Progress Archives - Page 34 of 46

Coasting Along Is Comfortable

Posted on March 4, 2021

We’ve all done it. We’ve put our feet up and just coasted. We could put in more work or work harder but we needed a break. Coasting along is comfortable. The challenge can come when it is time to take off the cruise control.

Now being comfortable is not a bad thing. It can be quite a good thing for your physical and mental health. And coasting is all relative too. If you are used to a 100 hour work week, dropping down to 70 might seem like a massive gear shift.

Timing is also relative. If you get on cruise control for two weeks of the year, that might be fine. However, if you are still on cruise control after two or three years, there may be a problem.

We all need a rest now and then. Though, having a continual rest may not be good for mind, body or soul. The saying, ”Use it or Lose it”, springs to mind here.

So remember to kick yourself in the pants once in a while. Few people will bother to remind you. But you need to get revved up about something and attack it.

Coasting along is comfortable. Just don’t make it your lifestyle.

Action Observe Progress Think About It Time

So Now What?!

Posted on March 2, 2021

Once you reach your goal, and the celebrating is over, you may be feeling this way. I’ve finished that other thing, so now what?!

This feeling can come along very gently or can hit like a ton of bricks. Often the more significant the achievement, the more hollow the aftermath can be. Though his can be tempered by having additional goals and aspirations to pursue immediately after completing other goals.

Of course some of this comes down to how much you have hyped up the goal in the first place. If the goal was considered life changing, it could feel like a bit of a denouement when you realise that the basics of life remain the same.

Regardless, this is a good phrase to say to get your brain thinking of the next goal. Although it may be more helpful to say something like, “What will be next?” Then you can at least start the thinking process about after the event, before you get going. Make it all part of your plan.

For example, I’ve finished writing my book. It’s been edited. And now I am in production, marketing and distribution mode in March. “What will be next?”, is certainly on my mind.

So now what?!

Action Observe Progress Think About It Time

Learning A New Skill

Posted on February 28, 2021

It can take some time and energy to learn a new skill. A lot of thinking goes into this endeavour. Learning a new skill is often a longer journey than anticipated.

First you have to decide you are going to do it. Then you need to build in some decent frequency and consistency. And you have to fit this into your day somewhere. Given you are like most people, there will be little time for this type of thing. You may have to kick something out of your schedule.

Where to learn the new skill is one thing. Who will give the best material and support. Do you simply need a brochure? Or is a book more relevant to what you are trying to do? For some people and certain circumstances, a book will be enough. Then again, maybe a short webinar will provide enough information. Other people will want a team or a mastermind to be involved. Finally a course or a series of one-to-one sessions might be the most desirable or simply required.

Then you need to put in the pushups. No one can do the learning for you. You have to put the work in and make these new habits fit in your schedule.

Learning a new skill is rarely easy. Though it is simple and highly beneficial.

Action Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts

Get Into The Groove

Posted on February 18, 2021

Oh I love that feeling when you’re in that state of flow. When everything is clicking and you’re set to go go go. Get into the groove has a real feeling of being at one with something. It is not just a mid-80’s pop song.

Right now things are going very well. Not much sleep, but a lot of fun and getting a lot of interesting new things done. It is so much easier to glide through a day on little sleep when you are really enjoying things.

It is also easier to push through any challenges. Sometimes they don’t even feel like real challenges.

Getting into this state is not always easy. However, like anything else, with a little practice you can start making it happen more frequently. One of the key insights is to not try too hard to make it happen. You need to let it happen, or flow, naturally.

For me, I know that if I try to slow it down or analyse what I am doing, I make it clunky. So if I am walking with a glass of water and then think I need to be more careful, it can backfire. I can get so caught up in trying to make sure all is fine, that I can then spill it. Strange but true.

Get into the groove. And try to spend more time there.

Action Gratitude Progress Reframe your thoughts Time

Keep The Faith

Posted on February 17, 2021

We will all find difficult moments in life. Sometimes the challenges seem too many and last too long. Keep the faith. Work towards a brighter future and as sure as winter turns to spring, things will improve.

Life can be tough. It sure can have its moments. Though sometimes these moments seem to drag on for a long while. On top of that, other elements combine to make it all seem even worse.

But when you are confident that better days are ahead, it fills you with the resilience you need to press on. Face the music and the brutal facts of reality and then imagine your way out and onto a better path.

You can lean on a family member or friend to help you through. And there are organisations out there that are set up for just this sort of thing. Make use of them. They were set up because the founder had probably been through life’s challenges too.

Focus on the positive. Reach out to family, friends or organisations. Know that time helps everything get better. Read books that are positive and useful. Set up your environment to win. Know that it will get better, especially if you work at improving your mind, body and soul.

Keep the faith. Sometimes it is all we have.

Action Gratitude Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts

My Amazing Future

Posted on February 13, 2021

Can you truly see, in detail, what your life will be like in 5 or 10 years? Does it frighten you to see it or because you can’t? My amazing future should be the theme of your ‘future you’ project.

If you could choose an amazing, exciting, wonderful and lovely future, why would you choose something else? Since you can choose any future you want, why wouldn’t you choose the absolute best future imagineable?

Maybe you have a carbon neutral private jet and an island in the pacific to escape away to. Perhaps you have a Michelin starred chef to cook all of your meals. Your relationship with your partner is astonishingly caring, warm and strong. In addition, you seem to enjoy your everyday to the max, regardless of whether you are at work or play.

You seem to attract great people and situations into your universe. Remarkably, you are wildly comfortable chatting to, and speaking in front of, large groups of diverse people.

You took the classes, read the books, watched the videos and practiced repeatedly over the years so that you could become the person you dreamed of with the life you thought was idyllic.

Remember that my amazing future is as attainable as any rubbish or boring future. So choose very wisely what you will spend your life’s time working towards.

Action Gratitude Progress Think About It

Working Together Is Great

Posted on February 11, 2021

Working on your own is ok. Sometimes it can be good, fun and challenging. However, working together is great! Especially when you enjoy their company, work ethic and standard.

I’ve been working with Alex Cooper and Roxane Brazeau quite a bit recently. It’s been a lot more work in the last week, especially on the YouTube #shorts I have been putting out. Jaime Nyland and Chris Kasgorgis have also been offering support, useful data and great observations.

Who you work with can shift depending on the project and people’s availability. Try to surround yourself with helpful people. Especially those that are slightly obsessive about the topic. It helps to raise everybody’s game, which is helpful in itself.

Think about where you can find the high level players in your field. They don’t need to be the most famous either. Sometimes people with a small following know as much or more than the ones with large followings. It really depends on who is more focused on gathering the information from a variety of sources. And also, who can assess it quickly and effectively too.

When you find a good group of people to bounce ideas off of and raise your game, make sure to keep in touch frequently. Sometimes the next project comes along and the team disperses. Enjoy it while you can.

Working together is great.

Action Goals, Results & New Thinking Gratitude Health & Fitness Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts Think About It Time

Embrace Your Future Self

Posted on February 8, 2021

It is hard to be an adventurer, exploring new realms, when your feet won’t leave the comfortable shoreline. Embrace your future self and ride headlong into the exciting world you are seeing for yourself.

There seems to be three main aspects involved in changing your life. The first one is simply recognising where you would like to be. The second one is deciding you are going to get there from where you are. Finally, you need to see yourself at the finish line and truly be that person.

One of the most difficult parts about change is truly being that person at the finish line. We can be hesitant, uncertain and uncomfortable. This may be for several reasons or just one. However, the quicker you can mentally and emotionally become that future person, the sooner you will be there physically too.

It makes sense too. If you would like to be driving a red Porsche, you will need to start thinking of it. The more you can clearly see yourself sitting behind the wheel, the more likely it is to happen. Your mind will shift nicely from ‘not’ to ’fully bought’. In doing this journey, even if only in our head, the easier it is for the mind to accept it as true.

Once something is true, it will be.

Embrace your future self.

Action Gratitude Observe Progress Reframe your thoughts Time Video

It Is Done!

Posted on February 5, 2021

That feels so good. That moment when you have completed the task. You cannot control it anymore. It is out of your hands. It is done!

It is an exciting and glorious feeling. When all the tension and build up can drain calmly from you, it is a tremendous feeling. Some feelings will be of relief and some will be of pride, confidence or joy.

Think back to when you have completed a big project. Or even think of a little one that you felt was important and worthy of your time. Maybe it was after completing an exam, driver’s licence test, or first overseas trip. For many, the feeling of relief is large after a public speech.

There is often an adrenaline rush and then a calming moment of satisfaction. In addition, you know you do not have to do it again soon, so there is peace in your heart.

I felt the calm satisfaction on Wednesday evening when I completed my first YouTube Short. Thanks to Alex, Roxane and Jaime for guidance on technical aspects. Thanks also to the many people in the YouTube and social media rooms in Clubhouse who gave great information. Also, a thank you to the How To content creators on YouTube. In particular, Sean Cannell’s comments in Clubhouse and his videos at Think Media. Naturalvita Tutorials also had a good tutorial.

It is done!

Action Progress Reframe your thoughts Think About It

Shine On!

Posted on February 4, 2021

Life is full of ups and downs. So when you are on the way up, enjoy every minute of it. Enjoy the excitement and exhilaration. Shine on!

The compound, or snowball effect, works both ways. If things are getting worse, it can continue getting worse at an accelerating pace. However, if things are going well, life can explode in an upward trajectory.

Tuesday was one of those days. There was a mix of things happening. Though, I did have some great things happen and it seems to be snowballing upward so far. Long may that continue!

It is easier to maintain higher energy and an upbeat vibe when things are going well. This in turn will also attract other positive things and people toward you. People like to be around someone who is winning. It is a fun and wonderful thing to be a part of.

So throw on a smile and walk with your shoulders back. Get a little swagger going too. Feel like you are having the best day of your life. Breathe it in. Hold on to that feeling.

If you can keep your thoughts positive and your body strong, you will win the day. Try it.

Shine on!