1,2,3 for Week #17

Welcome to the new week! Sunday, feeling pretty good. Wish weather in my part of the world would get with it. One minute we have spring here and the next mid-April we have a few inches of snow. I’m being the grumpy weather guy. You don’t need that today or this week, so let’s get on with the week I got for you.

GROW. Stands for goal, reality, options, and way forward. I tackle everything I’ve gone after in this very simple self-review type of format. It’s difficult with the speed at which we sometimes are asked to “jump to it” with personal and professional goals. Taking a time out though, really truly giving your goal the GROW once over, can save you a lot of struggle. You don’t even have to use the GROW format, just be with your goal. Pretend your in it this very moment. What is blocking you potentially on the onset with getting started? Is there anything you can do to mitigate that dumpster fire ahead, before it even has a place or time to blaze? What’s a tiny next step you could take? Not even a big giant one, just get started? Let me give you an example that has helped me double my gym time in the mornings through out the week. My goal this week was to hit the gym in the morning, early, as part of my early routines before work so my evenings could be freed up for fun stuff. My reality, I was not an early riser and this gym time had me waking up at least an hour earlier. My options as I explored them were wear my gym clothes as pajamas so I didn’t have to waste time to get them picked out or on in the morning, or at the very least put them right by the bed. My way forward, wear them to bed because laying them by the bed was not enough motivation for me to go and I would “snooze” myself out of the gym time. The result? This week I hit 5 out 7 days of going in the morning to the gym. The week prior I was 1 out of 7 days. I found what worked, by letting some “moss” grow on the goal, thought it out, what could get in my way of success, and then moved around it to find more consistent way in achieving the goal.
Couple of solid articles this past week that stuck with me. I’ve been re-evaluating my morning productivity a lot. So, naturally, I read a lot of articles around some of the best morning routines that I could find out there. I found this Huffington Post piece, 5 Things You Should Do First Thing in the Morning to Be Happier All Day, was pretty accurate as well as fun to try out. The result? More productivity in the front of my day which made me happier the rest of the day. The second one is about collecting stuff. I collect a lot of stuff, slowly I’ve been coming to the realization I don’t need it. Now I’m trying to figure out how not to be such a hoarder with it. Use it, or not. “Nots” need to be let go of. The Interior Lives of Hoarders is a reminder as I age, what it could turn into. I’m not compulsive, but I could be if I don’t become self-aware more.
The three quotes of the week are really about things I enjoy or felt a connection to. Especially what books mean to me, which is the first quote:

“Books are paper ships, to all the worlds, to ancient Egypt, outer space, eternity, into the childhood of your favorite musician, and — the most precious stunning journey of all — into your own heart, your own family, your own history and future and body.” – Unknown
This is why my dad taught me reading is so important, but also why I love this legacy he taught me about books that I have to this very day.

“Gratitude is its own reward, it feels good, it makes you healthier, it draws you closer to others.” – Glenn Fox, Neuroscientist
Why is being thankful not enough? I wonder how much more satisfying things would be, if we could just be grateful for what is right in front of us. Just for a few minutes even.

“We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us.” – Virginia Satir
You be you. Simple.

I hope you all have an incredible week. Love to see some quotes dropped in the comments below too if you feel the need to do so. I wonder at times what inspires you, that someone else said. And, why? Take care!

✌🏻 Shawn