The relief that comes from putting off a task

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Barry

“The relief that comes from putting off a task never surpassed the satisfying feeling of having gotten the thing done.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood Blog

Image from Unsplash by Karim Manjra

In the journey of productivity, we often dance between action and delay.

Procrastination might feel like a momentary comfort, but true satisfaction comes from conquering tasks.

When we break through the barrier of resistance and complete what we’ve been avoiding, we unlock a powerful sense of achievement, and our brains reward us with dopamine, reinforcing the joy of progress.

Look at every small step as a victory and embrace tasks head-on to transform not just your productivity, but your entire mindset. Choose progress over postponement, and watch your fullest potential unfold.

EXERCISE:

Implement the 2-minute rule: If a task can be completed in less than two minutes, do it immediately.

This prevents small tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming.

If you want to tackle bigger things please read David Allen’s classic book Getting Things Done.

I have never seen ordinary effort lead to extraordinary results

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Barry

“I have never seen ordinary effort lead to extraordinary results.”

—Alexander Wang, American fashion designer

Image from Unsplash by Fedor

Did you know that the Beatles developed their musical skills through intense and grueling work, particularly during their time in Hamburg, Germany?

Their extraordinary commitment to improvement involved several strategies, including:

Extensive practice: Playing for eight hours straight helped them develop confidence and greater technical skills.
Their rigorous work ethic often demanded that they play eight days a week.😊
Instead of playing the same sets over and over, the Hamburg performances required them to innovate and expand their musical repertoire making them more versatile and creative performers.
The band faced multiple rejections and were turned down by at least five record labels before finally getting a contract with EMI in June of 1962.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your world have you expected ordinary efforts to produce extraordinary results?

How can you apply more than a few hard days nights to have more extraordinary results come together for you?

“I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life.”

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Barry

“I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life.”

—Louise Hay, late American motivational speaker, author, and AIDS advocate

Image from louisehay.com

Louise Hay’s life was marked by remarkable transformations and achievements. Born in 1926 in Los Angeles, California, she overcame a troubled childhood to become a pioneering figure in the self-help movement.

Noteworthy facts about her life include:

- Her early struggles included poverty and considerable physical abuse from her stepfather and a neighbor.
- After a career with many jobs, she moved to New York in the 1950’s and became a successful fashion model.
- Her spiritual awakening followed a divorce after 14 years of marriage. At that time, she discovered the First Church of Religious Science, which influenced her to the concept of the power of positive thinking.

Faced with a cervical cancer diagnosis, she chose alternative methods of healing. Her methods included an intensive program of affirmations, visualization, nutritional cleansing and psychotherapy.

Other notable efforts included AIDS support, publishing success, and her numerous philanthropic efforts until the age of 90, which have inspired millions of people around the world.

EXERCISE:

Check out Hay’s most notable book, You Can Heal Your Life to help you make the rest of your life the best of your life.

When we release our grip on the past

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Barry

When we release our grip on the past it’s easier to hold the gifts of the present.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jess Bailey

How often do your thoughts about the past hijack you from the “here and now moments” of your life?

If this occurs more often than you would like, consider this list of strategies to pull you back to the gifts of the present:

Cultivate a supportive social network to provide encouragement and understanding.
Engage in regular physical activity to reduce stress and improve your mood.
Create physical or psychological distance from people or situations that trigger upset feelings about the past.
Expressing emotions through journaling helps to process and release past painful or difficult feelings.
Practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation can interrupt cycles of repetitive thought and help us see certain life events more objectively.

Seeking professional help through therapy to address unresolved emotions and trauma can be used with any of these strategies to offer additional guidance and help move us forward.

EXERCISE:

Where do past events still have you in their grip?

What strategies from today’s post offer the best approach for you to step boldly into the gifts of the present?

Friday Review: Self-Awareness

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Barry

Friday Review: Self-Awareness

How self-aware are you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Can I get Caller ID for the voices in my head?”

“We learn who we are in practice, not in theory.”

“Contemplate your monk mind instead of your monkey mind.”

Short term results come from intensity

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Barry

“Short term results come from intensity. Long term results come from consistency.”

—Shane Parish, author of Clear Thinking

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

How often do you find yourself using intensity and consistency to produce the results you desire?

If you are like many people, you probably use a balance between the two to create an optimal strategy for achievement, benefiting from areas of steady progress with the occasional acceleration provided by intense effort.

In football, we can see numerous examples where extensive practice and running routine plays consistently can be the source of many wins over the course of a season.

In recent years the “Tush Push” has been used particularly by the Philadelphia Eagles to make short yardage for first down conversions or to score a touchdown. In spite of many defenders knowing the play, this intense effort of the center, quarterback, and running backs pushing from behind is particularly effective.

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you use intensity and consistency to achieve your personal and professional objectives?

How could you apply the “Tush Push” concept in your own world to score more points with the help of others behind you?

“No one ever tells you that bravery feels like fear.”

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Barry

“No one ever tells you that bravery feels like fear.”

—Mary Kate Teske, American multi-media artist

Image from Unsplash by Michael Dziedzic

For many of us bravery shows up as a willingness to act despite being afraid.

The connection between fear and courage can show up in a number of ways including:

Self-protection where bravery manifests as the courage to protect oneself from danger. This is often called “the fight or flight” response.
Demonstrating resilience to bounce back from setbacks, or working to reframe them as opportunities for learning and growth.
Being vulnerable and putting ourselves out there despite our insecurities.
Using anxiety as a catalyst for action in the face of situations that frighten us — such as public speaking or when trying a new experience.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you cultivate courage as a skill by gradually facing life’s challenged with greater confidence?

“You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Barry

“You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

—Alan Watts, 20th Century British/American writer, speaker, philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Richard Burton

We recently attended a good friend’s 90th birthday party. The big event included about 75 close friends and family from far and wide. Besides children, grandchildren, and a few members of the younger generation, the majority of attendees were well into their senior years.

Along with a delicious buffet, they had a DJ playing tunes from the past, and a photo montage of our friend from the days of his youth until today. It was remarkable to see how he and most of the audience remembered every word to these songs and to see how in many ways he continued to evolve during the milestone moments of his life. We have already been invited to his 100th celebration, in which — I am sure — he will be an even more remarkable guy than today!

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you continue to learn, grow, and evolve with each passing day? How can you be an even more intentional work in progress as you step into the future you?

“I Statements” can be a valuable tool

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Barry

“I Statements” can be a valuable tool to enhance constructive communications. Pointing Fingers and Accusation Tag are games where everyone loses.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

“I Statements” are a powerful communication tool that focus on expressing one’s feelings, needs, and perspectives — without blaming or accusing others.

Their value lies in their ability to:

Reduce defensiveness and hostility
Foster empathy and cooperation by allowing the listener to understand the speaker’s perspective
De-escalate conflicts by avoiding accusatory language
Enhance emotional intelligence and self-awareness
Strengthen relationships by promoting open and respectful dialogue

EXERCISE:

Where in your world are pointing fingers and accusation tag being played?

Where would the use of “I Statements” be used to cool down these heated conflicts and enhance your communications efforts?