at your life. Examine each day of the past week, month, or even the past year or so. Can you see each moment with clarity, or do things look more like a train speeding by?

I’ve practiced a daily meditation over the past five years. I’ve found this simple — yet often not easy — daily discipline has slowed me down considerably. I have become more mindful and aware of how I navigate my days.