Richard Feynman, a world-renowned physicist and Nobel Prize awardee, once said:
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool.”
Indeed, we hardly have the objectivity to evaluate how we live our lives, but this doesn’t mean it can’t be done – it can be done day-in and day-out. There’s no need for catastrophes or life-changing events. Here are three simple steps to look inward and move forward:
1. Do a life SWOT
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This activity is not solely for business. People can benefit a lot from conducting a “Life SWOT.” In a quadrant, determine what you are great at, what you are poor at, what steps you can take, and what problems you may encounter. You can be more specific. Do a SWOT around a particular goal to arrive at concrete steps towards its achievement.
2. Get feedback
Our sense of selves relies on our interactions with other people. As much as we can evaluate ourselves, we tend to be either too kind or too harsh. We need others to give us a more comprehensive and candid look at ourselves. Gather those who are close to you, those whose opinions matter, those who are after your well-being. Ask them what’s good and what’s problematic. Work from there.
3. Be inspired
These days, inspiration is just a Google search away, but the best ones are those whose stories are intertwined with yours. Think of individuals whose generosity have helped you move forward. Look for individuals who would always want to see you succeed. Remember them.
It is a known fact that many of us are overwhelmed not just by our day-to-day commitments. We are also mindfully or mindlessly the hostage of unlimited distractions in our physical AND virtual surroundings. The three steps above are some of the ways we can protect our energy and overall well-being in this crazy, hyper-connected world. It wouldn’t hurt to do more. What matters is to at least start.