Just Going Through the Motions

There are times I complete my to-do list, and yet, I feel like I have not accomplished anything. Do you ever experience those days?

Habits, consistency, and perseverance help me achieve my goals on a daily basis. But if I don’t continually challenge my habits, then I risk becoming complacent.

That’s why I enjoy learning about people that are highly successful. Most have worked a lifetime to hone and perfect their skills. They always seem to be at their best, and authentic in their ways.

Just this week, Paul McCartney  signed a new record deal with Capital Records. At seventy-four years old, Paul still writes and records great music. He is not complacent, and definitely not just going through the motions.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (once as a member of the Beatles, and once as a solo artist), Paul McCartney also has 21 Grammy Awards. He is the writer or co-writer of 32 Billboard 100 number one songs. I think you would agree, Paul is highly successful.

Most successful people truly enjoy what they do. For them, their work is fun.

You can find similar examples in any field… authors, actors, businessmen, inventors, and investors. You have to like what you do, so you can do it over and over and over. Never tiring of the discipline and the routine. It is not going through the motions, but sincere love.

I have been writing weekly articles for over five years. Writing these articles for me is not just going through the motions. It is fun, challenging, and enjoyable. I may not be a great writer, but I am better than I was five years ago. And it is still fun.

If you catch yourself just going through the motions. Take a break. Discover where the fun disappeared. Then find a way to put the fun back in your day.

Do You Keep a Positive Outlook When Reflecting?

We all can get frustrated by events not happening the way we want. But it takes action on our part to prevent ourselves from being dragged into a world of negativity.

Last week I attended Gen Con along with 60,000 other people. Gen Con is one of Indiana’s largest convention, and trademarked as “The Best Four Days in Gaming.”

The four days are filled with nearly all types of gaming. There are card games, board games, miniature games, role playing games, and countless tournaments. Beyond gaming, Gen Con hosts a very large writers symposium, art shows and related activities, an independent film festival, and of course you can find people in all kinds of costumes.

I greatly enjoyed the convention. Although after it was over, I wished I had taken in more of the diverse activities available. Nevertheless, I was dead tired by the end of the weekend.

This week I have been reading comments from other attendees. Like me, there were many who really enjoyed their time. But I was disturbed to read all the complaints from people also.

Not everything went perfect for me, but I have no complaints about the weekend. I am already looking forward to August 17, 2017 when Gen Con returns. For those that had a list of complaints, I would imagine they have chosen to focus on the negative rather than the positive.

A positive outlook, a positive attitude, and a positive reflection of the events can make all the difference. Keeping a positive attitude results in a much more enjoyable time. 

I find that if I take time to complain, then I am missing out on opportunities. I know any frustration and anger I might feel in a stressful situation is within me. It is a reflection of my attitude and my environment. All I have to do to change the environment is change my attitude.

How do you keep your focus positive when you are faced with a situation you initially perceive as negative?