How to Take Control of Your Life
If you don’t choose how to show up – before you show up – someone else eventually controls your life.
It’s misery when you give control of your life to disappointing-others.
- A disappointing boss expects more with less, but grants exceptions to himself.
- A disappointing team makes excuses for poor performance, but all the leader does is complain about the performance of the team.
- A disappointing employee wants you to change, but refuses to change herself.
Success is learning to thrive even when others disappoint.
Control:
Begin your day by choosing how to show up – before you show up.
Tip: choose an attribute that applies in a broad array of situations.
You think stupid things when you give control of your life to others.
- If they appreciated me, I’d bring my best.
- If I had a better team, I wouldn’t have to be a jerk.
- If I had a better boss, I would manage my team better.
- If I had a bigger salary, I would have more energy.
Never let others be the reason you bring less than your best-self to work.
Choose an attribute:
- Humble.
- Confident.
- Decisive.
- Open.
- Humorous/bright.
- Affirming.
- Challenging. (As in expecting yourself and others to rise.)
- Foreword-facing.
Choose an action:
Choose one attribute from the above list and identify one action that reflects the way you choose to show up. Practice it until lunch. For example:
Open behaviors:
- Say, “Let’s try something and see how it works.”
- Try something someone else suggestions. (As long as it won’t cause harm.)
- Ask, “What do you think we should do?”
If you chose how to show up today, what would be on your list?
What prevents people from choosing how to show up?
Always informative and uplifting…Thank you!
This is excellent. But don’t wait until next week. Start today! Resolutions and change can be made anytime one becomes aware of the need to change. Thanks, Dan! Hope you have a blessed and happy new year!
Positive self talk is undervalued and is often unappreciated.
I like the post it’s been something I’ve been doing for a number of years. I plan it out based on being confident in what I will do, humble in my short comings, open in my outlook at what might challenge me thru the day, decisive in when I pull the trigger on action, affirming when I can be and always humorous in my approach to life, Love and work. Most of all I look forward to what I expect, what might disrupt the flow and where I want to be regardless of people or events in the way.
Being mindful and curious about how people bring their unique touch to whatever they are doing. Taking notice of what can make a positive difference is quite motivating.
Thank you Dan, for the valuable insights about other such behaviors. And yes, consciously choosing how I’m going to show up everyday has a profound impact.
“Forward-” facing
Try something someone else “suggests.”