If you’re reading this, there’s a pretty good chance you either are an overachiever or know one. Actually there’s a 100% chance that’s true because if you aren’t one, you know me and I am one. Without question.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret for how to build in permission to slow down in your life.
For me, it started with my first 365 challenge issued by Scott Bourne. The rules he set were strict, without exception. I found myself inspired, challenged and seriously struggling to meet them every day. I got the message and importance of each of the rules, but the reality of life got in the way. That year I did my best to meet the expectations of all the rules, but fell short a few times. The results were tremendous but the level of stress and joy that it required was often more than the joy and pleasure I wanted to experience from the process.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but what I learned from that process helped me craft a new set of expectations for my second journey down 365 lane. This time I set the rules with an understanding of what was most important. I want to take or post a picture every day, and this far I’ve done that. In fact, the taking of the images is more important than the posting so that’s my focus.
You may have noticed that it’s been about 5 days since I posted an image. That doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. But by giving myself permission to take or post an image, I’ve successfully created an environment where the most important aspect of the challenge gets the focus. That’s critical and so important in helping me keep up with the challenge and joy involved.
How could you rethink or re-imagine your 365 challenge or a new one that will move you closer to where you want to be without adding any unnecessary rules that will hinder your creativity or steal your joy?
For the record, this is where most of my time and attention went last week…
This is the first section in a presentation I prepared for Class 0, a new class created by tentblogger John Saddington. We started doing some of the pre-work for the class in December, but the first official meeting was Thursday of last week.
Here’s a description of what the class involves:
- crazy intense and rigorous program of knowing oneself, knowing what drives them and their passions, and then giving them tools to make these ideas happen.
- It may end up changing the trajectory of your career… and life. No softball pitches here.
- You need to be ready to be vulnerable with me and two other people whom you have never met.
- You need to be humble enough to be challenged but sure of your desire for professional change and growth.
- Walking away with an incredible new perspective on how you were made and your unique strengths, your core motivations as a person and professional, and a toolkit and method to make your ideas happen.
- The bragging rights of being called “Class 0″ – so cool.
