But sometimes it shows its head to show you that it’s still around. Whatever that “it” is - depression, anger, regret, shame - acknowledge it - say “hello”; and,Move on.
“Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air, and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” - David McCulloughDo you do things so that your accomplishments will change people’s perception of you? Or do you hope that your accomplishments will invite you to the next challenge? Hopefully, the next opportunity to help the others.Stop and think you why climb the mountain you’re on.
If you earnestly want to be a change maker, ask your next employer this question in your first 30 days.Where within the company, can I explore heretical questions that could threaten the business as it is - without contaminating what you’re doing now? - HT Warren Berger, A More Beautiful QuestionIf your boss is a good, they’ll not only direct you to where but also set you up with the processes and protocols for being the heretic.A word of caution - don’t allow your desire to make change to interfere with your early stage apprenticeship. You have to learn how to play the instrument before you can start writing music.
If you wear contacts, you likely use a form of “tear” to keep your lens(es) moist. Dried out contacts are itchy and annoying - feels like there’s sand in your eyes. When my contact gets that way, I look forward to removing it - I welcome the relief of blurred vision.Focus is a good thing, too much of it leads to an itchy and annoyed mind. Sometimes, we need the benefit of blurry vision in order to know how and what to focus on.Perspective matters.
… before crossing the grocery store aisle,” is what parents will start teaching their children.What’s our rush?What’s our need to go so quickly that we risk hitting other people with our grocery carts?How much time are we saving? How much stress are we giving ourselves?If you’re that person, remember:You only live in this moment, does this moment need to be a stressful one?You might save a few seconds, were the few seconds worth the cost?Is the grocery store really the place for Grand Theft Auto style maneuvering? If you know me, you know I have a lead foot - chalk it up to living in Miami for a spell. But I have recently realized that the lead foot is not worth it.Nor is the bruise from the shopping cart.Look both ways!
One of the stoic virtues is temperance - living in moderation.Don’t drink too excess, don’t eat too excess… and,Don’t overdo your hikes! I’ll be paying for my lack of temperance all weekend.
And wherever you are, good morning. May your Friday be as effective as you intend it to be.
When you’re exploring a new port, have a destination in mind, even if the destination is more of an “idea” than a “place.“Quit anything that keeps you from reaching or understanding that idea, that place, or that port-of-call.You don’t have much time here. Use the time you do have for the work that matter - the work that helps you help others.That said, it is absolutely okay to quit a book… or a job.
Over the course of a few months, I notice that I make decisions that break habits I am hoping to adopt. Will I ever be able to keep this habit? I’ve done it before, why not now? A habit is only a habit if you stick with it. While I might not have adopted one of the habits I was hoping to, I did adopt another more important one… reflecting and adjusting to the times.Many thanks to Machiavelli for the inspiration. He said that the “happy person is the one that adapts to the present, the unhappy one is the person that does not.” Dancers say something similar, “kick ball change.”Develop the habit of constructive adaptation.Or learn how to dance.
Even when it don’t feel like it, remember all you have to do is write one more word, take one more step, or ship one more idea. The only time we have to make change happen is the time we have now. Don’t waste it.