THE ARRANGEMENT
TOPICS :
Katie and I often say, “We arranged our lives to be this way.” It’s obviously an oversimplification of how the Universe works, but it does remind us that we have control of certain aspects of our lives, and it prompts us to accept personal responsibility for that much of our current situation that we created based on our decisions.
More than just taking personal responsibility though, THE ARRANGEMENT addresses the aspects of our lives that we control that lead us to MEANINGFUL PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Any meaningful personal accomplishment depends on five crucial mindsets:
Forward-Facing | Mission-Driven | Goal-Focused | Solutions-Oriented | Allow-Accept-Appreciate
This series of blog posts explores each of this critical elements of MEANINGFUL PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
LIFE LESSONS FROM GIN (RUMMY, THAT IS)
I have to rest frequently during the day since my bout with bone marrow cancer in 2018. I often lay on the couch with my feet up and play online Gin Rummy, so I’ve racked up a few games, and I keep thinking there are a lot of really good life lessons in this game. I think that’s why card games are so popular—because they reflect our lives in some way. From experiential learning to going all-in every once in a while, I’ve ruminated on at least eight different paradigms for living that also work well in playing rummy.
THE CROWDING-OUT EFFECT
In Katie’s coaching business, she uses the visual of a big rubber band, stretched between your hands, with the right hand being your big goals and your left hand being current circumstances. It’s hard to hold that tension, Eventually, you have to either let go of your current situation and move toward your goals, or let go of your goals. She asks: How committed are you? Can you endure the pressure of holding onto your goals until reality catches up to them?
AVERSION AND OPPORTUNITY
What’s your mindset in your day-to-day life? Are you looking at challenges as opportunities and mistakes and problems as learning experiences? Does a positive mindset really make a difference? Let’s find out!
TIME AND MONEY MATTERS
“I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.”
MADAF GOALS
Think of some big goal you’ve achieved, like moving into a house, getting a college degree, buying your dream car, or any other goal you felt so strongly about that you overcame all obstacles and accomplished what seemed to be impossible. Then, say this out loud: “I never miss a goal that I am passionate enough about to pursue relentlessly.”
Five Crucial Mindsets of Meaningful Personal Accomplishment
Any meaningful personal accomplishment depends on five crucial mindsets:
Forward-Facing | Mission-Driven | Goal-Focused | Solutions-Oriented | Allow-Accept-Appreciate
Thoughts on Allowing and Accepting
The key to achieving a dream that felt like a need, a deep longing like freedom or love or creating a school for marginalized children, or even a small goal like learning to ski or play music, was to let go—to detach from the outcome, to accept and allow.