Growth can be pretty uncomfortable. You’re stretched and not sure you can do something, perhaps on unfamiliar ground, certainly a bit out of your depth. It’s scary to commit. Pushing on with what you don’t want to do might feel very similar. There’s discomfort and uncertainty. Your commitment is probably lacklustre. How to discern if you’re growing or merely troubling yourself? Ask if it lines … Continue reading The right discomfort
No matter your physical ability, status, or income, you can be: persistent curious courageous You can try again, perhaps differently. You can look to learn. You can dance with failure. Doing so consistently will likely improve your physical ability, status, or income. Create a virtuous circle. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading Accessible skills for everyone, any time
We deal with incomplete knowledge all the time – around tasks, events and especially feelings (including our own). With that in mind, I love this quote from the story I read yesterday: “My journey to the past had changed nothing, but what I had learned had changed everything.” What impactful truth can you share, out of kindness, to defuse a situation? To garner agreement? To … Continue reading All change and no change
“When you’re convinced you’re stuck, when you’re convinced there’s no way forward, just remember: there’s a staircase you’re not seeing. Trust it’s there, right in front of you, and that it leads to exciting new places. Have the courage to believe in this one thing you can’t see.“ Quoting Neil Pastiche’s book ‘You Are Awesome’, this is a reminder that the dots get joined up … Continue reading Life is a staircase, and you’re climbing
A good friend asked me a question about goals and the danger of spiralling thoughts if they’re not reached. In replying I thought about the Stockdale paradox and noted that I’ve been that broken optimist around some of my own desires. If setting a goal that isn’t entirely within your control, or is a remarkable stretch, it might be better to choose merely a direction … Continue reading Goals and direction
As I thought about my next career steps today I wasn’t feeling enthusiasm for what seems the obvious next step. Unsure of what to aim for, I pulled back from thinking of paths and asked myself in what areas I most wanted to grow. There, where my curiosity is naturally engaged, seems the best way forward for the long term. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading Where do you want to go
If we’re operating anywhere near our full potential then at some point a mistake or failure is inevitable. How will you approach that? Hesitantly, limiting personal growth? Idealistically, risking a brittle facade? Flexibly, building resilience? Wanting to grow and acknowledging the inevitable, what’s the best way to prepare yourself? Continue reading Fear of failure
When I picture myself at eighty, reflecting on life, I know I want to have helped people. Right now it doesn’t feel like I get to do that enough – a source of some frustration for me. This afternoon, I spent an hour composing an email to someone I might never meet again. They’ve been through a tough experience and I hope I’ve shared some … Continue reading Time to make a difference
Every day I make a note on what I’m excited by and what’s currently a frustration. Having a poor memory, I find this really helpful as I occasionally look back. It prompts action. To do more of some things and less of others. There’s a pause for thought if the same frustration is coming up time and again – what am I doing to tackle … Continue reading Noting frustrations
When you’re waiting on the boss and what you’re hoping for isn’t materialising, it’s easy to be disheartened and feel knocked back. It might be just a nudge that’s needed for them, though. It’s not that it’s not going anywhere or your ask is unimportant. It’s merely that there are lots of things to move forward and many of them are important. Don’t get bitter, … Continue reading Not going anywhere
Sometimes You Learn 