CONFUSION RESULTS IN MEDIOCRITY AT BEST

Have you ever thought about this: When we resist clarity, it reveals that we don’t believe in ourselves.

Living with confusion, resisting what it takes to move beyond confusion, choosing to be confused.

Is it possible that all of these scenarios reveal that we don’t believe in ourselves to put in the mental labor necessary to get clear so that we can be clear about what we are up to and subsequently throw ourselves fully into it.

What if choosing to be confused is simply a convenient way to hide from going “all in.”

And so, each day, I just dip my toe in. Day after day.

Instead of leaping headlong into the things I truly long for most. (And perhaps grabbing some others to jump with me).

And then, we wondered why we are frustrated, depressed, angry, bored, confused, apathetic, etc.

If you are there — stuck, confused, etc. You don’t have to stay there. Sometimes the first step is to realize you have chosen to be there.

Which means you can choose something new.

Today.

ONE QUESTION EVERY MORNING

From “Do the Work” by Steven Pressfield:

At least twice a week, I pause in the rush of work and have a meeting with myself. (If I were part of a team, I’d call a team meeting.) I ask myself, again, of the project; “What is this damn thing about?”

What.

Is.

This.

Damn.

Thing.

About?

Do you know why you are doing what you are doing today?

What is the desired end result?

What is it about?

MENTAL LABOR THRESHOLD

If you want to lead a successful and fulfilling life that makes a committed impact, I can guarantee you this:

There is a mental labor threshold you will get to cross.

That moment you are writing out your vision and you want to quit.

The moment you don’t know where to start and you have to choose if you will start anyways.

The moment you know you need to write about something and you can’t seem to put the pen to the page.

The moment you long to risk yet can’t seem to conjure up the courage.

Either you will cross it and push through, or you will find yourself obsessed with the easy side of the threshold – jealous of those who chose to take another step.

IS FOCUS CHOSEN OR INHERENT?

Is focus something I choose? Or is it something I must be born with?

What do you think?

Gallups Strenthsfinder has one of their “talents” as “focus.” And I have seen some people who seem to naturally have incredible focus.

But, my question is this: Am I justified in not having focus based on whether or not it comes naturally?

I don’t think so.

I definitely wouldn’t describe myself as a person who naturally has focus. Yet, there have been times that I have chosen to be incredibly focused.

For me, it always comes down to how compelling and clear my vision is.

Because when I was pursuing my wife in hopes she would let me take her to dinner when we first met, I had world-class focus. My vision was crystal clear.

What do you think?

ON DISAPPOINTMENT

We all experience disappointment at some points in our lives.

So, what are some thoughts to handle it in the most resourceful way possible?

It is important to know that disappointment is not a bad thing. It could mean a number of things. It could mean that your expectations were not met. It could also mean that you went for something bigger than yourself and missed it. Or it could mean that someone else let you down.

No matter what, disappointment is not a “bad” thing. What if we were able to look at disappointment without judging it? What resource could it provide?

I think there are 2 primary ways to go with this:

1. From now on, set clear expectations with yourself and others. This doesn’t mean you won’t be let down, but it significantly decreases the chances.

2. Keep taking risks. I think when we are going after the life we dream of, disappointment can be paralyzing at times. We must reconnect with the “why” behind our dreams and then find a way to get back on track.

What do you think? Feel free to share thoughts or questions in the comments section.