Release the Hounds

Why do people limit themselves through anxiety and fear? Too many people limit themselves through fear, through your opinions and actions.  Anxiety in contrast arises purely from our own thoughts, not external reality.  

 

Limitations are both physical and mental, mostly mental – your mindset governs your potential and unfortunately people often relegate themselves to negative thoughts.  These emotions are self-limiting your potential and our mind plays a significant role as negative thoughts keep us from doing what we really want. I am susceptible to negative thoughts, just as everyone is, they are hounds constantly hunting to expose your anxieties or weaknesses at the most inconvenient times.

 

Changing your perspectives and your mindset influences your attitude and outlook.  Self-limiting, negative behaviors to avoid in your pursuit of shaping your ethos are the following:

1. Stop Using Hope as a Strategy – There is no substitute for action, hope and wishful thinking cannot be mistaken for action.  Start to start, do something that drives outcomes by looking at the entire process to achieve the objective or goal. People need to detach from fantasies that may relieve them momentarily in a guise of action, but there is no basis for achieving the desired outcome set forth. I have written before that massive goals require massive action, I cannot take credit for that phrase, but it has resonated with many of the people I speak with.  It’s critical to take bold action toward your visions, in order to create success.  This can only be accomplished if you are grounded in reality – breaking down these large goals into digestible chunks.  Spend each morning to contemplate your short-term and long-term goals identify one action you can immediately take today to realize those goals.
2. No Free Rides – Seeking for easy answers and entitlements is a negative mindset high performing professionals avoid.  They know how to keep negativity out of their mindset, they figure out how to get the help they need without entitlements.  There is a reciprocity that exists in any relationship – these people do not expect something for nothing.  They have an objective approach to anything or anyone they come into contact with - they treat others impartially and fairly and know they expect the same.
3. Stop the Victim Mentality – People view the world in limitations and barriers versus an opportunistic outlook on life and new ways to solve problems.  This type of thinking is can be summarized simply that the world is not fair and why is this happening to me. Being a victim lends itself well to the concept that everyone that is happening to you is outside your control and everyone else’s fault. High performers look at the world with eyes wide open and understand the challenges associated with what is going on with their goals and objectives.  High performers fail fast and learn from the mistakes. Personal accountability comes into play where you must anticipate variables and be quick to address having a plan.

 

Release yourself from hell hounds of anxiety - While we can’t always control how we feel, we do have the power to choose how we think and act.

 

What are other sources that “limit personal potential”?

Good Morning Sunshine!

Four Things – Breakthrough your Morning Routine

Stop dreading the morning and wake up with vigor and vitality, weather it is a slow rise or mind blowing excitement!  Simple things for anyone to do to use the morning hours before work to get that extra edge – or breakthrough boom!

 

According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health benefits for those with a life before work go on and on. What four things you can do before 7AM.

 

Four Things – Breakthrough your Morning Routine

 

Visualization – Buckle up I am going to go a little new age with you, but guess what it works. These days we talk about our physical health but we often neglect the mental and spiritual. The morning is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day. Bonus – this contributes exponentially to your attitude and “attitude is every baby”.

For all of the commuters out there – meditation does not require a dark room, candle and some incense, use what you have.  Close your eyes and block out the world for five minutes.  A good friend of mine used to think I snapped early in my career when I listened to ocean waves crashing on the beach. Do what works for you.

 

Prime the Pump - Most people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether it’s a morning yoga session, a frigid swim (Cap that is for you) or  the gym, exercising before work gives you a boost of energy (physically and mentally), for the day.

 

Pre-Game - Maximize your potential by mapping out your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that helps when prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving when trying to fit everything into your timetable. I tell people to schedule personal time to get oriented at any point of the day to be more thoughtful of what activities must be planned.

 

48 Hour Rule – What are you planning to do today that you need two days from now.  Operating ahead of schedule allows you to shape the final product versus the just in time results that are often marred with errors and not well thought through approaches. One hint for beginning your day, do that least desirable task first on your to-do list. Instead of anticipating the unpleasantness of it from the first drips of coffee through your lunch, get it out of the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) better rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are primed to handle increasingly more complex projects. 

Bonus, your day will get progressively easier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed.

 

Start small and build, the key is to build upon new habits to focus your efforts. “People only see what they are prepared to see.”