This is a shorter blog post that I am going to expand on in the very near future.
I believe there are numerous ways to look at life.
One of those ways - I have been reading about lately - is the idea of scarcity and abundance.
Scarcity is being insufficient for the demand.
Abundance is having a very large quantity of something.
These definitions are very intriguing to me especially when considering my responses to the world around me.
Oftentimes when I respond, it feels as if by default. That is just the way I respond and that is that.
According to the definitions, that response is a mindset of scarcity. There are not other options. The options are limited. There are not enough options to meet the demand.
Lately I have been trying out the abundance mindset, and it has proven much more resourceful.
With this mindset, I realize in almost all situations, there are numerous ways I can respond. There is a "very large quantity" of options that I can access if I think about it, and choose something other than my default.
Being in command of my life and knowing my vision facilitates my ability to weigh those options quickly, in real time, and choose the option that is in line with the person I want to be and the difference I want to make in the world.
In the end, it is all about my commitment. If I am not getting the result I want, I realize there are infinite other ways to try next time...until I get the result I want and my vision is actively being fulfilled.
Or I could just keep defaulting on my responses, blaming the world around me for my frustrations, wondering why I am so frustrated, saying I don't know what I am doing, etc., and then repeating that formula until I decide I want something new.
December 30, 2011
December 28, 2011
Focusing
Focus. Something with which I have been intrigued for quite some time.
My apple dictionary tells me that focus is defined as "the center of interest or activity" or "the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition."
And I have been thinking about focus particularly as it pertains to being in a conversation with someone else. And even more specifically, what causes some conversations to go well and others to go not so well.
I notice that when I am focused on the other person in a conversation, and truly understanding them, when they are "the center of interest or activity" and I have a "clear visual definition" of connecting with them, conversations are infinitely more resourceful than if I am just worried about getting my point across.
When I am focused on listening to the other person, I am able to orient the world around me in such a way that I am honed in on what I am committed to cause with that person. I am committed whatever it takes so that they know I am fully engaged.
When they get that I am fully engaged, the conversation is vastly different than if I am distracted in some or multiple ways.
They feel valued, encouraged, challenged, loved, served, cared about, inspired, etc.
Sure beats "not worth your time", "obviously your iphone is more important", "glad you are concerned about the game on the tv behind me," etc.
Focus. Listen. Love.
My apple dictionary tells me that focus is defined as "the center of interest or activity" or "the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition."
And I have been thinking about focus particularly as it pertains to being in a conversation with someone else. And even more specifically, what causes some conversations to go well and others to go not so well.
I notice that when I am focused on the other person in a conversation, and truly understanding them, when they are "the center of interest or activity" and I have a "clear visual definition" of connecting with them, conversations are infinitely more resourceful than if I am just worried about getting my point across.
When I am focused on listening to the other person, I am able to orient the world around me in such a way that I am honed in on what I am committed to cause with that person. I am committed whatever it takes so that they know I am fully engaged.
When they get that I am fully engaged, the conversation is vastly different than if I am distracted in some or multiple ways.
They feel valued, encouraged, challenged, loved, served, cared about, inspired, etc.
Sure beats "not worth your time", "obviously your iphone is more important", "glad you are concerned about the game on the tv behind me," etc.
Focus. Listen. Love.
December 25, 2011
It's your fault
There are basically 2 ways to approach many things that come at us in life: either you are become a victim of circumstance or you are committed to a vision.
If you are victim of circumstance, your life is merely a result of the circumstances in which you have lived. It's a nice place to be because you can always blame your frustrations on the circumstances you are in rather than take responsibility for making things happen.
If you are committed to a vision, you choose to be committed to seeing your life become what you intend. And you find a way, amidst whatever circumstances, to make that vision come to life. If your life is not currently where you want it to be, people who are committed to a vision take responsibility for their current life, then recommit to a new future.
Who would you rather be around?
Someone who is always blaming their troubles on others
OR...
basically anyone other than that :)
If you are victim of circumstance, your life is merely a result of the circumstances in which you have lived. It's a nice place to be because you can always blame your frustrations on the circumstances you are in rather than take responsibility for making things happen.
If you are committed to a vision, you choose to be committed to seeing your life become what you intend. And you find a way, amidst whatever circumstances, to make that vision come to life. If your life is not currently where you want it to be, people who are committed to a vision take responsibility for their current life, then recommit to a new future.
Who would you rather be around?
Someone who is always blaming their troubles on others
OR...
basically anyone other than that :)
December 22, 2011
Writing More
As you may have been able to tell, I have been writing quite a bit more than previously.
I have written more in the past three weeks than I did in the previous 11 months.
I have committed to a couple of things: writing 3 pages of random thoughts/journaling 5/7 mornings each week, writing at least 5 blog posts each week, and writing a poem each week.
And three weeks into all this, I am realizing the resilience involved.
Like right now for instance. I am writing because I believe in the discipline of simply getting my thoughts out and putting the words on the page.
And at times it is tedious and at times I love it.
If the vision is clarity of thought, then the discipline that follows must be faithfulness in the everyday.
Would you join me? Make some commitments for January 2012.
Tell someone.
Follow through. Even when you don't want to.
I have written more in the past three weeks than I did in the previous 11 months.
I have committed to a couple of things: writing 3 pages of random thoughts/journaling 5/7 mornings each week, writing at least 5 blog posts each week, and writing a poem each week.
And three weeks into all this, I am realizing the resilience involved.
Like right now for instance. I am writing because I believe in the discipline of simply getting my thoughts out and putting the words on the page.
And at times it is tedious and at times I love it.
If the vision is clarity of thought, then the discipline that follows must be faithfulness in the everyday.
Would you join me? Make some commitments for January 2012.
Tell someone.
Follow through. Even when you don't want to.
December 21, 2011
Million to One Shot
The other day I saw a Rocky poster with the tagline: "His whole life was a million to one shot."
It really got me thinking.
I am committed to my life being like that.
I am committed to risking it all.
Sure beats "His whole life he played it safe."
It really got me thinking.
I am committed to my life being like that.
I am committed to risking it all.
Sure beats "His whole life he played it safe."
December 20, 2011
With Vision comes Discipline
My friends have taught me a lot about the necessary connection between vision and discipline.
If you know me at all, you know that historically I am not a very disciplined person.
Up until now.
What I have learned that if I am struggling with discipline, it is probably linked to the reality that my vision isn't laser point specific, crystal clear, and incredibly compelling.
If it were, I would then discipline myself, i.e. orient the world in and around me, to achieve that vision.
Where there is a clear vision, the discipline follows.
It must.
In fact, the reality is: we are all disciplined.
For some of us, the discipline is that which enables us to avoid being disciplined.
I could write a book on this as I was a leading scientist in this field for nearly 29 years.
And if we are all disciplined, then we all have a vision.
For some of us, the vision is to be disciplined at not being disciplined.
Some of us have developed quite a skill for this over many years of a commitment to a lack of discipline.
To summarize:
We all have a vision.
We are all disciplined towards something.
The question is: are you liking what you are seeing?
Either way, you are choosing to be there. Yes, you.
Blaming others is simply another vision and another form of discipline.
And so is accepting responsibility and choosing a new path.
If you know me at all, you know that historically I am not a very disciplined person.
Up until now.
What I have learned that if I am struggling with discipline, it is probably linked to the reality that my vision isn't laser point specific, crystal clear, and incredibly compelling.
If it were, I would then discipline myself, i.e. orient the world in and around me, to achieve that vision.
Where there is a clear vision, the discipline follows.
It must.
In fact, the reality is: we are all disciplined.
For some of us, the discipline is that which enables us to avoid being disciplined.
I could write a book on this as I was a leading scientist in this field for nearly 29 years.
And if we are all disciplined, then we all have a vision.
For some of us, the vision is to be disciplined at not being disciplined.
Some of us have developed quite a skill for this over many years of a commitment to a lack of discipline.
To summarize:
We all have a vision.
We are all disciplined towards something.
The question is: are you liking what you are seeing?
Either way, you are choosing to be there. Yes, you.
Blaming others is simply another vision and another form of discipline.
And so is accepting responsibility and choosing a new path.
December 18, 2011
The discipline of writing
So, I have been writing quite a bit more lately.
Which brings the inherent reality of the resilience necessary to become an accomplished writer.
And of course this makes sense, even if I am not always a fan of the work necessary to produce a quality piece.
I am working on a poem right now. One that I really like the idea of.
It is taking me a bit longer than I thought. At times I want to give up on it. Or give it to someone and have them fix it up.
Oh, writing, why must you be so much like life.
Which brings the inherent reality of the resilience necessary to become an accomplished writer.
And of course this makes sense, even if I am not always a fan of the work necessary to produce a quality piece.
I am working on a poem right now. One that I really like the idea of.
It is taking me a bit longer than I thought. At times I want to give up on it. Or give it to someone and have them fix it up.
Oh, writing, why must you be so much like life.
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