Believing in others beliefs

There are many different cultures and beliefs here on planet earth.  The ones we believe in or live by are likely the ones that the people around us did when we were growing up.  

I have talked about large groups of people believing in something that just isn’t so – the “madness of crowds” – and I am part of one of those crowds.  We all are. 

The world is flat, a man can’t fly, phones need cords, and people should be like this or that…

Questioning models of thought honestly without the heavy influence of the myriad of biases and beliefs we all picked up along the way is the basis of real problem-solving and breakthroughs.

DWYSYWD

If you want people to trust you, believe you when you say things, and consider you valuable – 

Do What You Say You Would Do.

The flip side is to not say things in the moment that you aren’t willing to follow through on, no matter how long it takes; to be thoughtful when you speak.

When people know they can count on you, everything changes.

This too, shall pass.

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!’

Spaced Repetition

When we hear, see, or read something good, which we should be doing every day, we must recognize we will forget it.  That is why I capture the valuable idea in a hardcover spiral bound (lay flat) journal.  It can’t get away.  Then I can read it later.

Spaced repetition is the best way to learn.  Being exposed once isn’t going to stick.

In many ways, that’s what Think Daily is about.  You’ve probably been exposed to most of the ideas in Think Daily before, but seeing them again, at a different time, cements them in.

Spaced repetition.

Free People Live Longer

An experiment was done with elderly people in nursing homes.  Half of them were told they had control over their schedules, and the other half were told that their schedules would be set for them.  The group who had control lived longer.

Let’s stay free, and be in control of our own lives.

It's a sin to quit

Etymologically the word “sin” means to essentially “miss the mark”, as an archer who misses their target.

If you miss, take another shot!

Feed the positive

Negativity destroys performance.  

You will never outperform your own beliefs and expectations.

Feed the positive.

"Success" is up to you

Success should be measured by you and how you live compared to the vision you have of your best self.

BUT – your vision will be based on you knowing your potential and what is available to YOU.

Do you recognize what you can do now?

Have good bad days

People talk about “raising the roof” – having better “best days”.  But progress toward your most important meaningful goals takes many many days.  

How about days when we don’t feel it, have a setback or when things don’t go our way?

“Raising the basement” and having better bad days can make as much of a difference as having better best days.  When it’s not a great day, don’t give up on the whole day –  see what you can make of it.

Higher highs are great, but see if you can have higher lows.

One day is simply a part of a long continuous journey.  Tomorrow begins where today leaves off.

Beat yesterday

Don’t compare yourself to anyone else but who you were yesterday.

Make you proud.  

Beat yesterday.

Highly connected – and lonely

People today, especially young people, are more connected than ever, yet more lonely than ever.

People need in-person interaction.  We need social circles that support healthy behavior.  We need to get together with groups of people who share the same interest that they understand – and understand them.  We need a small group of 4 to 5 close friends.  And we need one close confidant that they can share anything with.

(The number one reason people see a counselor is loneliness.)

Social Media is not going to cut it for long, nor is long-distance learning or working remotely. The metaverse is no place for us either.  Living on a screen or through one ain’t makin’ it.

People are wired to be in groups for survival.  Without the group, we couldn’t take care of ourselves, and we died.  The human strategy depends on belonging.  It’s baked into our nervous system.

Lack of belonging brings about shame, anger, loneliness, and depression.

Do you have your people and do you get with them in person – enough?

Your yesterdays created your today

Health, finances, reputation, friends, relationships, fulfillment – good or bad – you did this to yourself.

If you want something to change, you have to change how you think and who you are being each day.

What is it?

Learning a lesson before you need it

Lately, I have come across several decision points where I knew what to do beforehand because of what I have learned along my journey.  The answer was counter to my immediate human emotional urge, but I knew that long term it was the right thing to do – so I calmed down and did the right thing for the long term.

A younger less experienced, less wise me would either have made the wrong decision or languished over an internal struggle – and even felt like a victim or angry.

Learning lessons from your past or better yet from someone else before the next time you need that wisdom, and applying it when those situations arise will save you time and mental strife.

If you become an improved thinker in this way, as you get older you get better – and better.

What are you doing this year?

It’s 2023.  

What are you going to do this year that is memorable, fun, exciting, and/or a big step forward for you this year?

It’s March now.  Get on it!

Create and give more value than you consume

You get rewarded in life based on your contribution to others.  

If you give more than you take, you will almost always be in a good position.

Can you see that in people around you?

How is that working out for you?

Kindness

No matter what you do, you can do it with kindness toward other people.  Being kind is a gift that can make you feel better.

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart

“When I was young, I admired clever people.  Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” – Abraham Joshua Heschel 

Eliminate options

It’s an amazing time to be alive.  Because of the freedom our forefathers constructed, the rule of law, and free market capitalism, we all (in countries with these ingredients) have countless options for what to eat tonight, how to entertain ourselves, who to date, and what to do with our days and with our lives.

This is great.  And it’s a problem.

You can’t do two things at a time.  If you try you will not do them well, and not enjoy them.

When we are young, there is a time for trying this and trying that to find out what we like and want to choose.  This is important.  Find the paths that resonate with your talents and your soul. But at some point, the search needs to end and the “fear of missing out” or “fear of making the wrong choice” needs to give way to making your choice and getting better at it/with it.

So your job is to eliminate options.  Pick one meal to eat.  One person to be in a relationship with.  One career you love to get great at.  One place to live.

Can you change your mind if you made the wrong choice?  Yes.  Can you add something once you have one thing mastered?  Yes.  But no choice is always the wrong choice.

By choosing and eliminating, and focusing your incredible powers, focus, and energies, going deep in one area instead of shallow in many, you will have a far better chance at living a rewarding and fulfilling life.

What will you regret NOT doing?

If today was your last day, what will you regret NOT doing?

Well, it’s not your last day.  Get to it, because tomorrow may be.

Nothing to lose

When it comes to living full out and growing towards all the potential inside you, many people live small thinking they have something to lose.

But the most precious thing you have to lose is the opportunity while you are here, and it is slipping by day after day if you aren’t fully actualized.

Other than that, there is nothing to lose.

Fooling Yourself

When I was a kid, say about 12 years old, somehow I became a big Styx fan.  That’s a band if you don’t know. They had this album at the time called “The Grand Illusion”.  I just loved it.  On the album was a song called “Fooling Yourself”.  

I think the number one thing holding people back is the story and beliefs we have about ourselves.  We lose faith in ourselves and our potential.  We think we can’t do it.  We come to believe in limitations.  We play small because of our own thinking.

The deceptions we tell others are nothing compared to the deceptions we tell ourselves.

We need to call BS on ourselves.

How are you fooling yourself?