FRIDAY REVIEW: ATTENTION
What has been the focus of your attention over the last year? Here are a few attention-related posts you may have missed.
“By going out of your mind, you come to your senses.”
“Today will be what you make of it.”
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”
—Leo Tolstoy, 19th Century Russian writer & Nobel Prize winner
Image from Unsplash by Sergey Shmidt
Come out, come out, wherever you are!
It’s happening all around… more and more people are heading out with a bit more pep in their step into the longer, warmer days.
What plans and projects are still in the formative stage or well under way in your life? Perhaps you are engaged in spring cleaning or have headed outdoors to work on your lawn or begin planting a garden.
The word “spring” itself is all the coaching we need to turn our intentions into action. How will you make your mark on the world through your personal and professional efforts?
EXERCISE:
What are some of your most inspiring and exciting plans and projects?
Get the message out to see who else may wish to join you! Consider asking others about their plans and projects, and offer to support their springs into spring!
“The stars we are given. The constellations we make.”
“The stars we are given. The constellations we make.”
—Rebecca Solnit, American writer
Image from Unsplash by Robson Hatsukami Morgan
The night sky has been watched, enjoyed, studied and interpreted since the dawn of mankind. Today we look up into the sky less often — perhaps because there is less to see. The lights from our cities are easily seen from space, and our preoccupation with looking down at laptops and phones has stopped all but a small group of us from seeking and finding the constellations seen just generations ago.
EXERCISE:
Examine how and in what ways we may be limiting our own view and appreciation of the cosmos. How can we continue to seek, find, and even make our discoveries more meaningful for ourselves and for future generations?
“Don’t be afraid of shitty first drafts.”
“Don’t be afraid of shitty first drafts.”
—Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird
Image from Unsplash by Thought Catalog
Bird by Bird is considered by many the bible of writing guides. It has sold non-stop since it was published in the 1990s. Today’s quote is a poignant nugget of Anne Lamott’s wisdom, gleaned from her many years of trial and error to give voice to her calling to write well.
The subtitle, Instructions on Writing and Life, points to the iterative nature of both. Capturing one’s thoughts, emotions, and feelings in words and deeds can often be pretty messy, especially during the early stages.
EXERCISE:
Where are you afraid that your initial drafts on some worthy goal or project are pretty awful?
How can and will you continue to develop second, third, and perhaps many more drafts, to fully express yourself throughout the rest of your life?
“Never let success get to your head. Never let failure get to your heart.”
“Never let success get to your head. Never let failure get to your heart.”
—Ziad K. Abdelnour, Lebanese-American Activist
Image from Unsplash by Langa Hlatshwayo
Using our head and our heart to make wise decisions and navigate life is good counsel. How often do you use this dynamic duo to evaluate the options and opportunities that present themselves at home and at work?
If you are fortunate to have achieved significant levels of personal and professional success, where may you have experienced a heightened sense of importance and a bit of a swelled head?
Alternatively, where have you experienced setbacks, stumbles, or thwarted intentions? Where have these difficulties penetrated to your heart, leaving you with doubts and disappointments?
EXERCISE:
Please take a listen to the Tim McGraw song, “Humble and Kind.” Let me know what you think or how it makes you feel by replying to this post.
Friday Review: Ability
FRIDAY REVIEW: ABILITY
Are you living up to your fullest abilities? Here are a few ability-related posts you may have missed. Click the link to read the full message.
“Of all knowledge, the wise and good seek most to know themselves.”
“Like an oyster cultivating a pearl, cultivate something that is special to you.”
“Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability.”
“Set a daily quota of fun. Positive activities act as a happiness supplement.”
“Set a daily quota of fun. Positive activities act as a happiness supplement.”
—Mo Gawdat, Author of Solve for Happy
Image from Unsplash by Mindspace Studio
Where do you use metrics, milestones, scoreboards and quotas to measure your achievements and level of success?
Examine both your professional and personal life. What activities produce these results, and how many of them do you consider fun and a source of happiness?
What are some of the fun activities that come to mind that seem to be reserved for weekends, vacations, or other special occasions? Examining how you feel on Friday and Sunday evenings can be one way to see if your work has the positive elements of fun you look forward to.
EXERCISE:
What activities can and will you add to your days or begin doing to score more fun in your life?
What activities can you do less of or stop entirely to make room for these happiness supplements?
“Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul.”
“Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul.”
—Shaikh Saadi, 13th century Persian Poet
Image from Unsplash by Matthew TenBruggencate
Most nations are members of the United Nations, and send diplomats to the headquarters to hold meetings and make decisions about global issues.
The goals of the UN are:
- To keep world peace
- To help countries get along
- To improve living conditions for people all over the world
- To make the world a better place
Today’s quote can be found in the UN general assembly hall as a reminder to all people and all nations for unity.
EXERCISE:
How and in what ways are you and others in your various communities playing your part in this fundamental mission?
What additional steps can and will you take to bring greater unity to the world?
“Living up to a dream is rarely as important as entering it for all it has to teach.”
“Living up to a dream is rarely as important as entering it for all it has to teach.”
—Mark Nepo, Author of The Book of Awakening
Image from Unsplash by Keli Stirrett
What did you dream about as a child? How did your dreams evolve or change as you entered adolescence and your early adult years?
If you are a bit older, what did your dreams include in your 30s, 40s, 50s….?
Where did the dreams take you, and what did you learn along the way?
What vision, mission, and goals do you have for yourself today?
How mindful are you about picking up the lessons along each step of your path?
EXERCISE:
Motivational Speaker Les Brown and a few others authors suggest we keep shooting for the moon, because even if you miss, you will land among the stars.
“Ignore the cup and just enjoy the coffee.”
“Ignore the cup and just enjoy the coffee.”
—Mo Gawdat, Author of Solve for Happy
Image from Unsplash by Jordan @suspct
Product packaging is big business. In so many product categories, it can make the difference between super success and a big fat flop.
Long gone are the days when packaging was meant to only protect and preserve what was inside. Now, the container must scream BUY ME! I’M SPECIAL! I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER!
How often does selling the sizzle actually meet your expectations, or better yet, exceed them?
Where, too often, is the added price of the cup not really worth the premium price to get the coffee?
EXERCISE:
If you enjoy a good cup of coffee check Google for the brands that have the highest rating with the lowest per ounce price.
Where and with whom in your worlds would looking closer at what’s on the inside make the biggest difference?