This year has, for obvious reasons, been an extraordinarily challenging year. One thing we’ve all learned is that you simply can’t know what’s coming next.
Maybe we all deluded ourselves into thinking we could predict the future. But everybody’s answer in 2015 to the question “Where will you be in five years?” was wrong.
I’ve become a convert to the idea of taking life one day at a time. It’s never been more critical to have balance in your life, and consider if you are using this particular minute, and day, as well as you can.
Stress has come at us from all angles in 2020, and you have to try to keep a good attitude. I reckon I’m doing that 85-90% of the time, but there are always dark days when you just think: “What’s going on?”
You just have to keep clawing up the hill – this year has illustrated how important it is to do that.
It’s essential to know yourself
I don’t like telling people how they should act or feel, but at the same time I do believe it’s important to work on your self-awareness.
When you feel great inside, there’s a reason. There’s a collection of activities, behaviors, and habits that have made you feel that way. Likewise, when you are lousy, negative, and depressed, there are reasons for that too.
If you pay attention to yourself and know yourself and your feelings, you can use that to make yourself feel less crummy.
It also helps if every day you try to laugh a little bit, get away from Twitter, and step away from your news app. In short, stop doom-scrolling.
Instead, take a breath and make an inventory. I’m not a crazy optimist by nature, but it’s worth reminding myself that my heart is still beating, I’m not ill, I have a business – there are a lot of things to be grateful for.
The things I (know I should) do every day
I’ve learned that I have to journal, it makes a huge difference to my emotional and mental stability.
I know I really should work out because I need the endorphins, though I don’t always have the time. I know I have to eat healthily, look after my kids, be a good father and husband… and oh yes, I’m running a company here.
The things I have stopped doing every day
I used to have a perfectionist streak, and I had to work very hard to overcome it. I had an insatiable hunger to do more. Being a bit more mature, I now give myself permission not to achieve the ridiculous amount of things that I used to imagine I could do in a day.
I have very high standards, but that’s not an excuse not to delegate. You have to understand you can’t hoard all the work, and sometimes “good enough” has to be good enough.
Many years ago I was told by a mentor that if I could just focus, I would have the Midas touch. I’m not saying I can turn things to gold, but I’ve achieved the maturity to accept I can’t do everything.
I’m an activator, I love to get things started. I’ve had to learn how to finish things or surround myself with people who can.
You can hear me talk more about all of these things in this episode of Money Savage.
Link to the podcast: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-whr5t-e584eb