The Power of Words
Starting Each Day With A Little Thinking...Progress
Slow and steady wins the race. No truer words were ever spoken. It’s easy to jump in to new things full of excitement and energy. The challenge comes when the newness wears off. Real progress takes a lot of time and effort. In today’s instant gratification society that’s not a message that people like to hear.
The recipe for progress is well understood and extremely straight forward: define the end state, identify the path, break it in to reasonable pieces, establish a practical time line for each piece, and do it. Unfortunately, many people spend all of their time looking for a “better recipe” as opposed to simply buckling down and following the recipe. The results are rarely good when one deviates from this proven recipe.
With that in mind:
Are you going to follow the progress recipe this week or look at finding new recipe?
As always, thanks for the time.
Awareness
While it may be the case that “ignorance is bliss” it is not — in my opinion — the best way to go through life. Now maybe I am really missing out on something by being able to set my mind’s switch to “total lack of awareness” state; but, I struggle to fathom an existence where you are not absorbing from all that transpires around you.
That said, all too often we really are unaware of what is going on around us: the gifts we are given, the people that care for us, the challenges other face, the chances to help, the opportunities that are there for the seizing, the alternatives that are available. In my opinion, that is due to our single minded focus on destinations/goals versus considering why we’re headed there, what path makes the most sense, and if there are other alternatives available. All too often we “lock in” and to after things with a dogged determination that makes sure we get there faster so we can move on to the next task at hand. Ironically, this single mindedness often blinds us to what are really looking to accomplish, how to get there easier, who we can bring along on the journey, and why to end state is not the “only” thing.
With that in mind:
How’s your awareness of who, what, when, how and why?
As always, thanks for the time.
Growing
It’s amazing to watch your kids grow. They start out somewhere in the seven pound range, are stumbling around a year later, speaking within another year, reading in a couple more, driving too soon after, and heading to college before you even know it. You often hear from folks “He/She is getting so big!” as the physical growth is easy to see with our eyes.
But it’s the growth as a person that is so fascinating to me. How these little things go from being totally dependent to totally independent souls in no time at all. How they develop in to their own unique entity with their own set of values and beliefs.
Kid’s don’t accept the status quo. They push, bend and challenge. They look for what makes sense for them. For what seems right. For what makes them happy. As parents we certainly provide a lot of shaping, but ultimately the decisions — good or bad — are theirs. What’s all the more interesting is that somewhere between 18 and 40 many of us stop that growing thing — both physically and as a person (discounting of course the “growth” on one’s waist line!).
Why is that? Why do we stop exploring new things, pushing the boundaries of our world, learning new things, experiencing new things, growing as a person? Folks will come up with all sorts of reasons; however, in my mind, it’s predominantly an issue of fear of change. That’s too bad as that fear holds us back from growing in to so much more as a person.
With that in mind:
What are you afraid of that’s keeping you from growing?
As always, thanks for the time.
Break
This past weekend I spent three days down at my parent’s lake house with my family. We chatted, ate, relaxed, and did a lot of fishing. Now while I had my smart phone along, connectivity at this particular location is poor and my access to e-mail, Facebook, Linked In, and all the other “important” stuff was very limited. Somehow I survived just fine. Thrived is more like it. The three days allowed me to let my mind rest, to recharge the batteries, and to return back to my normal routine refreshed and ready.
All too often, we fall in to the trap of believing working harder is the answer. Sometimes the exact opposite is true. Sometimes you need to step away for a few days and shut things down. Whether you refer to it as duality, yin and yang, balance, or some other term, taking a break is necessary, healthy, and extremely productive.
With that in mind:
When was the last time you stepped away from the rat race and took a break?
As always, thanks for the time.
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