We are as good as we want to be.
For many people, it is a scary thought to realise that you are the ultimate authority over your life. It is much easier to think that external events are dictating the twists and turns and that much of what happens is simply meant to be. It takes courage to assume responsibility for your dreams, but I believe that with the right attitude, wonderful things are possible.
In my view, owning the authority for making decisions in your life requires someone to believe in a certain number of fundamental “truths.” To wake up in the morning and strive to be the best possible version of themselves that they can be, the following seven thoughts should be in their head:
I own my plan. You are the only architect of your life. You create the blueprint, you refine it, and then you build it piece by piece. Sometimes, you need to rip up the plans and start afresh – life can throw a spanner in the works. However, you should have a plan, and it should be written down somewhere. Take ownership of the direction that you would like your life to take.
My decision is my decision. Once you have made a decision, it is easy to blame external events for why it may not have worked out the way you would have liked it. Standing by your decisions can be a lonely activity sometimes, but it will allow you to analyse them and make better ones in the future.
I am in control. When you decide how you lead your life, you might allow yourself to spend the weekend without checking your emails, or you may be determined to be fully “present” with your family. You don’t let external influences dictate how you live.
I need to be selfish sometimes. So many of us have gone on to plough a furrow very different to the expectations of our parents. We learned to be independent and do “our own thing” because we felt that it would be good for us. While you should be considerate of others, sometimes your “path” will adversely affect them. It is your decision when to push past them and when to compromise.
I have the power to change. You can do anything. You really can. If you want to give up corporate life, learn Chinese and become a TEFL teacher in Hong Kong, what is stopping you? If your goals are meaningful enough for you, you will find a way to make them happen.
There are no limits. This is a big one for me. Who can honestly say that they are happy being in the top 30% of their field? The only thing stopping you from being the best is you. Limits only materialize if you let them take control.
I am as good as I want to be. I’m not sure that I believe this about myself all the time, but I would like to think that I believe it enough to feel in control of my life. It is a great thought to feel that there is always something that you can improve on. If you want it, there is nothing stopping you going out there and making it happen.
Much of this article has been about individuals. However, if you surround yourself with friends and colleagues with the same mindset, then you can spur yourselves on to great things together. These are the type of people that I bring in to my business, and working with them is a pure pleasure.
Try, try and try again. #bestadvice