I’m working on filling my mind and soul with positive energy. Here’s a short video to help focus on the right things, those things that enable us to do great things, to push past our perceived limits.
Go and do great things!
Category: Life That Matters
Defining “Grown Up”
I love this comic from xkcd.
It sums up a key idea I’ve been meditating on lately: that we get to define our lives. We get to choose what “success” means to us. We don’t need to be stuck in the destructive loops of our culture’s history. We can find a new way forward. That’s a key beauty of life today.
When I consider Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain’s suicides, I think that there’s something inherently wrong with our culture’s definitions about success. We need to work to define “success” so that we’re feeling fulfilled as we progress. I can’t imagine anything more miserable to achieve everything we’d dreamt of, and feeling empty and miserable.
Today’s Quote of the Day
Felt it important to add something positive to the world this morning. So much anger, negativity, distrust and simple rage, I’ve grown a bit weary of the internet. However, I still see great value in the platform.
Anyway, with that, I thought this quote by Einstein was perfect. People are important, but we need to focus on goals, build a mission and drive forward. We need to allow toxic people to go and bring healthy people into our orbit. Positive energy can feed back into itself, growing powerful and more effective. It’s not magic, taking time and focus, too. But it pays off
Anyway, what will you do to make this real? To make not just your life, but the world a better place? I’d like to know.
Reflections on the Day
I spent part of the evening watching the Google IO keynote. Seeing the diversity delighted me. Men, women, Whites, Asians, but I was solidly struck by lack of black people. Now, I was multitasking while watching, and I didn’t watch the full two hour one, opting for an abridged one. So, I might have missed the them. But that’s my big takeaway.
I’ve wondered how to increase diversity in tech. Deliberate action would the best. There’s a wide range of subjectivity to the phrase, which I’ll explore later.
One thing I love about tech: accessibility. I love the tools to bring more people to work, to have access to a living wage.
I’m delighted at the ever-increasing number of folks who are working. Thus is a key promise of tech. And though we’ve come a long way, there’s so much more.
Let’s get to work! Well, in the morning, perhaps.
Success Leaves Clues
This morning I woke early. It was not planned (generally isn’t).
I brain-dumped on how I could be managing all my projects better. All the things I think I could do better.
I realized how weird it might be to get excited about this.
Remember: I’m focused on growth. I don’t want to be focused in maintaining an illusion of perfection. If there are no challenges in my life, I’m not challenging myself. I’m not growing. I have no interest In staying in that state. Now, I admit that there’s something to be said for a stresses existence. And there are times I wonder why I do THIS to myself.
I want to grow. I want to do better each time. That doesn’t happen by sitting around congratulating myself.
So, yeah, I’m pretty stoked about my analysis. There are things to grow. Success leaves clues. I spent time looking for them.
Today’s Meditation: Exploring Mission
I seek something greater
A life of energy, joy and passion
Owning my mission
I want a richer life than simply chasing empty ambition.
Today’s Quote of the Day from Audrey Hepburn
I adore Ms. Hepburn and find her captivating. Her life is my definition of class and elegance.
Monday Motivation: Start The Week Right
I continuously need to recharge the positive side of my life. There’s so much negativity, which wears me done.
I appreciate this reminder to be bold, to have the courage to ask. Asking not only displays your desire, but also holds you accountable. Others now know your dreams, and, if they’re invested in your success, will hold you to your goals. Which is critical for attaining those goals, those dreams.
May your Monday be effective and affirming. And may your Christmas shopping be free of conflict and aggravation.
I Love XKCD
Soberingly powerful. I would never guess a web comic based on stick figures could craft such gut-wrenching stuff.
XKCD is amazing! Check them out now.
Ikigai: an idea to explore
Found this graphic exploring Twitter this morning
Check out @wef’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/wef/status/927159068413833216?s=09
A very clever Venn diagram displaying the importance of balance in life. Each of the four pieces bring value:
- What you love
- What the world needs
- What you can be paid for
- What you are good at
We find our best life, with the most satisfaction, where all these pieces intersect. And that neglecting any of these areas brings consequences.
Ikigai is a new concept to me. One that bears exploring further. I appreciate the way it helps define key life management concepts:
- Passion: what you love insects with what you’re good at
- Vocation: what you can get paid for intersects with what the world needs
- Mission: what the world needs with what you love
- Profession: what you’re good at with what you can get paid for
I appreciate the reminder: look beyond my habits, my reflexes, and seek greater understanding. By dedicating energy to areas out of balance, I bring greater satisfaction, balance, and relive stress. That’s something I forget.