Focus on the journey, not the final destination.

I just read an interesting summary about the book The Practicing Mind by Thomas Sterner. The summary said that we tend to focus on the main goal when we should be focusing on the process.

A good example is when we are travelling in a car, and I know that I was and still am very guilty of this. We would focus on actually getting there as opposed to just looking at the scenery and enjoying the trip.

I think that this is going to be my main focus over the next year, to just enjoy the time, to focus on what I am doing as opposed to focusing on the end product and getting down about it all.

This is the opposite and I'm sure that we will see significant results well within the twelve months.

The three areas of The Opposite

I think when I think about The Opposite, it relates to three areas in my life:

1. My Work

2. My Health and Fitness

3. My Relationships

What does this mean?

1. My Work

I think this is always working 100% even if it is for a short period of time. In 2018, we have some may distractions available for us. The Internet comes to mind. In my case, the opposite is to get down to work straight away and 100% concentration and focus on it.


2. My Health and Fitness

I'm quite happy with my fitness routines at the moment. I think it comes down to eating. Do you choose salad or french fries? Nothing wrong with french fries by the way but what do you chose? I think my opposite is having salad or in the cases when I do order salad, not to order the french fries.


3. My Relationships

I believe that this will take care of itself if I take care of the above two.

THE OPPOSITE - WHAT IS IT?

I think I have to clarify what The Opposite is. Basically for me, and you are all going to have you own rules for this but for me it is doing something the opposite to what I would have been doing in the past.

For example, the last month or so I have been taking cold showers. I read about the health benefits of taking cold showers and the idea that it wakes you up. Well, this morning after my gym workout, I was tempted to turn on the warm water and go from there but I knew that that wasn't the best course of action and turned the cold water on. This is the opposite of what I would have down up until now.

Why don't you try the opposite and see how your life changes?

THE OPPOSITE - Day 2

As I mentioned on Day 1, it is going to be difficult to figure out what the opposite is for your life.

I'll give you an example, today I finished work at 8pm and usually I would have gone home and done nothing, but today I chose to go to the library and work for one hour and a half.

Did I get much done?
Not really.

Did I get more done than if I went home?
Absolutely?

Was it worth it?
Yes.

Is this opposite transformation going to happen overnight?
No. But the more you work at it, the sooner you and I will see the benefits.

Some days are going to be difficult but you and I have to keep on going.

Good luck today, doing The Opposite.

THE OPPOSITE - Day 1

Before you go on any further, please look at the following video:

This is a classic video from the hit comedy series of the 80's and 90's, Seinfeld. I wasn't a great fan of the show but I do like a few episodes and this one is definitely in my top three.

Why?

Because it is such an interesting premise, I have decided to live the next 365 days doing the opposite.

What does that mean? Well, I'm not sure. I go to the gym frequently so I don't want to do the opposite  with that.

I think the answer to my question is that for each decision I have, I need to make it so that I am progressing towards my goals, not away from them.

For example:

Watch a YouTube video versus working on my business, the latter wins.

Eating a salad versus eating a packet of potato chips. As much as I like salt and vinegar, the salad will win.

Do you get the picture?

Lets see how my life is in 365 days of doing The Opposite.