Self-Imposed Deadlines

Do you work better with self-imposed (internal) deadlines or those that come externally?  Let’s start with some examples:

• You want to update your resume so that you can apply for a new job (this is internal because no one else is telling you to do it and you have a choice).
• A customer or your manager requires you to complete a project by a certain date (this is external, you don’t have a choice).
• You are planning a big birthday party for someone in your family (probably a blend of internal and external).

External implies little or no control of the situation; you must do it.  Externally imposed deadlines usually get done because there is a consequence.  The consequence could be positive (an incentive exists) or negative (fear of losing a job or peer pressure).

Deadlines are the pretty much the same as goals.  A life skill in goal accomplishment is personal accountability including motivation, planning and discipline (and avoiding procrastination).  The insight is to use these same skills for self-imposed goals too.

If the goal is long-term, e.g. successfully transition to a new job by January 2019 then Vision is needed too.  Don’t forget to make goals and deadlines SMART:  specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timed.

An interesting discovery when I looked at the definition of deadline when I found this: “a line drawn around a prison beyond which prisoners were liable to be shot”.  Now that is a consequence.

Uniqueness and Conformity

We each have a uniqueness and specialness to our lives.  I am convinced that we are born with some (all?) of it and that it is even God-given.  Knowing it is part of the purpose journey because there is power and energy from seeing life-long patterns.  Specialness includes ways of thinking, talents, nationality and more.  The “world” (parents, school, work, society) causes us to lose it because it doesn’t want us to be too “different”.  The world doesn’t seem to like people who live outside of a framework…and so we conform (or get bullied).  Specialness must be (re)discovered.

When we are very young there are less boundaries on behavior.  But then we go to school and immediately we “must be quiet in class” or study specific topics in certain ways.  Socialization starts with our parents but becomes more obvious in a big school system or at work.  We conform and lose a little bit of ourselves, sometimes reluctantly and sometime unknowingly.  As we progress through life we assume other life roles.  Our company culture, society’s expectations for men and women and our religion are all working on us.  What is the cost to our soul?

I presume that socialization is unstoppable and even necessary.  When we are young we are not equipped to challenge these forces.  As adults we can rediscover our uniqueness.  Do you know and embrace your specialness?  Can you think of the earliest time in your life when it first became evident?

Are You on Auto-Pilot?

The patterns of our life seem to get fixed and remain that way.  We are on auto-pilot when we stay in the same job, eat at the same restaurants, sit in the same chair, watch the same TV shows.  It’s comfortable.  Rhythm and routine are important but it’s a fine line between comfort and no growth.  The problem starts because we live unconsciously, on auto-pilot.

Do you know what you are thinking about in this very moment?  Consciousness is stepping back from our mindless thoughts and operating at a higher level…simply being aware of our thoughts and our current circumstances.  It is being mindful and fully present to the moment with all of our senses.

Are your thoughts in the past or the future?  Are you intentionally single-tasking or multi-tasking?  Did you somehow drive home from work and not recall the trip?  These are the times our thoughts are less than focused, maybe unconscious to us in the moment.  These circumstances happen but it doesn’t have to be that way, at least not all the time.

We must “choose to choose” rather than just be carried through the current of life.  What are some new decisions or behaviors you might choose?  Brainstorm first and allow yourself a moment to chart a new course.  Pick one thing that takes you off auto-pilot.  Consider slowing down or journaling or reading.  Don’t keep doing the same things and expecting a different result.

Take Action

Take one small (or big) step each day consistent with your SMART Goals and you will change your life.  Align your goals with your Vision…heart, mind, body and soul.  These steps form a process to live a life of potential. The image above shows an example.

Action must be preceded with ideas, choices and planning (and don’t minimize these).  We only have a limited amount of time and should use it wisely.  This “thinking” work focuses our action so that we execute well and allows us to do “right things right”.  Action is directed to family, relationships, career, personal development, service and more.  This helps us to become the best person we can be (and choose to be).

Your life plan deserves requires regular attention.  Start by defining your ideal life (Vision).  Review and update it weekly because we become what we think and believe.  While the introspection is important, you can’t stop there.  Action is the accomplishment of the goal-related tasks and this Action must be daily.  It is the consistent accomplishment of Action items that builds confidence and self-worth.

It is too easy to waste time on the little things such as e-mail or house work.  They are necessary but insufficient.  We deserve downtime and fun too; these modes are necessary but still insufficient.  Avoid procrastination and “eat that frog”.  Don’t confuse busy-ness with productivity or progress.  We have 24 hours per day and a little bit spent each day on purposeful Action will change your life.

Thoughts Turn into Emotions

Thoughts pop into our head all day long.  Some come and go and others linger.  Some make us happy and others accumulate into unnecessary stress.  Thoughts get compared to beliefs and might turn into emotions.  These emotions can work for us or against us…toward our vision and goals or away.  It can unfold in seconds or linger for days.  Let’s look at the process.

• Thoughts. A thought pops into our head.  We are not fully mindful.
• Beliefs. These thoughts get compared to intrinsic beliefs.  These beliefs are “truth” for us but not necessarily everyone else because we tell ourselves “stories”.
• Emotions. Emotions instantaneously emerge from these thoughts and beliefs.  Some accumulate into unhealthy stress.
• Actions. Finally, we choose to react or respond.  Reacting is what we do without thinking and sometimes gets us into trouble.  It’s usually better to take a deep breath and respond with your mind engaged.

Here is an example.  You agree to host the holiday dinner for the extended family for the first time.  Your thoughts go to planning…what to buy and where to sit.  You believe (hope, pray) that it is an event that should go without incident.  You want to show you can do it with excellence.  Emotions emerge as things go slightly wrong…a drink spilled or a casserole burned.  You say something (the action) that you later regret.

Pause for a moment to check what you are thinking.  Don’t judge it; just acknowledge it.  This begins the journey of mindfulness.

Attitude and Aptitude

Living to our potential includes elements of attitude and aptitude.  Put together, they help us soar to new heights in our personal or work lives.  It starts with choices:  positive thoughts, supportive relationships and new skills and abilities.

Attitude emerges from our thoughts and belief systems.  Ideally, it is the positive belief that you can do something and even the thought that you should do something rather than procrastinating.  It is also the belief that others are trying their best too.  It is the spark of motivation, often hidden from our conscious thought.  It can be fueled by a clear personal Vision and related Goals.  It can be lost in a moment of despair or crisis.

Aptitude is related to skills and abilities and includes ongoing growth-seeking learning and experiences.  There is a desire to get better at something, even master it.  You must choose where to focus growth.  It may be in managing relationships, leadership or a technical skill.  Let your passion guide you.

Both are important, but I have a belief bias that attitude is THE essential ingredient in life and career.  Belief in yourself is powerful.  Internally, it takes some significant experiences to develop this confidence and belief.  Externally, it helps to receive encouragement from others, to have family, friends and managers that believe in you and make an “investment” in you.

Altitude is the outcome and up to you…up, down or flat.  What new heights do you seek?  Are you in touch with your attitude and aptitude?

Purposeful Seniors

There is something energizing about being a “senior”, that time of life beyond 60 years old.  The kids have grown up and you may be an “empty nester”.  You have accumulated incredible life skills.  Your maturity and experience cause you to see life differently…with wisdom, patience and even a bit more humor.

Seniors are a valuable commodity to family and community.  This talent and capacity must be nurtured individually and systemically.  Individually, we must define a “retirement” in our own way.  We must know that we are each priceless and not let our past be our only identity.  Each of our 168 hours per week is lived uniquely, balancing time and attention choices across work, leisure, family and service.  Do it deliberately by being clear on Purpose, Vision and Goals.  Systemically, we need organizations to create meaningful roles that encourage use of all our talents and continue to develop them.  Organizations also need to implement flexible schedules.

Express your creativity…in projects of any type.  Keep learning and live to your full potential.  Have courage to try new things.  Form deeper or new relationships with family and friends.  See the world and people with a new perspective.  Remember the “good times” but provide future-focused leadership in your passion.

Choosing purposeful activities has been shown to enhance the quality and longevity of life.  Our minds and bodies both need to be exercised to stay vibrant.  Everybody deserves their day/week/month “on the beach” but I hope you also choose contribution and impact.

Offer Insightful Affirmations

Affirmation (noun):  the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed; emotional support or encouragement.

Like smiling, giving another person a positive affirmation is a simple yet significant gift.  It goes something like this… I see this special talent/strength/value in you.  It shows up in what you do and makes you a unique and wonderful person.  The way you use this “specialness” is making a difference.

We all need affirmation at some time.  People who are hurting regularly need it.  All too often, they do not have caring people in their lives who nurture them.  Strong positive words offer support and encouragement and they have a lasting effect.  It’s a way to show we care and build a relationship.

Be specific; rather than saying “you are amazing”, try “your talent for cooking combined your ability to select food ingredients helps you bring people together in harmony over a special meal”.  Emphasize behaviors and skills.  An affirmation is an important mentoring skill.  It is especially important because it helps another to “know themselves deeply”.

We Zapp when we give “positivity; we Sapp when we take away energy.  Choose to say positive things to others 10x more than you criticize.  It’s much more effective (and fun) in influencing behavior.

Affirmations can be personal as well (but is not my focus today).  It’s the things we say or think to ourselves over and over.  The idea is simply to change our beliefs.

We Limit Ourselves

“Whether You Think You Can or Can’t, You’re Right” – Henry Ford

We limit ourselves from living to our potential when we place arbitrary boundaries on what we can or can’t do.  We say things like “we are not good enough to get promoted” or “I’m too old to learn to play the piano” (or acquire another skill) or “I won’t be a good _____”.  We limit ourselves by living within the constraints of a perceived role description rather than taking the initiative to add a new responsibility or project.

Change is disruptive, uncomfortable and even stressful.  Pushing personal boundaries is that way too.  We offset limits with vision and dreaming.  Vision should be bold.

It is our current beliefs about ourselves, others and situations that slow the transition.  We must uncover these beliefs and challenge them.  Ask if your beliefs are moving you toward your purpose and vision or if they are restraining you.  Sometimes we need feedback to see the limiting belief.

My own “significant experience” in this area is recalling the feedback I received from one of my managers.  I was told that I should spend more time “managing up” (engaging the next level above me).  It was uncomfortable at first but then I got good at it and finally it changed my job performance.  I carry this memory into my retirement career as a volunteer.

Where do you limit yourself?  Why?  Dream, think big, live a bold life…then take a small step every day.

Be Available Attentively

Time management is an important skill but I’ve come to believe that attention management is the bigger opportunity (and challenge).  We are blasted with attention options and choices all day long. We sometimes try multi-tasking but this is not effective in a human relationship.  We need to be available attentively.  How do we do this?

• Choose the relationships that are important and invest in them. Make time for the important people of our lives.  Call rather than text, schedule a time for coffee, lunch or a beer or just drop by.  Simply show up; this is how we demonstrate to them that they are important (rather than just thinking they are).
• Put away or turn off the distractions. Find a quiet place to be together.  Turn off the TV or put away the cell phone.  Find a babysitter for the kids.
• Suspend your own problems, just for a short while. Focus on the other person and look them in the eye.  Choose empathy and love.
• Practice active listening. Focus on hearing the meaning of their words rather than the words themselves.  Nod, paraphrase and ask questions to insure they know we heard their words and meaning.

Choose to intentionally single-task.  Use your eyes to see, your ears to hear, your mind to think and your heart to feel.  With all senses tuned-in we become focused at a new, deeper level.  Be mindful of attention shifts and bring yourself back to your intended focus.  Being available attentively requires practice.