Understand your ambitions and desires.
Everyone has their own version of what an ideal life looks like. These visions might change and transform over time depending on what we experience and learn as the years go by. The key is to stay in motion and steer the ship in the desired direction regardless of the obstacles that might get in our way. Whether it’s time to work or time to relax, focus on the present moment and do what has to be done to move the needle forward.
It’s easy to get lost in all the noise. Each day brings new information and different distractions that progressively pick away at our time and energy. We become privy to different ideas and philosophies while trying to see where everything fits in the grand scheme of things. A combination of perceptions that warp reality. Each experience providing different impressions depending on who lives through it and in what context they view it from. Similar to many people reading the same words from the same book and deriving a variety of meanings and interpretations based on an infinite number of corresponding factors.
The path probably won’t be crystal clear on “Day 1”. Even if it is for some, we still have to go through the motions on a daily basis to get where we ultimately want to go. Instead of trying to concoct the perfect plan while waiting on the sidelines, get a general idea of what you’d like to do on a daily basis. Understand which areas you need to improve in order to become better overall. This could be related to health, wealth, relationships and anything else in between. Once those first few ideas come to mind, start taking initial action with the knowledge that’s currently available and refine systems as more feedback is given from reality.
Identify what has to be done on a daily basis.
We’ll be faced with many crossroads throughout the course of life. Burdened with choices to make in each passing moment whether we like it or not. Instead of going back and harboring regret for something that has already happened, it serves to continue moving forward while using past mistakes as lessons to guide future decisions. Find balance in the extremes. Too scattered and nothing gets finished. Too rigid and opportunities are missed. Learn when to use each tool at your disposal.
It goes without saying that chance plays an immeasurable role in our daily lives. Being at the right place at the right time or being at the wrong place at the wrong time can have life altering consequences in either direction. We’re better served by controlling what we can and having faith that it all works out in the end. Getting trapped in self imposed mental prisons is a great way to limit possibilities, remain stagnant and wonder what could have been when there’s little time left to change things. Stay in motion and the dots will start connecting.
Most people constantly repeat ingrained patterns that have slowed them down for years, either out of convenience or ignorance, and then wonder why they keep getting the same results. It might seem like we’re being force fed information from different sources at all times but we always have a choice regarding what inputs to turn on and off. Look at the bigger picture and start figuring out what has to be added and subtracted. Even though it might not be cut and dry at first, the quickest way to finding the right formula is by taking action and getting feedback from reality. Goals and targets aid in this process because they give us something to aim for. Daily decisions become much easier to make. Our focus is heightened because there’s a mission that needs to be completed.
Get into a rhythm.
Time seems to fly by quickly when we’re in the zone or busy doing something we enjoy. The opposite is also true of things that we perceive as tedious or boring. To help gamify the system, it serves to build a schedule or lifestyle that promotes remaining in a flow state for as long as possible. Find the right combination of things you enjoy, things you’re good at and things that provide value. Look at most areas through this lens and it’s easier to tune out the noise and focus on what really matters.
There are many different ways to make money. There are many different ways to exercise and get in better shape. There are many different people out there that you can form a variety of relationships with. To find the ideal situation for each of these categories, start with the basics while adding and subtracting as new information and feedback becomes available. The only way to get good at something is to get those initial reps in that solidify the foundations. Once the ball is rolling we can start getting more creative and putting our own spin on things.
There are enough hours in a day to make more money, get in better shape, learn new skills, maintain great relationships and recharge the batteries. The noise will always be there but one day our time will eventually run out. Regret will sting much worse than any rejection or failure ever could. Better to leave it all on the line while it’s still possible to play the cards we’ve been dealt.
Lead a great life. Mold reality. Be stubborn enough with the vision and the path forward unfolds as a self fulfilling prophecy. All the questions will be answered along the way.
Keep it moving.