It’s amazing how you never cease to learn as you age and I am truly relentless when it comes to learning new things. Since this will be my last Black Fridays segment of the year, I thought I’d leave you with five of the most interesting things I learned this year in hopes to help someone else along this journey in life.
1. We overestimate the event and underestimate the process.
Whether you’re getting married or graduating or preparing to transition to a new career, it’s an extremely tough pill to swallow to understand the dynamics and nuances that it takes to make things happen. We’re usually so focused on the larger outcome that we don’t realize it takes a ton of smaller steps to get there. Don’t underestimate the process!
2. Learn to enjoy where you are in life. There’s a reason you’re there.
Seriously. Rather than complain about your situation, make the best of it. As humans, we are always striving to get to the next level and be better. Once you’re there, you’re thinking of new ways to get even further. Enjoy where you are. It’s a part of that process. Don’t underestimate it.
3. Never waste your time trying to explain who you are to people who are committed to misunderstanding you.
I’ve never heard it put this eloquently, but this struck a few nerves with me. It’s a sincere waste of time trying to get people to understand you when they’ve made it their duties to misunderstand any and everything about you. I used to fight and try so hard for people to “get me”, “know the real me”, and “feel me” when in reality they plant themselves near you to mean you harm.
4. You have to set yourself up for the next big thing; reposition yourself. Even if you can’t see it or know how it’s going to come to fruition, but just do your part and prepare yourself.
We always talk about what we want, but do you invest your efforts, thoughts, and time into positioning and setting yourself up to walk into that next phase? What if that phase comes and you’re not ready to accept it? Rather than it being an organic process, it’s a forced one. You don’t prepare for the birth of a child when the child arrives; you prepare before you see/know/understand the child.*
*That’s just an example. Not dropping any hints. LOL
5. You cannot expect extraordinary results with ordinary effort.
Enough said!
Profoundly said! What a great take-a-way for 2012…. 🙂