Everything starts with you. To bring out the best in yourself, it is your 'moral obligation to learn and progress.' In his book Primary Greatness: The 12 Levers of Success, Stephen Covey wrote, 'We all have a moral obligation to learn and progress. And lifelong learning is not so much about big campaigns, programs, academic degrees, and credentials, as it is about short daily study sessions and small doses of relevant on-the-job training.''If your dream is to get to the top of your career, you are not going to get there if you do not have the courage to learn new things every day. If you want to win, invest in yourself. Success comes to those who never stop learning. If you want to win, learn.
'Stay present with yourself.' To bring out the best in yourself, you must not forget yourself. Take care of your mind, your soul, and your body. To do that, in her book Awaken Your Inner Fire: Ignite Your Passion, Find Your Purpose, and Create the Life That You Love, Heatherash Amara writes, 'Move slowly. Love your body exactly the way as it is. Don't push, invite. Don't force, inspire. Don't judge, guide. Listen, and you will know when it is time to pull your energy in close and revitalize, and when it's time to see your inner energy to feed your physical body. Experiment. Stay present with yourself.''Lead your life. If you want others to follow you, you have got to develop the courage to lead your life. If you are not in charge of your own life, who is? According to Jamie Smart, author of Results: Think Less. Achieve More, 'You are the leader of your life, and you always have been. You can choose the results you want to create. And live into the choices you make.'' This is very important. Because if you are not in charge of your life, you can't change your life? You can change what you control, not what you do not control. So if you want to lead a better life, you have got to be the boss of your life.Confidence. Confidence. Confidence. You can't do much for yourself if you are not confident in yourself. Remember, confidence is not arrogance. Confidence is humility. If you want to create your life, do not fear to do things differently. Because that is how we grow. You won't grow if you do not believe in yourself. According to Mike Babcock, 'Confidence enables you to make strong choices. Confidence helps you get beyond doubt. Confidence gets you ready for big moments.' If you are not confident, you will find it hard to leave your comfort zone.
A. W. Tozer said, “God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”
Look, you can run all you like. You are not a machine. You are a human being. As a human being, you will do better if you have the courage to stop, relax, and think.
Productivity is not about running; it is about resting. You will perform better if you have the courage to rest. No matter what you are doing, take some time to relax, to reconnect with yourself.
If it is possible, strive for a balanced life. In his book The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life, Dennis Merritt Jones writes, “Some people devote so much time to their work and making lots of money that they forget what it means to play, relax, and spend time with loved ones. Others play so much that they don’t know what it is to work.”
It does not matter what you do, do not choose your work over your life. Forget about the salary. If you die, the company will replace you with another person.
You are the best because you are alive. You are still useful. Yes, you love your work. Yes, you MUST love your life more than your work, no matter how powerful. Seek a balanced life. Dennis Merritt Jones was right when he said, “Living a balanced life will produce a life of wholeness and deep inner peace.” If you think living a balanced life is not enough for you, then ask yourself, “How free am I in my everyday life, really?”
Further Reading:
Jones, D. M., The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life (New York: Penguin Group, 2008): 66-67, 88.
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