Pain Is Good

We make excuses and push aside our dreams. There’s just not enough time, money, etc.) And we start to hide behind those excuses. They’re safe. By becoming more cognizant of your brain’s tendency for using excuses, the better you will become at dismissing them.

1. Recognize that there is only so much you can do right now, and that makes you human, not powerless.
2. Envision the best, while being realistic. People tend to overestimate the risks and negative consequences and that leads to a lot of anxiety.
3. You've faced uncertainty before. Take time to think and reflect on what helped you before.
4. Although dealing with uncertainty is hard, there are consequences for not facing it head-on.
5. See the Possibility.

The age-related curve in job satisfaction has been found in more than 50 countries. It affects senior-level executives as well as blue-collar workers, stay-at-home parents, childless couples and single people.

Generally, life satisfaction is high when people are young, it starts to decline in the early 30s and is the lowest between mid-40s and mid-50s. Then it increases again to levels as high as during young adulthood.

• Young people are overly optimistic and expect significant increases in life satisfaction. 
• As we age, we become disillusioned as our aspirations evaporate. 
• When we bottom out, we come to terms with our circumstances and accept life. 
• People over 50 tend to underestimate their future satisfaction, and increases come as an unexpected surprise, which raises satisfaction levels.

When you talk with someone in person, notice the posture and body language of the other person. Focus on the tone in their voice. Consider the meaning of their words.

Touch is a way we communicate and essential to our development. Touch makes us feel safe and encourage trust, love, and compassion.

Reach out to your loved ones and see if you notice a difference.

Our lives are good in most parts and our discomfort is temporary. Relative to the time in our normal day, almost any habit we adopt is over quickly.

Your workout will be finished in an hour or two. Your report will be typed to completion by tomorrow morning.

We'll never regret doing good work, once it is done, despite our initial resistance to it.

Sometimes, the simple act of showing up and having the courage to do the work, even in an average manner, is a victory worth celebrating.

The best way to be a friend is to allow them to tell the story repeatedly. Then they need to work through it and let it go. 

Tell them you’re there to listen to everything they need to say. Once they’ve gotten all out, you’d love to help them move on.

If you don’t know how someone feels, let them know that you haven’t been there before, but you’ll try to put yourself in their shoes to help as best you can.

Also, don’t be afraid to let them know you don’t have anything to say. You can still be an ear, take some time to think about it, and then share your thoughts later.

1. Ask yourself WWJD? (What Would Jerry Do?) Take an everyday situation and ask yourself, “What’s funny about this?”
2. Keep it clean. Steer clear of controversial topics and jokes in bad taste.
3. Use your wittiness to compete against big budgets. 
4. Just because your company is serious doesn’t mean all marketing has to be. Poke fun at yourself by doing a parody of your company or your industry.
5. The best humor comes naturally. Experiment by recording video interviews with quirky customers and employees.

• Some people might not appreciate your company’s brand of humor. Make sure the humor fits.
• Being funny may not work for healthcare, financial services or any highly regulated industry.
• Try using an online survey to test your attempt at humor against an internal audience before you send it out. 

We make excuses for the following key reasons:

• Fear of Failure
• Fear of Embarrassment
• Fear of Success
• Fear of Change
• Fear of Uncertainty
• Fear of Responsibility
• Fear of Making Mistakes
• Perceived lack of confidence or resources

Some people allow fears to keep them stuck in their situations. Fear has the ability to keep you stuck and control your mindset.

You can silence it by stating this fear out loud and becoming familiar with the worst-case scenario.

“You Don’ t need permission to chase your dreams. Go execute.”