<ul><li>We all have an “ideal,” a moving target that is always out of reach.</li><li>When we measure ourselves against that ideal, we’re in the GAP.</li><li>When we measure ourselves against our previous selves, we’re in the GAIN.</li><li>Being in the GAIN has enormous psychological effects, including bolstering motivation, confidence, and future success.</li><li>Always measure backward.</li></ul>You’re in the GAP every time you measure yourself or your situation against an ideal. And while ideals are meant to provide direction, motivation, and meaning to our lives, they are not the measuring stick.

Key Ideas From The Book

Being in the GAP creates a negative compound effect in your life. But being in the GAIN creates a positive compound effect in your life. The GAP and the GAIN are valuable tools because there is a language for them. Explain the GAP and the GAIN concept to those you love, and give them permission to call you out when you go into the GAP.Psychologists have found that practising mental subtraction—thinking of the absence of the good things in your life—can make you appreciate them more. to remind yourself of the GAINS in your life.

The Compound Effect of The Gap or Gain

<ul><li>What are the reference points you measure yourself against? </li><li>Why did you choose those particular reference points? </li><li>How do you define and measure success for yourself?</li><li>Are the reference points you measure yourself against external or internal? </li><li>How often do you compare yourself to others? </li><li>How much time do you spend on social media? </li><li>Are you self-determined and free?  </li></ul>

Journaling Questions

<ul><li>When was a time you went into the GAP because you went from wanting something to believing you needed it? </li><li>When was a time you went into the GAP by comparing yourself to someone else? </li><li>When was a time you used gratitude to reframe a situation into a GAIN and move forward?</li></ul>

Questions To Ask Yourself

<ul><li>Think about any specific experience—positive or negative. Ask yourself: What about this experience worked? </li><li>What “usefulness” can you get from this experience to improve your future? </li><li>What can you learn from this experience about what you don’t want? </li><li>Knowing what you know now, because you’ve had this experience, how will you approach your future differently? </li><li>What about this experience are you grateful for?</li></ul>

Your Life Experiences: Ask Yourself

The GAP is based on an unhealthy “need” or attachment to something outside of yourself. You’re trying to free yourself FROM something, and until you do you won’t be happy. When you’re in the GAP, you’re avoiding “here” while trying to get “there”—but never actually arriving “there.” By contrast, the GAIN is based on being in harmony with what you want and knowing that you don’t need it. When you’re in the GAIN, you live your life based on intrinsic motivation and harmonious passion, which creates flow and high performance

Embrace the Freedom of “Wants”

What you do during the 60 minutes before bed has an enormous impact on your sleep quality, as well as the direction and quality of your next day. Reactivity begets reactivity. If you’re staring at your phone before bed, mindlessly scrolling or consuming, not only will you sleep worse, but you’ll continue that same unhealthy addictive behaviour the next day. Write in your journal three wins from that day. Then, write down the three biggest wins you’ll get the next day. No more than three.

Measure Three Daily Wins

<ul><li>Where am I right now? </li><li>What are my wins from the past 90 days? </li><li>What are my desired wins for the next 90 days? </li><li>Where will I be in 12 months? </li><li>Where will I be in 3 years?</li></ul>

Your Evolution: Questions You Can Ask Yourself

It’s easy to forget about your GAINS because your memories are always reconstructed in the present, based on your current perspective. It is a good idea to do journaling or an annual review to tap back into the context of your former self, and see the massive GAINS. Being reminded of the easily forgotten past boosts your hope, motivation, confidence, and resilience. You’re not the exact same person you were in the past. You’ve evolved and grown a lot, even in the past 90 days.

Always Measure Backward

<ul><li>Call yourself out when you catch yourself in the GAP. Immediately look for and vocalize the GAIN. </li><li>Tell five people you know and love about The GAP and The GAIN. If you so choose, get them a copy of this book so they can live more in the GAIN themselves. </li><li>Give those five people permission to call you out when you’re in the GAP. </li><li>Help others see and appreciate their own GAINS more by (1) asking them about their recent progress, and (2) pointing out to them their progress. It can be very humbling and empowering to have someone recognize or point out your progress.  </li></ul>

Start Using the Gap and Gain Language

<ul><li>Being in the GAIN is not simply about seeing life on the bright side. Being in the GAIN is about taking every experience life throws at you and transforming it to serve you. </li><li>When you’re in the GAP, you ask yourself, “Why did this happen?” and act like a victim. When you’re in the GAIN, you control the meaning of your past. You cherish your past and use it as precious feedback for clarifying what you truly want and value. </li><li>Being in the GAIN is an approach-motivated way of life, and it enables you to turn every valley into a future peak.  </li></ul>

Transform Every Experience Into a Gain

<ul><li>External reference points make it impossible to feel successful because no matter what you’ve done, the success criteria are always moving.</li><li>Getting out of the GAP and into the GAIN means you’ve made yourself your own reference point. The GAP means your life is determined by someone or something external. The GAIN means you’re living a self-determined life. </li><li>When your reference point is internal, you make the final call on what “success” means to you, regardless of what other people think. </li><li>When your reference point is internal, happiness and success are always right here and right now.  </li></ul>

Self Determination

<ul><li>Are there any areas in your life where you have obsessive passion? If so, what unresolved internal need are you trying to fill? </li><li>What about your life and work do you love? </li><li>What is your long game? When you’re playing the long game, you’re doing what you love. You’re not doing something just to get somewhere else. </li><li>Do you have a long enough timetable to truly slow down and enjoy being here, or are you trying to quickly get “there”? </li></ul>

Ask Yourself: What You Love

Good habits, good life, Ample happiness, awareness.

As he did in WHO NOT HOW, Dr. Benjamin Hardy shares one of Dan Sullivan’s simple yet profound teachings that until now has been known only to his Strategic Coach clients: unsuccessful people focus on “The Gap,” but successful people focus on “The Gain.” "[T]his one simple concept is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance. Everything that psychologists know about how to create a high-functioning and successful person can be achieved using The GAP and the GAIN."- Dr. Benjamin Hardy Most people, especially highly ambitious people, are unhappy because of how they measure their progress. We all have an "ideal," a moving target that is always out of reach. When we measure ourselves against that ideal, we're in "the GAP." However, when we measure ourselves against our previous selves, we're in "the GAIN." That is where the GAP and the GAIN concept comes in. It was developed by legendary entrepreneur coach Dan Sullivan and is based on his work with tens of thousands of successful entrepreneurs. When Dan's coaching clients periodically take stock of all that they've accomplished-both personally and professionally-they are often shocked at how much they have actually achieved. They weren't able to appreciate their progress because no matter how much they were getting done, they were usually measuring themselves against their ideals or goals. In this book you will learn that measuring your current self vs. your former self has enormous psychological benefits. And that's really the key to this deceptively simple yet multi-layered concept that will have you feeling good, feeling grateful, and feeling like you are making progress even when times are tough, which will in turn bolster motivation, confidence, and future success. If you're finding that happiness eludes you no matter how much you've achieved, then learning this easy mindset shift will set you on a life-changing path to greater fulfillment and success.

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Personal Development

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Books

As he did in WHO NOT HOW, Dr. Benjamin Hardy shares one of Dan Sullivan’s simple yet profound teachings that until now has been known only to his Strategic Coach clients: unsuccessful people focus on “The Gap,” but successful people focus on “The Gain.” "[T]his one simple concept is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance. Everything that psychologists know about how to create a high-functioning and successful person can be achieved using The GAP and the GAIN."- Dr. Benjamin Hardy Most people, especially highly ambitious people, are unhappy because of how they measure their progress. We all have an "ideal," a moving target that is always out of reach. When we measure ourselves against that ideal, we're in "the GAP." However, when we measure ourselves against our previous selves, we're in "the GAIN." That is where the GAP and the GAIN concept comes in. It was developed by legendary entrepreneur coach Dan Sullivan and is based on his work with tens of thousands of successful entrepreneurs. When Dan's coaching clients periodically take stock of all that they've accomplished-both personally and professionally-they are often shocked at how much they have actually achieved. They weren't able to appreciate their progress because no matter how much they were getting done, they were usually measuring themselves against their ideals or goals. In this book you will learn that measuring your current self vs. your former self has enormous psychological benefits. And that's really the key to this deceptively simple yet multi-layered concept that will have you feeling good, feeling grateful, and feeling like you are making progress even when times are tough, which will in turn bolster motivation, confidence, and future success. If you're finding that happiness eludes you no matter how much you've achieved, then learning this easy mindset shift will set you on a life-changing path to greater fulfillment and success.

Dan Sullivan is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Dan Sullivan has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Dan Sullivan's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Dan Sullivan

Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Dr. Benjamin Hardy has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Dr. Benjamin Hardy's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

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