Friday Review: Learning
How mindful are you of the things you are learning? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”
“Learning is a treasure whose keys are queries.”
When you need to learn quickly, learn from others
“When you need to learn quickly, learn from others. When you need to learn deeply, learn from experience.”
—James Clear, author of Atomic Habits
Image from Unsplash by Shiromani Kant
In what areas of your life do you consider yourself highly competent or even masterful?
What were your developmental journeys like and how long did they take?
Who were your teachers, mentors, and coaches, and how much practice did you put in to reach your current level of proficiency?
A while ago, I took my car to the shop for its annual inspection. After several hours and several hundred dollars, I was out the door with a new window sticker of approval. A few weeks later when I was out of town, the yellow manufacturer maintenance light popped on.
Knowing I was good to go, I looked up a You Tube video and three minutes later that pesky light was gone.
EXERCISE:
Who are the people in your life that help your learn things quickly?
Where do you need to put certain lessons into practice over time to develop the deeper mastery you desire?
Your secret weapon is the patient execution of what everyone knows they should be doing.
“Your secret weapon is the patient execution of what everyone knows they should be doing.”
—Rich Litvin, co-author of The Prosperous Coach
Image from Unsplash by Ben White
Secret weapons are the stuff of superheroes and blockbuster movies.
Whether you are a Marvel or DC fan, watching the good guys fight the bad guys on screen or even in a comic book always grabs our attention. Yet — as far as I know — there are no superheroes with patient execution as their secret weapon.
A two-hour film is not the venue to reveal how their secret to success is longer time intervals. We want things big and bold, or we simply go home.
EXERCISE:
Where in your life could patient execution be the secret weapon you need to achieve your most important goals?
What simple actions will you take today to build the momentum to be your own superhero?
Empower me to exercise the authority of honesty
“Empower me to exercise the authority of honesty, and be a participant in the difficult ordinariness of now.”
—Ted Loder, Retired Methodist Minister
Image from Unsplash by Marek Studzinski
Before putting pen to paper, I read today’s quote a few dozen times to grasp its depth and significance. After exploring it in detail, I asked myself three questions:
- Who is doing the empowering?
- How can I better exercise the authority of honesty in my daily efforts?
- Where am I a full participant in the difficult ordinariness of now?
EXERCISE:
How can you apply the wisdom of this quote and strengthen your capacity to live a happier, more fulfilling life?
Feel free to reply to this post with your thoughts.
It is perfectly OK to enjoy familiar things over and over
It is perfectly OK to enjoy familiar things over and over. Tasting the same fruit twice can be very nice.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Julian Hochgesang
Wendy and I recently returned to Pennsylvania from my first “snow bird” season in Florida. Although I very much enjoyed the sunshine and warmth of our surroundings and the friendships we created, there is something about coming home to what’s most familiar that feels extra nice.
Things that we sometimes overlooked took on a familiar feel much like a favorite pair of warm, cozy pajamas before slipping into our extra cool sheets, given the temperature difference.
EXERCISE:
Where and how do you take extra pleasure in the familiar aspects of your life?
Which of the fruits of your world help you feel most at home?
Friday Review: Aspirations
Friday Review: Aspirations
What do you aspire to be or do in your life? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“How will you measure your life?”
“Go as long as you can, and then take another step.”
If there was no money, and everything depended on your moral standards
“If there was no money, and everything depended on your moral standards, the way that you behave, and the way you treated people, how would you be doing in life?”
—Tupac Shakur, 20th Century American rapper and actor
Image from Unsplash by Markus Spike
Money and possessions are a primary way many of us measure our success and status.
Who are the people at the top in your various professional and personal communities?
What are their extrinsic and intrinsic measures of excellence and achievement?
How do you measure yourself against these people?
How often do you use good character and high moral standards as benchmarks for a meaningful life?
EXERCISE:
If you were to eliminate all external evidence of success how well would you be doing?
Create a list of 5-10 people in your life that model the moral standards and behaviors you most admire.
Do your best to spend additional time with these folks and let their example help you up your game.
Sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow
“Sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow.”
—Robert Glazer, Founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners
Image from Unsplash by Acton Crawford
A few weeks ago, we pushed our clocks ahead an hour to begin daylight savings time here in the U.S.
For a couple of days, my wife and I experienced disruptions in our sleep where our effectiveness and focus the next day was noticeably off.
How do you feel when your sleep is disrupted by such things as jet lag or insomnia?
In what ways do you prioritize a good night’s sleep so that you can be your best the following day?
EXERCISE:
Consider checking out Matthew Walker’s book, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams so you can be your best in all your tomorrows to come.
When you lean in, your risk being hit
“When you lean in, your risk being hit.”
—Rich Litvin, co-author of The Prosperous Coach
Image from Unsplash by Nicholas Green
In how many areas of your life do you sit on the sidelines as a spectator?
Where in your personal or professional communities are you playing it safe, avoiding the bumps and bruises of the players on the field?
Whether it is in your career, a competitive sporting event, or even in a significant relationship, leaning in has its risks.
What potential rewards will never be realized if you are always keeping your distance?
EXERCISE:
Where is it time to lean into something of great importance or urgency?
How can you best prepare yourself for the possible hits you may receive in your efforts to reach some worthy objective?
Lighten up! Notice what is heavy in your life and release it.
Lighten up! Notice what is heavy in your life and release it.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan
Where in your life does it feel like you are carrying the world on your shoulders?
What are some of the personal and professional burdens and responsibilities that are weighing heavy on you these days?
What percent of this heaviness is coming from people and external events and how have you internalized many of them through self judgement and critical thinking?
Consider taking a look at these situations through the eyes of people you know who handle such pressures with ease. How do they do it?
How often have you asked these folks for some coaching or support to lighten your load?
EXERCISE:
Where would you like to lighten things up in your life?
How can you begin releasing these pressures through shifts in perspective and the use of outside resources that can help?