How clear is your vision for yourself and your future? Here are a few elated posts you may have missed.
“Approach every task as though it were the moment that will define you.”
“The best way to ride a horse is in the direction in which it is going.”
“It’s amazing how a little tomorrow can make up for a whole lot of yesterday.”
Image from Unsplash by Osman Rana
How often do you feel the tender and inspiring aspect of life around you?
Who are the people, where are the places, and what are the things that lift you up and carry you through your days?
Where do you experience a strong sense of resonance and belonging that touches your heart and soul?
How long do you linger in these moments?
Explore this list to see if any of these events strike a chord:
EXERCISE:
Create a list of 5-10 moments in which you feel the swell of life. How can you linger and drift with these feelings more fully and more often?
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Yesterday’s post was about reaching the point of diminishing returns and the heavy costs we often pay.
Perhaps the most often used strategy to lighten our loads is to just say NO. How often have you given this approach a go, and how did things work out?
One primary reason saying NO is so difficult is that we don’t wish to damage the relationship. When we don’t create boundaries and say NO, we often hurt ourselves and feel considerable resentment.
EXERCISE:
Here are some useful books you may explore to help you learn to say NO:
The Power of a Positive No by William Ury
The Power of No by James Altucher and Claudia Azula Altucher
The Book of No by Susan Neuman
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The Art of Saying No by Damon Zahariades
Image from Unsplash by Suzi Kim
What is your profession? How many hours do you typically work each week?
Consider the career of an accountant: seven days and over 80 hours a week is often the norm for many of these folks this time of year.
What about other professions such as those in the medical field during Covid and significant staff shortages?
Maybe you are a homemaker or caregiver with young children or aging parents who also needs to be a breadwinner. If any of these situations sounds familiar, you have likely reached and exceeded the point of diminishing returns.
EXERCISE:
What are the costs to you and others when you consistently go beyond your limits?
What new or different strategies can you employ when enough is more than enough?
Image from Unsplash by TJ Dragotta
Are you a basketball fan? Did you watch any or all of the madness in March? If so, you are probably familiar with some of the pre-shot routines players use before each free throw. Close your eyes and picture the number of ball bounces, deep breaths, and other gestures of your favorite players.
EXERCISE:
Where in your world do you engage in simple repeatable rituals to help you remain calm, centered, and focused on the task at hand?
Consider looking at the example of others who perform at the highest levels and see what they do to be their best.
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.”
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?
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?
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:
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.
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?