Getting to true, lasting change isn’t sexy.
It’s usually the opposite. Monotonous, ordinary, and seemingly not worth mentioning. But not mentioning it would be a shame.
Spark: The Catalyst for Change
Without warning, a spark ignites on what was just another day. What happens is unexpected, yet there seems to be a message.
If you’re paying attention, it could be a spark—the catalyst for change.
And if you’re courageous enough to embrace the unknown, you may realize it’s time to move on. It may be time to move on in some capacity, whether it’s out of a current job, mindset, activity, relationship or environment.Continue Reading
Optimize: The Rewards of Expertise
When the tumultuous trek fades into a calm stroll, it’s initially hard to believe.
Immersed in the daily toil of building towards our goal or dream, we’re taken aback that we’re suddenly there. We’ve lost count of all the steps in the process—but at some point, the effort from the previous phases Reassess, Erase, Explore and Build all come together to the most desired phase for many: Optimize.Continue Reading
Build: Forging the Path
The destination is a marvelous sight to behold.
When we’ve set sight on a direction of growth and genuine excitement, it’s time to build, forging the path to our goal. Whether it’s trying out a new fitness regimen, changing careers, or embarking on a new relationship—building a new part of our life is when enthusiasm gradually gives way to muscle, mindset, patience and perseverance.
Moving from Explore to the Build phase is the beginning of a trek that can last from months to many years. This is where you hone intent, lay out a plan and execute the steps. It’s the practical, hardworking and laborious part of the journey. Build generally starts off with high energy and optimism with a dash of necessary foolishness. In new territory, we’re bound to be naïve in certain areas as we research, learn and figure things out as we go along.Continue Reading
Explore: Growing into the New
Signs of growth eventually emerge from the space we’ve erased.
After a pause that’s almost always longer than we’d like, we find ourselves squinting in the brightness of possibility. We’ve had to grieve and erase a part of us that was no longer fitting, and the heaviness has slowly subsided. Through erasing, we’ve created space for the exploration to come.
Where we saw ending and loss, we now see hope for the new. Continue Reading
Erase: Clearing Space for Change
It doesn’t get any easier once the awareness sets in. We often know deep down what’s next—but very few of us like to erase.
The muddled sense of restlessness, the shock from an unexpected event, the suffocating heaviness of stagnancy—these are sorted through in reassessment. After embracing the discomfiting pause in the Reassess stage, we’re faced with a grim decision.Continue Reading
Reassess: The First Step of Change
A remarkable number of people dislike being alone with their thoughts. Like truly alone—without a phone, TV, laptop or tablet to help pass the time.
What about you? As an introvert who recharges by being alone, I enjoy the time I spend by myself. But if I were to count the minutes that I spend without being occupied, distracted and entertained by technology, they add up to far less than I think.
The constant distraction has a cost.Continue Reading
Stagnancy: 5 Reasons Why We Get Stuck
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.”
– Fyodor Dostoyevskey
We’ve all been there, knee-deep in a swamp that’s steadily and slowly enveloping you in near darkness. While you sense the importance of struggling your way to shore, the silhouettes of unknown dangers lurking beyond create a stronger feeling of wariness. It’s the reel of the same old song that goes on and on. It’s the hollowness of fear, the heaviness of despair, the sinking feeling of inaction.
Many of us can relate to some version of stagnancy in our lives—whether it was overstaying in a situation that was no longer fitting, trying to make things the way it used to be or delaying an important decision to the intangible future.
We’re all aware the convenient path of least resistance often leads us down to stagnancy. But it doesn’t mean we’re immune. I’ve certainly succumbed many times, falling for the alluring comfort and slow suffocation in spite of being someone who strives for personal growth in my life.Continue Reading
The Most Important Aspect Of Your Life
This is the thirteenth article following The Irony of Quitting My Job to Take a Sabbatical, the first in a series on what I learned and what I’d recommend from quitting my job to take a six-month sabbatical (without another job in sight). Last time, I shared 10 ways to foster creativity in your daily life. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned to be the most important yet the most often neglected aspect of many peoples’ lives.
“The only really important thing, at the end of the day, is your health. If you haven’t got that, then all the money in the world isn’t going to bring you happiness.”
– John Caudwell
I used to be really good at prioritizing other things before taking care of myself.
This was not only mentally—in terms of self-esteem, self-talk and other mental traps I fell into—but also physically.
I didn’t exercise regularly during college and the first few years of work. Although I never indulged in too many sweets due to my savory tooth, I didn’t eat well. Likely too much pizza and tator tots, as much as I’d like to believe otherwise.
During the most hectic periods of work, I’d continue working without getting up for a glass of water or bathroom break until hours later. I’d purposefully ignore my body’s signs. And so at some point my body stopped sending signals, which wasn’t a good thing.
A recipe headed towards disaster.Continue Reading
10 Ways To Foster Creative Ideas
This is the twelfth article following The Irony of Quitting My Job to Take a Sabbatical, the first in a series on what I learned and what I’d recommend from quitting my job to take a six-month sabbatical (without another job in sight). Previously, I shared the process of how I came to realize the real purpose of a sabbatical. Here I share 10 ways to foster creative ideas from what I learned in my sabbatical and post-sabbatical days.
“Creative activity is a type of learning process where the teacher and the pupil are located in the same individual.”
— Arthur Koestler
The creative ideas didn’t come initially.
While my sabbatical was meant to be open-ended and exploratory, I was secretly hoping that some revolutionary idea would shine down one day in all its glory and clarity.
Eureka—I’d know the answer to what was next for me. It’d have made a great story, but unsurprisingly that didn’t actually happen.Continue Reading