by Tom Morgan | Mar 7, 2021 | Self Awareness
There is truth in the statement, “Never Give Up,” but only for some issues, some people, and for some of the time. It’s important to weigh what is to be gained by your persistence against what you’re losing by not being decisive, cutting your losses, and moving on.
The prime and most significant loss is time. Regardless of what the issue is – a job, business, relationship, or project – the amount of time you can consume by allowing the issue to drag on well past its “sell by date” can never be reclaimed.
Wise strategies cannot be created from a place of thinking about the issue as either good or bad, or if making a decision is a reflection of your skills, abilities, reputation, or self-worth. Nor can they be made from a place of thinking that you’ve invested too much time and energy in this issue to quit now.
How Do You REALLY Feel?
Life is a rich tapestry of mixed feelings. It’s the nature of all things to feel differently about most things day-to-day.
But if the feelings about specific issues seem to fall consistently towards negative feelings, it’s important to take a look at what’s going on and take stock of the situation.
Clarify the Issue
To make smart, objective decisions you need viable information to work from. Make a pros & cons list about the issue and write down:
● What you feel
● When you feel it
● What you can do about it.
What you are looking for here is a balanced awareness of the issue and clarity on what’s really going on.
Give things enough time. Some things take time, but time alone doesn’t always resolve the situation.
It’s crucial to get clear on what needs to be done and be decisive about any choices you make. Nothing is going to change until you make a decision and take action.
Sometimes quitting is the very best thing you can do.
Some people have no problem at all letting go of things. They see quitting as simply a change in direction.
Others have a hard time letting go of anything and see quitting as some kind of failure, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it never would have worked out anyway.
Knowing when to quit is a very valuable skill to learn, and it’s best learned by practice.
Life is Short
Intelligent quitters understand the true cost of opportunity lost. They know that the physical, mental, and emotional energy saved, added to the time and/or money salvaged from quitting, can be redirected into something much more worthy of their attention.
When this is done decisively, your odds for ongoing success rise dramatically.
To spend time on anything that doesn’t give you joy, reduce your stress, or make you happy is wasted effort. Letting go of anyone or anything, even though it might be tough, will serve you well in the long term.
Knowing when to quit is something that all true entrepreneurs instinctively have a good sensitivity for, and they don’t shirk making the decisions required to turn quitting into a positive adjustment on their journey.
When it gets down to the wire there are only three alternative solutions to most thorny issues:
1. You can learn to live with it. Many people do, but most live to regret it. It’s not good for your self-esteem to learn to live with something that grates on you.
2. You can fix it. This can work very well if you have full and total control of the issue. If you have, then fix it and move on. If you don’t and you can’t fix it, this ceases to become a viable option.
3. You can quit. Move on. Leave it all behind and start again with a fresh perspective, safe in the knowledge that your decisiveness and direct action has removed the issue from your life and you are free to move onwards and upwards without any further encumbrance or delay.
Avoid thinking of quitting as failing! Sometimes it’s the very best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and the future you deserve.
by Tom Morgan | Mar 7, 2021 | Self Awareness
You can find loads of advice about taking care of your mental and physical health. However, social wellness tends to receive less attention, even though the way you interact with others plays a big role in your overall wellbeing.
A year before social distancing became mandatory, 47% of Americans said they felt lonely, left out, and lacking meaningful connections with others. That’s according to a survey by Cigna, a global health services company.
Other studies have found that feelings of isolation may shorten your life span as much as being obese or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. There’s also scientific evidence that adults with diverse relationships and high levels of social support are less likely to get sick when exposed to a virus.
Boost your health and happiness by paying attention to your social wellbeing. Try these strategies for building supportive relationships and strengthening your sense of community.
Connecting with Family and Friends:
1. Seek balance. Your social wellness encompasses the time you spend with others and on your own. Being comfortable with your thoughts and feelings allows you to enjoy your own company.
2. Be genuine. Your relationships will be more stable and meaningful if you reveal your authentic self. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable can feel risky, but you’ll be rewarded with being known and understood.
3. Set boundaries. Set reasonable guidelines for how you want to be treated. Let others know how you’ll respond to behavior that you find unacceptable.
4. Assert yourself. Ask for what you need. Stand up for your rights while considering the welfare of others.
5. Resolve conflicts. It’s natural to have disagreements with your loved ones. What matters is how you deal with them. Address differences promptly with direct and tactful communication. Take a breather if you need to calm down.
6. Encourage healthy lifestyles. We tend to make the same choices as the individuals we surround ourselves with. Team up with family and friends to reinforce positive habits. Eat nutritious meals and work out together.
7. Share your home. Many adults are experimenting with different living arrangements for financial and social reasons. Maybe you’d enjoy getting a roommate or creating an intergenerational household.
8. Have fun. Socializing provides serious health benefits, but there’s plenty of room for laughter and play. Make room in your schedule for movie nights and dance parties.
1. Value diversity. While close relationships count, it’s also beneficial to extend your social circle. Seize opportunities to talk with others from different walks of life. You may learn more about yourself and test your social skills.
2. Pursue your interests. A love for opera or organic gardening can help you discover new friends. Go to events and shops where you can mingle with other fans. Take classes or join clubs.
3. Love your neighbors. How well do you know your neighbors? Introduce yourself, so you can greet each other by name. Join neighborhood associations and help organize block parties. Be on the watch for elderly or disabled neighbors who may need help with errands and yard work.
4. Volunteer your time. Give back to your community. Contact your local volunteer clearinghouse to find nonprofits near you who need your help. You’ll have the satisfaction of supporting a worthy cause, and you might meet someone interesting.
5. Socialize online. If COVID-19 is still limiting your offline plans, take advantage of technology. Use Zoom and other platforms to meet with your book club and attend happy hour with your coworkers.
You can stay connected even if you’re spending more time at home. Nurture a supportive network of family and friends and reach out to others in your community.
by Tom Morgan | Mar 7, 2021 | Daily Affirmation
I find that it has been an interesting year, to say the least. Now that I am coming to the end of the year, I can see what I have done well and where I could do better. All in all, I am sure that we have all done our best.
I feel at this time a certain reverence for the world. I know we have all been through the ringer. And yet, we are still standing. I am still standing.
I am grateful for the lessons of this year. I have grown in maturity and strength. As have we all.
My heart goes out to those who have struggled even more than me and to those who have lost loved ones. I light a candle for them.
I even light a candle for myself, as I know how much I have been through. We all deserve a candle. I light a candle for the world.
Seeing how “hindsight is 2020,”’ my compassion is ignited with a candle in my heart. I do my best to comfort those in need. I reach out to my community with care. I do my part to make the world a better place.
Finding compassion for myself is helping me to show compassion to others. Finding the strength within is helping me be strong with others. Finding the maturity in myself is helping me bring wisdom to others.
Today, I pray that I might be a guiding light for others. As I grow within and my light shines brighter, my circle of influence also expands. I become the candle that I light for the world.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. What can I do in my community that will help me act with compassion?
2. How is what I am doing locally helping the world at large?
3. Who else can I serve?
