For many of us, it’s been a long time since we’ve been in the office together with our colleagues. Reconnecting in person after Covid-19 is a grounding experience. It reminds us of how much we’ve grown, who we are, and how well we’ve been following our why.
I had the opportunity to reconnect last week when I visited with some of the folks at Comcast Cable about my new book. It felt like going home after such a long absence.
This event caused me to consider all the posts I’ve shared with you since we started this journey together. It’s been a valuable exercise; the review allowed me to draw on important themes and continue to fine-tune my belief system.
If you’ve followed my newsletters, you know I like to reconnect with my why every week. Protecting this time is the key to maintaining an uncompromising focus. I feel anchored after revisiting my goals and objectives; I get to review them on my terms and make adjustments without the pressure of outside constraints.
Carving out this personal time has been so valuable to me that I’ll share some of the reasons you should make it part of your regular routine too.
1. You get to have it your way.
Follow any format and regular frequency you want. One option is journaling and describing events that have happened to you, how you felt about them, and how you might improve your reactions. Another path looks like a regularly scheduled meeting you have with a trusted colleague or coach so you can leverage the power of saying things out loud, making statements feel real, and gathering a reaction. Or revisiting your week can focus on how your progress aligns with goals you’ve prepared for life and work.
2. You decide what to answer.
I like to give myself a set of questions to ensure I’m staying on track each week. Asking questions prompts more detailed thoughts, which helps me stretch and continue to learn about myself and surrounding influences. One prompt that always tops the list is about the things or people in life I’m grateful for. Gratitude fills me with renewed energy for the week and wipes my brain clean of “what ifs.” I also try to answer what went well and what behaviors supported those outcomes, which reinforces future actions. As for things that aren’t going as planned, I focus on what I can control.
3. You give yourself grace.
Reconnecting with your why is also a time to forgive yourself. Life is messy and rarely goes exactly as planned. Use this moment to honor that you’re setting aside time in the first place. It’s a great first step toward pursuing self-awareness and learning through experience. American poet Archibald MacLeish said, “There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that is not learning from experience.”
Make time to regularly reconnect with your goals; it’s a great opportunity explore your why, gather self-awareness, and revisit what’s important to you.
Live your why,
Steve
P.S. Many thanks to you for your early feedback about my book, and thank you in advance for sharing your enthusiastic remarks on Amazon. You’re helping me pay it forward with future readers. If you don’t have your copy yet and would like one, it’s not too late.
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