Self-discipline separates high from low

Knowing what to do or having access to information is not what makes the difference between those living better lives and those not. Chances are, we know what to do, and what will be better for us in the long run – we just don’t do it.  

We have attached emotions and beliefs to the things we know we should do like it’s hard, it’s no fun, my bad habits are so pleasureable…and these beliefs make it harder. We’ll need to change our beliefs and the emotions we anchor to these habits to make change easier. 

But in the end, it’s not about anyone being luckier or more privileged than us. It’s about will we do what we know we should, or not?

Aspiration is different than need

You need food, water, shelter and care when you are sick or injured. Everything else is a choice.

What specifically do you desire? What are your aspirations?

Writing them down forces you to clarity.

Write now.

Your ARE in business

Even if you don’t own a business, you should see yourself as being “in business,” because you are. What we do at work is how we interact and make a contribution to the world. It’s how we show up to others – be they co-workers, our managers, or customers. This contribution is how we make money necessary to support ourselves and our families.

If we go to work with the idea that we are here to do the minimum and get a paycheck, we aren’t going to make much of a contribution, and it will show up in our lack of long term progress.  But if we go to work thinking this place is OUR business, where WE create value for others and be our highest selves, using as much of our potential as we know how, and developing that capacity each day, we will get entirely different results.

The business we show up to each day is where we make our contribution to the world. 

How are you showing up?

The way of the master – part 3

At the end of life, it does not matter what you have, but rather what you have become in the attainment of your goals.  

What has the setting and pursuit of your goals made of you? Did you use more of your potential in service to others? Did you become more strong and confident so as to be able to carry another? Did the pursuit make you more able and confident so that once a small mountaintop was reached, you were able to climb a larger one?

Seek mastery in the path that is yours.

The way of the master – part 2

For one seeking to attain mastery of his craft, sport, or endeavor, there are no ordinary moments. Everything is always on the line. By behaving this way, the practice is elevated, which is what he knows will make him a master.

Your practice; what you do when it’s not gametime, showtime, test time, and nobody else is around, matters.

The way of the master – part 1

For the master, the attainment of a goal is not the reason, nor the prize. It is the practice. The day in and day out practice and effort to use peak performance and experience as a baseline for tomorrow’s practice. 

"Forest Therapy"

I read about a therapist who takes her clients for a walk in the woods to help them reduce anxiety and stress. (She says she hopes that forest therapy will be covered by health insurance one day! Hard to make this stuff up!) Anyway…I was reading a great book called “The Art of Learning” about recovery time. High performance people have to reset and recover – to shut down and “re-create.” For example, he wrote about Michael Jordan sitting on the bench for two minutes in perfect serenity while his team was out there struggling and needing him. 

Recovering and getting away from our work is important so when we go at it again we are fresh.  I often do this with some “forest therapy” (I never call it that!) of my own. I go running in the woods, or clear downed/leaning trees or move stones around, building walls etc.  I’m on my own in nature, and it’s hard to think about my “work life,” at least in the same perspective as I thought about it when I was at work.

It’s no secret that getting outside is good for us.  It’s where we humans spent the most time not too long ago, and it’s a great way to get in touch with the native pulse of life, and wash off the artificial one.  

Gardening, beach, walking, hiking, farming, yard work, sports…

What do you do to mentally or physically “recover and regenerate”?

What's at your boundaries?

We can live inside our abilities and talents – but where do we define those boundaries? They are lines we have drawn in our minds, but are they real? 

No. They are not. The only way we can find out, is by pushing ourselves to those boundaries and finding out where the “fence” is – and then moving it farther out.

What self-imposed limits have you been living in?

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Character is your foundation

Character – the origins of the word mean “a mark left by a chisel.”  It’s your foundation.  Without it, you can’t do much, because your progress in this world depends upon you interacting successfully with other people.  And without character, they won’t want to do that.

Keep your word. Be trustworthy. Be kind. Be loyal. Be helpful, courteous, cheerful, brave and clean.

How is your character?  It never goes out of style.

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Why am I doing this again?

In a book called “The Devil’s Dictionary” it says that fanaticism is “redoubling your efforts long after your aim has been forgotten.”

So before we consider what we can do to be more productive, let’s make sure we are going in the right direction.

What are you trying to do? Where do you want to end up? What would it look like?

Then ask “Is what you are doing taking you closer to your ideal situation or goal?”

No sense in going faster if we are going in the wrong direction – right?

So long as you are going in the right direction, then you can think about how to be more productive and get there faster each day.

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