As part of my planning process I wrote down all my goals on the whiteboard in my home office and then arranged them into primary and secondary. Since I see my whiteboard as soon as I walk into my office, it’s a constant reminder of what I should be focusing on and since all but one of my primary goals are lifestyle based (ie: they’re part of my daily life), it’s been really easy to focus on what needs to be done instead of getting sidetracked with browsing, email, twitter and video games. Because of this focus, I finally completed some coding that I’ve been putting off for months (for no good reason). The lifestyle goals have been working out well too. There has been many instances where I would have done things differently if I wasn’t focused on a singular goal in that area.

I really feel like I’m making good progress towards accomplishing the things I’ve identified as most important. As a bonus, I’ve also been able to make some progress on some of my secondary goals since I seem to be more effective. I think it’s because I spend less time deciding what to do and more time doing. I’ll definitely keep using this system!

Changing Beliefs

And now for something completely different. I had considered making this a separate post but I’m not fond of numerous tiny posts so I’m adding it in here. A recent article by Steve Pavlina on the Lefkoe Method resulted in me trying out Morty’s process. At first, I thought That was neat, I guess I feel a little better, but over the past few days I’ve really noticed a change in my belief patterns. It seems I never realized the distinction between rationally thinking one way while emotionally believing something else. It has definitely made a difference in my life. I suggest you spend an hour and go try it out. It’s free, you just have to “sign up”. Standard traffic building technique which I’m sure most of you are aware of.

That’s all I’ve got for now. If you do try the Lefkoe Method, let me know how it works out.

- Dave

I’m talking about those situations that evoke strong emotions of some sort. Whether it be happiness, sadness, anger or confusion, if you’re feeling something then you’ve likely encountered a “learning point”. Now the important thing to realize is that when these situations occur, you need to look deeper into it and figure out what you can/should learn from this. This is especially true when the situation does not seem to be unfolding as you planned despite your best efforts. In these cases, it’s quite likely that there’s a lesson you need to learn to move forward in your life and, even if you had some magical guide that told you what the lesson is, you’d still need to experience it, live it to really understand.

So, in an effort to help myself grow and learn in these situations, I’ve been trying the following steps:

1. Examine the situation objectively – put your feelings away for a bit and look at a given situation through the eyes of a neutral observer. Try to consider how it looks to those who are not involved.
2. Explore your feelings – take some time to sit quietly and really consider why you feel the way you do. Is it because things are not going as you’d like them to? Do you carry some underlying belief that is preventing you from seeing the truth?
3. Recognize the opportunity – even if things don’t work out as you’d like them to, every situation is an opportunity for growth. In fact, we often grow faster and stronger from those life events that don’t turn out as we’d like.
4. Accept the lesson – unless you plan on isolating yourself from humanity, you’re going to experience learning points. Keep yourself open to these learning points and embrace the growth that occurs.

Change happens whether we like it or not. Refusing to accept and embrace change leads to a life where you go through the motions but never seem to get anywhere. It’s like a hamster running on a wheel. Always going around, never getting anywhere. Step off the wheel, live a little, accept that you’ll fail or get hurt, pick yourself up and carry on.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn – Robert Kiyosaki

- Dave

I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.

I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.

I believe that thrift is essential to well ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs.

I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character – not wealth or power or position – is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.

I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.

- John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

[Transcribed from The Secret of the Ages by Robert Collier]