Connecting the Dots
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path; and that will make all the difference.” Steve Jobs
This quote came to mind recently while working with a client who was able to "connect the dots" from the successes he had made over last 6 months. What was interesting was the observation that the dots were decisions (decisive action) and the successes realised when the dots were connected.
So how do we know how and where to place our dots?
"An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simply through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore." - Edward de Bono
One of the important things is to recognise what we are saying "yes" to and putting our energy and decisive action behind the Yes! I would like to point out here that even when we are saying 'no' to something we are saying yes to something else. For example a recently invited to go out with friends, I wanted to go out with my friends and felt tired and needed rest. So I said "yes" to having a relaxing evening and an early night and "no' to socialising for that event.
If you think about where you are now in your life, where you live, your relationship status, your work, you'll probably be able to notice the decisions, your 'yes's!' You have made (either reactive or responsive) decisions that created the circumstances you are in now.
It's your decisions which shape your reality, so what drives your decisions? That is your values and beliefs.
Your values are those things that are important to you and the belief is the meaning you attribute to the value.
Fill in the blanks for these questions to get an insight to your values and beliefs.
Family (= value) is important because ..????? (=belief) Health (= value) is important because ..????? (= belief Wealth (= value)is important because ..????? (= belief) Relationships (= value) is important because ..????? (= belief) ?????? (= value)is important because ..????? (= belief) and so on.
Now, reflecting on your list can you notice the area's of your life that get the most attention (dots) and those that are lacking? Where more attention and decisive action needs to happen?
If you would like to explore more about connecting your dots in life feel free to contact me at earl@creativemuscle.co.uk
Be Well, Be Great, Be Inspired.
Peac..E
