This Will Make You Confident And Optimistic
I was wrapping a bandana around my face in a dusty rural town in the southern part Oaxaca, Mexico.I had never driven an ATV before, but I was about to.I didn't know how to shift gears, work the throttle, or position my weight.I didn't know how much torque would buck me over and I didn't know how much I'd be able to see through the dust.
I got on and fired it up anyway.
There's something cool that happens in these moments--when you don't know what to expect.You get the chance to conquer something.You get the chance to conquer fear or weakness or whatever it is inside you that holds you back from living the life you want.
I hit the gas and figured it out.
In fact, I figured it out pretty fast--faster than I thought.I hit the trails with a few friends and tore up some dust in the woods for the first time.It was such a small win--but that didn't matter. It was another thing I conquered.It wasn't the ATV that I had mastered, it was that part of myself.I had conquered that odd voice that says "don't," "you can't," and "something bad will happen."
I beat it one more time.
And when you have lots of small wins, bigger wins seem more possible.And when you have a few bigger wins, even bigger ones seem more possible.It's the consistent conquering of that inner voice that starts to lead to the thought pattern of confidence and optimism.
2 Minute Action
What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't made the time to make it happen?I'm not saying you have to plan your whole trip to kayak New Zealand right this second, but in 2 minutes you could text a few accountabilibuddies to help you set a timeline and a budget and make something happen.It doesn't have to be a million dollars and it doesn't have to be on the other side of the planet.It just has to be enough to feel like it's outside of your comfort zone.Oh, and FYI:People who set a date and a budget are over 80% more likely to actually follow through with their goals.You can send an email, a text, or make a phone call in 2 minutes.Start small.And then keep going.Nothing bad will happen.I promise.
This Choice Will Determine Your Day
It’s cold.Your feet hurt.You could get away with a little more sleep.
This is the choice.
You can either start your day by conquering your first challenge or you can hit the snooze button.You can either start your day with a small win or you can lead with an act of procrastination.Your call.Just remember that your brain is getting better at whatever it’s doing right now.
“We are what we continually do.”- Aristotle
2 Minute Action
Pick something small to conquer today.It will only take 2 minutes so you can do it right now.There is no way to procrastinate or make excuses.Everyone has 2 minutes.Here are some ideas:A phone call to your mom.A thank you note to your employer.A text to let your partner know you’re thinking of them.It should be small—but know that it will almost always make a bigger impact than you expect.
The Process For Getting The Impossible Change We All Seek
It’s the hardest thing anyone can do.It takes time, persistence, courage, and keeping calm.The strange thing is that more and more people do it everyday.
Have you ever climbed Mt. Everest?
The first few times, there were no ropes, no sherpas, no handbooks, no technical boots, no wind proof synthetic down jackets.
But then it got easier.
All of a sudden there were ladders, base camps, and guidebooks.All of a sudden, it didn’t require the same risk or investment.If you ask the folks who ascend massive peaks or climb giant granite wall faces or who run hundreds of miles in an ultra-marathon—they’ll tell you that they are now different people because of it.
It’s the impossible challenge that forges new character.
Yvonne Chouinard, founder and CEO of Patagonia, the outdoor equipment company known for its activism, once said:
“Taking a trip for six months, you get in the rhythm of it. It feels like you can go on forever doing that. Climbing Everest is the ultimate and the opposite of that. Because you get these high-powered plastic surgeons and CEOs, and you know, they pay $80,000 and have Sherpas put the ladders in place and 8,000 feet of fixed ropes and you get to the camp and you don’t even have to lay out your sleeping bag. It’s already laid out with a chocolate mint on the top. The whole purpose of planning something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain and if you compromise the process, you’re an asshole when you start out and you’re an asshole when you get back.”– 180° South
The point here is about process.What kind of transformation are you seeking and are you compromising on the process?
2 Minute Action:
Are you going through the motions?Pick a role model, expert in your field, or mentor.What would Elon Musk do?How might a navy seal do it?What might your high-school track coach say about your method?It’s your call to do the work but it’s also your call on how to define what the work is.Take 2 minutes to question your process and poke some holes in it.