Tag Archives: self motivation

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

It’s too hard

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Is it really a difficult task or is that just an unproven conclusion?  Think about it, almost always there is a way to simplify.  Classifying something as too challenging for us to complete easily is largely a subjective assessment.

That is not to. say some things are not more difficult than other things for everybody however setting a standard difficult level (e.g., simple, medium, hard) is not an exact metric.   People’s perceptions and capabilities are a significant factor in difficult levels.

We can do anything

Years ago I had a debate with some colleagues about “do-ability”.  The argument was basically given unlimited resources (i.e., time, money, people) anything could be accomplished.

I did then and still do now,  disagree with this.   Feasibility, that is the state or degree of something being easily or conveniently accomplished, is a very real factor in do-ability.

Some things are just not practical, the magnitude of the resources required is in reality neither probable nor possible to employ and so the task really cannot be accomplished within the application of common sense or logical reasoning.

Difficult Choices

While we probably cannot do anything there are many things we choose not to do because of perceived difficulty not reality.  If it is possible we should do it, assuming there is a prize or motivation for doing so.

Determination of difficulty should not be based on how we feel (perception) but rather a consideration of options, particularly with a focus on things of which we are capable of.  This will include things that are not obvious on first consideration.

If you want to do it, nothing is too hard.  Sounds a bit like the aforementioned we can do anything and probably is not true, but it is a great tag line for self-motivation.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Failure

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If you don’t try to achieve a goal you will not fail (also, of course, it is unlikely you will succeed).  Although failure is defined as a lack of success, this is only true relative to achievement of expected or required action.

In fact, failure is evidence of an attempt.  Trying to achieve something without the possibility of failing is rare and usually means there is only a little challenge if any.

Boldly Go

Overcoming a tense and frightening experience leads to a feeling of exhilaration.  Allowing the fear of failure to overcome your motivation to make the attempt limits your capability to experience the thrill of the win.

Failure is something to embrace.  That is not to imply we should attempt to fail but rather recognize that failure is not a bad thing.  Without failure, there can be no success.

Minimize Risk

Raising the level of confidence with achieving positive results (minimizing the likelihood of failure) can be done through use of risk management.

Consider the things that lead to failure and plan to avoid or mitigate the likelihood they will occur.  Be ready to modify your approach if something unexpected occurs.

Risk management is really just putting forethought into your activities and being prepared to prevent failure by acting accordingly.

Of course, even a rigorously thought out risk mitigation plan does not mean the possibility of failure is eliminated.  That is okay.  Failure just means you have to regroup, reassess and try again.

The positive fact, even if success is not achieved,  is that you made the attempt at all.  No attempt, no failure.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Embracing Change

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Yesterdays post laid a foundation for a bit of a continued discussion about change.  Given that change is inevitable, the question arises, how can you leverage change to your benefit?

Time proceeds and change occurs whether you acknowlege its happening or accept the results.  A reactive or passive stance basically yields the default results.

By default, whatever the change is aimed at will occur unless you embrace the change, making it your own and thus shaping the results, most likely in a way pleasurable for you.

It is what it is, it just is!

An example of a response to changes response to changes percieved to be outside your control is evidenced by the mantra “it is what it is”.  In essence this is a way of accepting the change by acknowledging its qualities.

Pragmatically,  this can be a good way of moving through difficult changes (e.g., the death of someone close) for which you probably   had no control.  Acknowledging and accepting the event allows you to continue on the path toward future events without getting bogged down or trapped within the changing circumstances.

This is one example of embracing a change, that is practicing a particular  personal behaviour to enable you to work through a change without being overcome.

The practice of recognizing significant impactful changes when you encounter them is a practical way to use the enevitable to your benefit.

The example of using the “it is what it is” is just one behavioural attribute you can leverage, there are many.  The real point of this post is conciously and proactively recognize and deal with the impactful changes that will continue to confront you as you move through your life.

Don’t be complacent, the results can be deadly.