Do you do any sort of end of the year reflection? A couple years ago, I started doing a ‘year in review’ after Tim Ferriss explained how he benefited from it.
The short version of this is you spend some time looking back over the past year. You identify highlights and lowlights. You seek to find what made your life richer and then you do more of that the upcoming year. On the flip side, you avoid what detracted from your life.
One unexpected benefit of doing a year in review is that I’ve found I reflect more throughout the year. And, this happens to a greater extent at the end of the year. (So, now!). Some questions swirling in my head include: What did I learn? How did Resilience grow? What should I change next year?
One of the themes that keeps popping up for me is the importance of thinking. I mean a few things by this –
- Taking the time needed to actually think something through without distractions
- Becoming more creative in how you attack problems
- Having the courage to be honest about the current situation
Over the past year, I’ve created more time to think. My creativity in how I find solutions has improved. And, I’ve gotten better at being honest about the situation. This has led to uncomfortable conversations, but they’ve been necessary uncomfortable conversations.
Focusing on getting better at thinking has changed my perspective. One example of this is that “expensive” means something different to me now than it did a couple years ago.
I used to think along these lines: How much does this cost? What is my budget? Do I have the cash on hand? If the answer is no, then I don’t buy it. If the answer is yes, then I do. It was that simple.
Now, I analyze from a larger perspective. My thought process looks more like: What will purchasing this allow me to do? How much is doing that thing worth to me? Do I have access to the funds to do this? Will this move me one step closer to where I want to go? Ten years from now, will the cumulative impact bring me more or less compared to what they are charging? Then, I make my decision.
My thought process has changed because I understand the following –
It’s not about how much money is in the envelope, it’s about what return using the money in the envelop will get you. Example: Fixing my sciatica will allow me to run and CrossFit not only now, but for the next 2, 5, or 10+ years – the way I want to. And, if/when symptoms return, I’ll understand what’s happening and how to relieve it. I’m investing in personalized knowledge about my body that will serve me the rest of my life.
Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Example: I care about how my run feels and the reward that brings me more than I care about whether I have pain. I’ll pay quite a lot to feel a certain way, but I won’t pay that much to get rid of pain.
Nothing is a magic bullet. It’s about moving in the direction you want to go, not hitting the ball out of the park. Example: We don’t completely ‘fix’ everyone who walks in our door. But, I can state we’ve moved everyone at least one step closer to where they want to go.
A lot of this goes counter to what popular culture says you should do. But, the more I grow, the more I realize that following all the rules society lays out doesn’t get you where you want to go.
If you want to grow faster and experience more, you may need to invest more than feels comfortable. I’ve done it time and time again growing Resilience and in my own life for personal development.
Every time I make the decision to invest in myself I either grow or learn. So, either way, I win. The decision to say ‘yes’ always brings me one step closer to where I want to go.
What about you? Where do you want to go? What are your goals? Will investing in yourself help you get there faster?
P.S. The amount of success you have in life correlates to the amount of uncomfortable conversations you’re willing to have. When was the last time you had an uncomfortable conversation?
Do you think you should have one soon?
Oh, and here’s a photo from when we moved into current location a bit over 3 years ago. We snapped this on a Saturday after spending 3 hours putting the assault bike together.
