I thought I would do something differently and place the reflection part first this week as most of you have said you enjoy reading it the most.
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): This week I wanted to discuss the importance of cultivating a sense of gratitude and appreciation on the path to achieving your dreams.
I have written in the previous weeks about the idea of "Inevitable Thinking" or believing what you decide is a forgone conclusion because you set up the conditions to make it happen.
This is what I have decided with starting my software companies, as it is not a matter of IF, but WHEN they will be in operation. Additionally, I have really started to measure and report my performance so I can make the changes to accelerate my growth from week to week.
Although I have grown tremendously since I started working on my software companies, I caught myself this week being grouchy and not my normal self due to the HUGE expectations for everything to work out a certain way. I expected the companies to be built at a certain date. I expected them to have X customers by now. I expected to have X dollars in revenue. I expected...You get the point.
Now, having a clear purpose and going after it with all you have is not an issue, but trying to control everything to turn out exactly a certain way is a problem. I found myself in the last couple of weeks being curt with people around me, actually Megan pointed this out to me. I was trying to control every aspect and trying to dictate the outcome. Simply put, I was not a fun person to be around.
Tony Robbins said "Trade your expectations with appreciations and your world instantly changes."
I wrote about this earlier on in my Leap Year process, but I was reminded of the importance of being grateful and appreciate the NOW. Life is a beautiful process, and there so many things to be grateful for. A beautiful wife, two healthy kids, health, a job....However, it can be hard to see these things if you try to control and expect things to turn out an exact way at a certain time. I have learned this makes you resist and judge, which limits your ability to see all the opportunities in front of you.
The path to our dreams will be hazy and unclear at times and I am reminded of what Jack Canfield, the author of the world best selling book series Chicken Soup for the Soul, said "...when driving your car at night, you can only see 200 yards in front of you." We can not see the whole path, and trying to do so will only end in frustration.
Shakespeare wrote "Expectation is the root of heartache."
I have learned this lesson the hard way. It is perfectly fine to be focused, determined, and take actions everyday, but do not forget to take a moment and see what you can appreciate from the 200 yards in front of you!
What Went Well?
Weekly task completed on the road again and lesson learnt to appreciate more, expect less.
What is something we can improve? What actions can we take next week?
The Dutch have a word called Hygee. There is no formal definition, but it roughly means to take pleasure in life's simple pleasure. This is something I want to implement in my life and use on a daily basis. The sun in my face, coming home to Megan and the kids, being able to sleep in a comfortable bed....Hygee!
What is something to avoid next week?
Trying to control everything and expecting things to turn out a certain way.
A reminder
PLANNING (Implementation Intention): You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.
I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location].
A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.
EXECUTION (strategies used): From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once.
My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it.
Enjoy!
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