Concentrate all of your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not BURN until they come to a focus. Alexander Graham Bell
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): I heard a saying last week that sums up why the majority of people are not able to accomplish their goals, and thus not achieve their dreams.
Focus on the "Interior" not the "Exterior."
Now what does this mean?
Let me explain. All us make goals, but only a small percentage of us are able to follow through and achieve them on a consistent basis. We are talking about less than 3% of the population on this planet.
Now, I have learned this is such a small percentage, as the most of us get caught up in the negative emotions produced from our DIPs, or lowest part in taking on new challenges. Think about the last time you felt STUCK or struggling to master something new? How did you feel? What were you thinking?
It is probably safe to say you were feeling some negative emotions. A steady does of doubt, anxiety, and fear can definitely stop you in your tracks and make you question what you are doing and if it is really worth it. This can lead to a downward spiral of thoughts and actions which can take you away from doing the necessary work to take you closer in achieving your goals.
Additionally, achieving your goals can be done in isolation, but most times, involves some external factors. Although you think you can determine the outcome of all aspects, you will NOT have complete control over them. I am going to repeat that. YOU WILL NOT HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL over them.
I have learned DIPs are inevitable on the path to achieving your goals and dreams. They are a necessary part of the process and help you learn and grow. However, we often times get caught up in only focusing on the results because we have not achieved x, y, or z yet. This is what is called the "Exterior."
BUT...
What is the "Interior?" Well those those who consistently achieve their goals really focus on the actions which they can take and then take them. They do not get caught up in not seeing result x, y, or z yet, rather, they focus on the actions they can take. This allows them to validate ideas, learn, and identify modifications to create results usually far better than they expected.
Now what can you control? It starts with your thoughts, perspective, and actions.
You can choose at anytime to change your thoughts, I know some of you might disagree, but you have the conscious power to change your thoughts at any given time. This in turn, can help you see a situation in a different perspective, which then allows you to take actions which you might have thought impossible before.
For example, I told myself I could never write a book in the beginning of my LYP. However, I took small consistent actions which allowed me to change my perspective from one "no way!" to one of "Not a question I will finish it!" This allowed me to take the steps to find a book cover artist, editor, ...
Now how can you learn to focus on the "Interior?"
I have talked about steps you can take in the last couple of weeks, but wanted to clarify them here for you.
Here is the TWO step process:
First. Analyze your principles, daily actions and decisions, to identify if what you are doing is moving you towards your achieving your goals. If YES, continue doing it. If NO, see how you can make a modification and then implement it.
Second, you also need to MAKE ROOM, or release and forgive the thoughts which are holding you back from moving forward. For example, how can you accomplish anything amazing if all your are thinking about is the lack of progress or why things are not working.
This jab and upper cut combo will allow you to continually focus on the "Interior" and take action to move you forward when you encounter your DIPs. This in turn, will help you take the steps to achieve your dreams!
What Went Well?
Really EMBRACING challenge, not resisting it. Also, clarifying a way to take consistent action in achieving my goals. Also, my partner and I got our first sale for our software business! It was an amazing feeling and something we look forward to duplicating over and over again.
What is something we can improve? What actions can we take next week?
Tony Robbins says that your life transforms when you trade expectation for appreciation. The LYP has given me laser like focus and sometimes it is realy hard to turn it off. However, I want to do a better job of turning it off when in the presence of family and friends.
What is something to avoid next week?
Being physically in one place and mind in another.
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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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