How do you keep your focus on what you want amid the swirl of everyday life?
One way is to begin the habit of a short daily review where you pause and step outside yourself for a moment.
And one way to do that is by using a very simple feedback model which reinforces where you’ve come from and where you want to go. This could take no longer than 5 mins a day and works best if you write it down. It’s a big help if you keep your answers together so, over time, you can see how much progress you’ve made.
Ready? Ask yourself two questions:
First, What went well today?
Note at least three things which went well for you today. Size and scope don’t matter. Nor does the world’s view of your day. Only that you thought it went well and you felt good or OK about it.
- I changed the light fitting in Megan’s bedroom
- I went for a 20 min walk in the park
- I remembered to invoice my customer
Second, What do I need to do differently next time?
- I want to move writing up to earlier in the day, so I write when I’m fresher.
- I want to drink at least another glass of water in the morning.
- Find a book on the Alexander Technique
It seems so mundane but we quickly forget the good which happens and it helps to remind yourself daily of what you want next. Tomorrow is built from today and today is built from the next 10 mins.
You might also notice no soul-searching self-criticism in this approach. That’s because the past has, well, passed. You can only change now and tomorrow. It makes sense to focus on what works.
Where to keep these notes?
This sort of daily feedback lends itself to a diary or journal. I use Oh Life – a very simple idea which I’ve been using for a couple of years. Every day they send you an email asking How’d your day go? and you reply. Over time you build a journal with a collection of your life stories, daily whines or feedback notes.
Imagine how wonderful it would be to read back over a year’s worth of things which went well (3 x 365 = 1,095 pa) and watch as you slowly bring to life the things you want.
And finally…
Most folks don’t do this – and never will. Give it a spin for a week or so and decide whether they are missing out.
