WT = Waiting Time. DT = Development Time.
PLANNING (task, scheduling, and WT = DT): I plan to write my Leap Year W11 post into the site Medium and meet the Josephs on Wednesday and Tuesday at 6 PM and 12 PM in study and in my room, respectively. I plan to turn those small WTs into Grateful Time, where I look to see what I can be grateful for in those situations. For example, last week I thought how grateful I am for having an amazing wife! I truly love her more today, than when I married her 4 years ago and my love for her grows everyday.
EXECUTION (strategies used): W40 check! Another week and another set of weekly tasks that have been competed. Although I use a combination of many strategies throughout the week, there are always some that are used more than others depending on what comes up. For example, I relied heavily on the Implementation Intentions, and 3-Bucket system (for writing) strategies this week, as I was able to complete both tasks and write three articles this week. The highlighted strategies that were used in the week are listed below along with the I CAN'T statements that they help overcome.
Procrastination...I CAN'T because I am not motivated or do not feel like it...
Early Scheduling = Implementation Intentions: T
I plan to [task] on [day] at [time] in [location].
Three benefits are produced from doing this. First, you get a sense of accomplishment if you complete the task in the beginning of the week at the scheduled time. In addition, it allows you to devout more time to do additional tasks to reach your goals within the same week. Second, it provides more time to complete the task if life presents you with something that needs to be attended to during the original scheduled time. Lastly, research shows that you are 2X to 3X more likely to follow through on your actions.
I learned about this strategy from James Clear, who is a great blogger that writes on the science of human behavior and how to build better habits. He shows the research on how Implementation Intentions
FEAR...I CAN'T because it is not perfect..
3-Bucket System: I learned the 3-Bucket system from Jeff Goins who breaks up the process of writing into three easy steps. First, create a place (physical or digital) where you can collect ideas. Second, schedule a time to draft the first version without the pressure of making edits. Third, edit your draft after you have taken time away from it. This process makes writing much easier and I find myself producing better writing in a shorter amount of time.
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): 10 months...that is right 10 months complete! I could have never imagined that I would have close to 40,000 words written in my book, 40 posts completed on my Leap Year blog, and another 11 posts written in the Medium site, in addition to launching my first app this week. Wow!
Although these milestones have been great, I wanted to reflect this week on the PROCESS in which I got to W40 and identify what factors have led to this success. Fortuitously, I was able to read a great article on the site Medium that fits perfectly with this idea of success and I will share the ideas below.
What went well?
Like I mentioned above I have now completed 40 weeks of my Leap Year process, where I have completed at least 40 actions that have taken me closer to pursuing, discovering, and achieving my dreams. Additionally, other parts of my life are also falling into place and I am seeing the fruits of my labor. Although I am enjoying reaching these milestones, I have learned that one must reflect and process how they achieved success, so that they can duplicate it in the future.
Other successful people such as Josh Waitzkin, the basis for the book and movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer" also validate this idea of reflecting on the process. He said that "Value the process, before the results." Furthermore, Tim Ferris, pioneer in lifestyle redesign, said that trying to achieve success without understanding the process that got you there is a recipe for failure.
Another person is Benjamin Hardy, who writing great "life learning" and "self improvement" articles on the site Medium. In addition to publishing helpful weekly posts, he also is pursuing his Ph D in I/O Psychology, while also being a husband and a father to three foster kids. Definitely a person that is succeeding in pursuing, discovering, and achieving his dreams in the face of everyday challenges. He wrote in his article “The Primary Barrier Stopping You From Everything You Want in Life” that there is only one thing stopping you from having the life of your dreams.
Well, what is it? Is it skill? Is it resources? Is it a coach? The perfect set of outer circumstances? Although these factors might help, none of them are the solution. Benjamin mentioned a quote from Jack Canfield, the author of the NYT best selling book series “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, that “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” Benjamin agrees, but takes it one step further and says that the only thing staring in your way of the life of meaning, fulfillment, success…your dreams is "AVOIDANCE of the feelings that cause you FEAR." That is it!
Think about it for a second, when was the last time you stopped pursuing something that you truly wanted just because you did want to feel pain, discomfort, shock, boredom, awkwardness, being wrong, failing, looking stupid or simply because you were afraid? I can definitely put my hand up here. The ironic thing is that these are the same feelings that we constantly try to avoid on a daily basis, but are the same feelings that will must endure along the path to success.
Benjamin goes on to say that 99% of people are not willing to feel difficult emotions on a regular basis, but could reach a level of satisfaction never thought possible if they did.
Tim Grover, the author of the book “Relentless” said, “When you crave the end result, the hard work becomes irrelevant.” And Benjamin says it perfectly when he said "when the WHY is clarified and strong enough, you will be willing to do any HOW."
The great thing is that the Leap Year process already helps you clarify the WHY for you, to pursue, discover, and achieve your highest expression of yourself. This means that you will have to face these uncomfortable emotions along the way, but enduring them and still pushing forward will allow you to live a life beyond your wildest dreams.
Well, what is it? Is it skill? Is it resources? Is it a coach? The perfect set of outer circumstances? Although these factors might help, none of them are the solution. Benjamin mentioned a quote from Jack Canfield, the author of the NYT best selling book series “Chicken Soup for the Soul”, that “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” Benjamin agrees, but takes it one step further and says that the only thing staring in your way of the life of meaning, fulfillment, success…your dreams is "AVOIDANCE of the feelings that cause you FEAR." That is it!
Think about it for a second, when was the last time you stopped pursuing something that you truly wanted just because you did want to feel pain, discomfort, shock, boredom, awkwardness, being wrong, failing, looking stupid or simply because you were afraid? I can definitely put my hand up here. The ironic thing is that these are the same feelings that we constantly try to avoid on a daily basis, but are the same feelings that will must endure along the path to success.
Benjamin goes on to say that 99% of people are not willing to feel difficult emotions on a regular basis, but could reach a level of satisfaction never thought possible if they did.
Tim Grover, the author of the book “Relentless” said, “When you crave the end result, the hard work becomes irrelevant.” And Benjamin says it perfectly when he said "when the WHY is clarified and strong enough, you will be willing to do any HOW."
The great thing is that the Leap Year process already helps you clarify the WHY for you, to pursue, discover, and achieve your highest expression of yourself. This means that you will have to face these uncomfortable emotions along the way, but enduring them and still pushing forward will allow you to live a life beyond your wildest dreams.
So what went well for me? I finally understand that uncomfortable emotions are on the path to your highest expression of yourself and the more comfortable you are with dancing with them, the easier it will be for you to reach the life of your dreams! Will this be easy, no, but the they key is to be aware that this a part of the process and find the courage to push through those uncomfortable situations.
Lets dance FEAR!
What is something we can improve upon? What actions can we take next week?
Still wanting to laugh more during the week. Currently, the following inequality describes my current situation: 0 < me < a lot of laughter. I will continue to look for 1% improvements that will allow me to laugh more.
What is something to avoid next week?
Not planning and setting Implementation Intentions, as I will be traveling and away from my normal routine. Second, not judging the WHATs (outcomes) of life.
Thanks for tuning in and see you in W41.
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