3 Ideas To Chew On
When clients come to see me it might seem like I’m the guy with the answers, but the reality is that I’m also a person on a healing journey. Yes, I have some professional skills, but that doesn’t exempt me from doing my own work. Each year I make a goal of being on the lookout for ideas I need to wrestle with in order to grow.
So, I thought I’d pull back the curtain and share 3 ideas that I’ve been working through this year so far. They are:
Learn to want what I already have
Discipline is the foundation of progress
The only person holding me back is me
Learn to want what I already have: I tend to be one of those people that obsesses over what I don’t have. I’m often annoyed by the things I perceive to be wrong, broken or off. It’s not bad to notice things that you want to be different, but obsessing over them will skew our perception of reality and make us miserable. I’m learning to practice wanting what I already have. And this practice boils down to daily gratitude. This helps me see the abundance that is around me, and not take for granted the many blessings in my life. It helps me be more joyful in the present moment, even if some parts of my life are left undone.
Discipline is the foundation of progress: As a kid I hated the idea of discipline. It basically meant being forced to do things you didn't want to do, saw no value in, but would be punished if you didn’t submit and follow through. What I’m learning is that discipline is there to protect what matters most to me. It isn’t a drag or a curse - it’s a gift. Discipline trains me to be better. It also creates a framework for keeping me in line with my values even on days when I’d rather not. Can discipline be uncomfortable? Yes, of course. But it’s not any more uncomfortable than living like a person I don’t want to be. So, if I want progress, I need discipline in my life.
The only person holding me back is me: This line always sounded like some hyped-up motivational speaker BS. The unfortunate catch is that it’s true (at least for me). I’ve realized just how much I have been waiting for permission to do anything. Waiting for God, the Universe, a big break, a friend, my spouse, to come alongside me and say - “you should really do this, you’d be good at it!” I’m realizing that I need to take more ownership of what I want my life to look like and then prioritize my time and effort to work at making it happen. There are things I want to accomplish. The only person holding me back is me.
Do any of these 3 ideas strike a chord with you? If so, which one and why? Take some time today to reflect on whatever stood out to you and plan a small action you can take in response to whatever is getting your attention.
Have a great week. And as always …
I'm happy to be in your corner,
Tom
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