OK...let's assume that you're truly motivated to change. Great. But how do you stay that way? That's a very important question, because most people fail to change not because they don't want to, but because they can't sustain their motivating drive throughout the process. Here are a few things to think about, to do, and to watch out for.
First, make a conscious decision about how much of your time and effort you're willing to invest in the change process. This decision will, of course, influence or determine how long it will take to change, the degree of change over time, and so forth. But by quantifying your time allocation you'll be less likely to give too much time to activities that aren't productive. You'll also more easily focus on NOT trying to over-perfect things that are OK as is. And finally, by allocating your time you'll keep your effort in this area in balance with the rest of your life
Next, make only wise comparisons. As you make progress, you're going to want to measure it. Often we measure ourselves by our observations of others. Guard against comparing yourself to the top experts ? those people you believe are absolutely perfect. They'll represent impossible-to-reach targets and you'll get discouraged. Measure yourself against those who are just far enough ahead of you to represent a viable challenge for you.
One way to avoid that trap is to measure yourself tomorrow against yourself yesterday. The old sports clich? of "personal best" holds here. This yardstick measures only how far you've come, not necessarily how far you have to go. It's easier on the ego and generally more positive.
The next idea has to do with getting UNmotivated. Avoid toxic people. Not everyone will share your goal of wanting to become the best you can be. In fact, many people will get jealous when you bring up that kind of subject, and they'll try to shoot you down. Identify these people as soon as you can and run as fast as possible away from them.
Finally, you absolutely MUST learn to accept setbacks. They're inevitable. Conflicting schedules, problems with the learning curve, the need to know one thing you don't know in order to learn another thing you need to know...there are many obstacles. Don't let them throw you. Find some supportive people you can vent to. That'll relieve the pressure and let you move on.
A final note about people you ask for advice. Make sure that there are as many of them as possible, and rotate the people you ask. If you hear too much from any one person, you may find yourself hearing the same messages, limiting your own growth, and perhaps antagonizing the person you're leaning on.
At the very bottom of all this are those core ideas
? that change takes time and effort...
? that it's entirely your responsibility...
? that there are many ways to achieve the same outcome, and
? that there are people who will support you.
So it's not at all impossible to change ANYTHING that will help you to grow as a person in any dimension . . . physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Copyright 2002, 2005 Optimum Performance Associates/Paul McNeese.
Paul McNeese is CEO of Optimum Performance Associates, a consulting firm specializing in transitional and transformational change for individuals and institutions through publication. His publishing company, OPA Publishing, is an advocacy for self-publishing authors of informational, instructional, inspirational and insightful nonfiction.
Email: pmcneese@opapublishing.com
Websites: pmcneese@opapublishing.com and pmcneese@opapublishing.com
A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
Nowhere is the line drawn more clearly between 'Industrial brains'... Read More
Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
"At my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying... Read More
Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More
Not 1 in 10 people can tell you where money... Read More
"Can you find four extra hours in your day?" a... Read More
Does choosing which time we do an activity really make... Read More
A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
"Fashionably late" is no longer in fashion. In today's heavily... Read More
Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More
Everyday life can present us with opportunities to make us... Read More
Isn't it amazing that some people can produce huge results... Read More
All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More
There are so many books on Time Management published every... Read More
"You will never find time for anything. You must make... Read More
How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More
When trying to achieve a quality education, everybody knows that... Read More
Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More
"Time management" is a myth. Time ticks by, whether you... Read More
If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More
Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More
disinfecting cleaning services Wilmette ..So What Then Is The Opposite Of Procrastination? Urgency is... Read More
Let's say that you have a software project that's under... Read More
Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were... Read More
Are you obsessed with getting everything just right? Do you... Read More
If you work from home, you know the kind of... Read More
Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
Balancing a family's varying schedules can be near impossible. Soccer,... Read More
The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More
An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More
Nowhere is the line drawn more clearly between 'Industrial brains'... Read More
One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools... Read More
It's always a challenge finding time to clean my house.... Read More
It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More
If you feel like your life moves faster than a... Read More
Last week I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More
From Potential to PerformanceOne of the great things about life... Read More
There are times, when I am driving in my car... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
As a professional organizer, consultant and trainer, I have come... Read More
I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More
Our daily lives are inundated with a crammed to-do list.... Read More
Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
Time Management |