As you go through these categories look at which of these are working in your life. Give yourself credit for the things that you are on task about. It is important to give yourself a reward for accomplishment and effort given regardless of the outcome. In an achievement-oriented society, you often forget to give yourself credit for trying. Things don’t always work out the way you plan.
If you have done everything that you know to do to create your desired outcome and you don’t get it, you still get a pat on the back. Now, do the same exercise with the things in your life that are not working. I like to start with a positive but this is the real work for this chapter. After you go through this process, I have a powerful exercise to bring a solution to the things that are not working in your life. It is a way to own and then turn around these things so they become fuel for you to succeed. Let’s do it!
Recognizing Failure As Your Own ShitWhat are the things that you just can’t seem to get right no matter how hard you try? What are the persistent issues that seem to follow you no matter what? Believe it or not, this part of the exercise can be more valuable than the first part.
The part of our life that is not working can be your greatest teacher. You might take each of the categories listed above, add or subtract categories based on your lifestyle and goals. Write down for each category, what you would like it to be, what it actually is, and then write a short bit about what bridge can be built from where you are to where you want to be. This is really powerful because it is acknowledging the tools that you will need to move your life forward in a direction that is in alignment with your core values and desired outcomes.
It Is Simple But Not Easy To Deal With Your Own ShitTake as much time as you need. Sometimes this exercise can take days or even weeks. It can take time for the solution to come to you. Think about building a bridge across the Grand Canyon…Suggestions for this exercise: Break down each life situation in each category into small understandable pieces of information. The bridge across the Grand Canyon didn’t just get dropped into place in its full form. It was built piece by piece, step by step until it is complete. Step-by-step you will find a way to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.