Embrace Your Constraints

I read something the other day that struck me as profound, because it made me really question myself. In this book, the author suggests that we "embrace our constraints".  He was explaining that by doing so, it makes us focus, and drives creativity by forcing us to do more with less. I guess it does, in a way. It made me think of stories about "Rags to Riches" where those who grew up in severe financial hardships go on to have success and wealth because of the lack of resources (a.k.a. "constraints") they faced during their childhood. Perhaps not having an abundance of things forced these individuals to push beyond those who may have had a more fortunate situation.

I grew up right in the middle. My family was far from impoverished, but we certainly weren't vacationing in The Hamptons every summer, either. We were comfortable. Had this conditioned me to expect "comfort" in my adult life too, or do I embrace the constraints I'm given? I'd like to think it's the latter, but maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. Either way, it's time that I stop wishing for more and start working with less. It could be the very key to my success. (And no...I didn't mean for that to rhyme.)

So what about you? Have you embraced your constraints?

The Greatest Motivating Factor

There are many things that can motivate people into action. For me personally, "progress" has to be at the top of the list.

It's progress that lets us know that we are improving. We learn this means at a very early age. For instance, going from 1st to 2nd grade is progression. As adults, this may apply in the form of a raise or promotion within a job. I'm sure it's safe to say that anyone pursuing a passion, or goal aspires for progress. But how does one know if advancement is actually taking place? Of course, there are many ways to gauge, but I have found that what works best for me is to measure my accomplishments with numbers.  If you're goal is to run five miles, start off with one mile first. If your goal is to lose 20 pounds, start with five at a time.  There are many motivational factors we can adopt, but seeing progress is  one that is sure to help you thrive and successfully meet your goals.

When All Goes Wrong, It's Still Alright

It's easy to get discouraged when you're taking on a new challenge or goal. Life is always good for getting in the way somehow. The silver lining is, it's never to late to get started again. Too often our passions take a backseat to unforeseen circumstances or setbacks, but this too, is a part of the journey. The knowledge we gain from pressing on is priceless and certainly can't be found on any search engine. So if you experience a hiccup or roadblock during the pursuit to your passion, embrace it and accept it, for you will never gain such wisdom if you give up.

Is THIS what you're waiting for?

Some of us need the perfect conditions in order to start a project or pursue a dream. If only we had enough money, or time, or resources, we could bring our dreams to life. Let's be honest--if we wait on the perfect moment to make our dream come true, chances are, it will never come. While it's true that certain times are better than others, there is rarely a "perfect time" when it comes to taking a risk or going down personal uncharted territory.

The Rare Road to Success

Starting a business, having a baby or going in for surgery, for example, are all very risky. Even equipped with the best plans, there's simply no way to predict the journey or the outcome. But one thing is for certain--if you stand around waiting for the perfect moment to appear, you'll be waiting forever. So now it's time to ask yourself, "What are you waiting for?"

Stay Out of the Convincing Business

What I mean is, don't bother trying to convert non believers to your way of thinking. Everything isn't for everyone. For instance, why date someone if you have to convince them to be with you? Chances are, if you have to convince someone to be with you, you'll probably have to convince them to stay with you, which, in the long run, may turn out to be more work than it's worth.

But don't confuse convincing someone with marketing your idea. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to attract people to what your doing, that's absolutely necessary. What I'm referring to, is the the point after you share your idea. By this time, either they're going to be on board with you, or not, period. And if they're not, its okay.  Its actually a good thing because it gives you the opportunity to see who is really interested and it's those people you want to focus on, not the ones who aren't.