Maybe we should meet our idols

Because cracking the illusion of the super human might be just what you need.

So, I don’t have anyone I’d consider an idol but I have a bunch of music favourites as well as Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, Gary Vee etc. They’re all people that move or inspire me.

They’re people I think are amazing but not superior just different. I’m not under any impression that they’re perfect or that I would like them if I knew them personally or even that they would like me.

When I think about meeting Seth Godin based on what I know it would be a pretty ordinary experience. He’s just another bald man in a suit with odd socks and a purple glasses.

Putting people on pedestals isn’t useful or beneficial for you.

That’s why we should meet them, to break the illusion. To remember that we aren’t less than and remember that we’re capable of great stuff too.

The importance of self-assessment in the workplace

Like ice cube said ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself’.

So we recently had our annual performance reviews at work and something I took from it was that it’s important to assess yourself throughout the year.

When you let a year go by without assessing how you’re doing there’s a higher chance you’ll be surprised by what your manager tells you at the end of the year.

I think assessing yourself quarterly (or even monthly) will help you better understand how you’re doing and what you need to work on. It doesn’t have to be with your manager, it could be with another colleague or you could do it alone.

That way you can pick up on the things you need to work on, make changes and then later reassess.

You should work on getting better, expanding your knowledge and trying new things for you. Not to appease your boss or because you know it’s ‘just part of the process’.

This is one of those ‘you get out what you put in’ kinda circumstances.

Politics, voting and uncomfortable conversations

If you live outside of the UK and keep up with global politics then you’ll know that on the 12th December there is a UK general election.

Although there are various parties running, it’s really just a choice between Labour and Conservatives.

From the perspective of someone who isn’t particularly political, Labour is for ‘the people’ and Conservatives are for ‘the man’.

But I also think it’s worth reading about the plans of both parties and making an independent judgement.

Don’t just follow the crowd, your family or what you see on social media. Get informed and vote based on your own opinion.

I think it’s better to vote based on what you believe instead of just copying what’s popular because you’re scared to stand out.

It might make for an uncomfortable conversation but at least you stood up for your beliefs.

Things worth passing on

Like books, podcasts, talks etc

If someone asks for a recommendation when your interests aren’t mainstream, it’s easy to hold back. It’s easy to be reluctant to share that local band who are heavily influenced by 80s synth pop.

You might skip over that book you read a while back by a neurologist purely out of curiosity.

That podcast with a spiritual/holistic focus won’t even get a mention.

But I think those things are worth passing on. If you were lucky enough to find something you enjoy that people you’re around might not be aware of, why not tell them about it?

It’s easy to be put off by the thought of blank or uninterested faces.

But at least you were willing to share something about yourself.

Plus, you might even find someone else who is interested in the same things as you.

Don’t look back

…in anger (this has nothing to do with Oasis but I do love that song!).

You can spend your whole life working on improving aspects of your life. Imagine you’ve always struggled with your career and finding something that you like that pays enough that you can live a life you’re happy with you.

Imagine you’ve spent years feeling unsatisfied moving from job to job.

Then all of sudden you find something that is everything you’ve always wanted and you’re finally happy doing what you do to earn a living.

But you’re also left with somewhat of a gaping hole in your heart where that struggle used to be.

Even though things have changed for the better, it feels as though something is missing because you’re lighter now.

What’s missing is the stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, worry and the struggle. Yet somehow you might find yourself longing for what once was.

Overcoming is a pretty big deal, acknowledge what you’ve accomplished and don’t look back on what once was.

Unexpected circumstances

Whether you’re stressed, organised or relaxed as you go through life, unexpected circumstances will arise.

It isn’t necessarily anything good or bad but rather something you haven’t planned for, something that you did not anticipate.

Often these things knock us for 6 and we find ourselves stuck or setback. I think that comes from the fact that we aren’t open to the motion of life. We get so caught in wanting things to be a certain way that forget that there’s an infinite number of awesome outcomes that we could be willing to explore.

So next time, instead of pushing back or getting frustrated by unexpected circumstances, remain open to them and maybe even try embracing them.

Exposed

How do you feel when you try something that doesn’t work?

One of the things that limits people from trying new things or just being themselves is not the thing itself but the feeling that comes afterwards.

That feeling of being exposed. Of all eyes on you and nothing to show for yourself. The thought of people knowing you tried and failed.

Especially when you already feel your own disappointment.

So, how about if instead of focusing on how bad it feels you focus on being kinder to yourself.

After all it might be worth acknowledging that you had the courage to try in the first place.