THE NEED FOR DISCOMFORT

Here I am, at my 21st book, reviewing its content using my leadership lens. To be honest, the lens fell off at times and I found myself shifting in my seat with the discomfort of truth. Powerful questions made me stop and ponder, thinking about my current life, causing more discomfort.

My new discomfort is still being experienced as I am yet to complete the many exercises I commenced (they could take some time which I don’t have at the moment) which all appeared so very worthwhile. (I hope I get back to them.)

The Unlimited Self by Jonathan Heston was a free download onto my Kindle. I was dubious … as they say ‘you get what you pay for’ so I was pleasantly surprised that I was onto something great.

Jonathan has produced a useful ‘self-help’ book which I believe is a crucial read for those who are either looking for the next best thing in life or on the extreme end of the life continuum, experiencing doubt in their life and need support; in particular, guidance with a path or map to follow.

From a leadership perspective, The Unlimited Self offers a new communication style and language to help the leader understand how to help people who are in their comfort zone and need to be pushed to their edge – to feel some vulnerability or at least feel a need for change.

I highlighted these particular statements which I’ve reread a few times:

· Accept the reality of your weakness – its feedback where you can grow.

· Perceptions hold you back – from where you are and where you want to be

· Limiting beliefs are stories our mind feeds us which limit who we are and where we want to go. They disempower instead of empowering us.

· We need to love and respect ourselves or everything disintegrates. We are the only filter between the world and ourselves.

· Authenticity is you being the best you that you can possibly be.

· Work harder on who you are, more than what you do.

· How we view others is often a mirror of how we view ourselves.

· Vulnerability is one of the most difficult habits to practice and develop. But it’s also incredibly rewarding

Like many of the books I have been reading, it is crowded with quotes … here’s a powerful one which:

To destroy our limiting beliefs, and uncover the inner greatness, Jonathon suggests we need to reprogram our future self by:

· Practising forgiveness as it is fundamental to free your perspective – even if you forgive yourself first. Try writing a forgiveness letter (you don’t have to send it).

· Talking to our self! Try talking to yourself in the mirror (without giggling), out loud with meaning. Make powerful statements about your identity.

· Meditating to be comfortable with yourself – 15-30 minutes a day (Yikes – this is my discomfort)

· Use a journal morning and evening – writing questions that you seek to be answered by your subconscious mind and using it to write what you appreciate in life (I’ve changed from gratitude to appreciation.)

· Find a group of people who allow you to be your future self – who are also wanting to live on the edge.

Reading books like this one make you pause from your busy hectic life. They make you ask questions of yourself and hopefully you’ll make time to answer them truthfully. Powerfully simple questions such as “Am I happy?”

To be an effective authentic leader, I suggest you read this book as it’s a great little tool to help you to help your team of followers be authentic. You could read it together!

Note: I also felt a level of discomfort with the references to ‘God’ in the second half of the book. I found it evoked my cynicism (very unlike me) and I am yet to understand why. I almost stopped reading the book because of this, however, I soldiered on, thankfully.

I’m endeavouring to read 52 Business/Professional/Personal Development books in 52 weeks. Yep, that’s one a week. As I read each book, I’ll share my thoughts, learning and recommendations. If there is a book that you’ve been meaning to read, let me know and I’ll read it for us!

So much can be said about someone's life when you view their wardrobe! Is it colour coordinated, are shoes in boxes or are there 10 shirts on one hanger hiding under two jackets?

Whilst I don't have my clothes colour coordinated, I do have seasonal and purpose sections and box up shoes which aren't required. Yes, I'm rather organised!

Anxiety, stress and denial are all symptoms of a cluttered life. I recently read this statement and it resonated with me. The clutter might not be their desk or wardrobe however it could be in their mind.

Being a visual person - I work at my best when I can easily see the plan - rather than having to prod and poke to locate the objective, running out of valuable time to produce a quality product. A messy desk clouds our focus just as a cluttered wardrobe makes a quick dressing decision impossible!

Three declutter tasks:

1. Note down the three most important activities which meet your intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of your life.

2. List the behaviours which: a/ give you energy b/drain your energy

3. Consider who you enjoy working with more than others and identify what happens in that specific enjoyable working relationship.

With this data, consider the stuff you're doing and people you spend time with which didn't make it onto this list. With that thought, create a plan how over the next 90 days, you can reduce their involvement in your life.

This might be rash, however it's ultimately a plan that will make your 2016 more effective.

Join our Ultimate Planning Workshop - it could declutter your life.