When will the coronavirus end?

I’m looking forward to 2021.

This has been a tough year.

You’ve probably said or thought about one of these statements. And it is common to talk about how challenging this year has been.

From juggling working from home and playing the role of teacher/babysitter to worrying about your job’s future, there is no doubt; everyone has been impacted.

But what if we were to reframe this year?

What if we were to ask ourselves a question that could give us hope.

A question to reflect on before our thoughts become dominated with the anxieties of daily living.

How will 2020 be your growth year?

Think about it. We have a choice. We can use these unusual circumstances to our advantage.

Take Diamonds, for instance.

Diamonds are some of the most beautiful earthly creations we have.

The word diamond originates from the Greek word “Adamas,” meaning unconquerable and unbreakable.

Marketing has told us that Diamonds are forever. And every woman needs a diamond. Diamonds are not only beautiful, rare, and expensive; they are also aspirational. Teams and businesses have used them in their names, like, Diamond View Studios: one of the top video production companies in the United States.

Many people want to own diamonds, yet few know what it took to create them. I’m not a geologist, but I was fascinated to find out that they are formed under pressure. Intense heat and pressure help create it, and this is a process, not an overnight event. Pressure builds the diamond.

  • No pressure. No beauty.
  • No pressure. No growth.
  • No pressure. No success.

And how applicable is this principle in our lives right now? With no pressure, we are not forced to grow; and can fall into complacency.

And if we are not developing, we are doing the opposite.

Top 3 Ways of Continual Growth – LPR

1. Learn: Keep a beginner’s mind.

I used to practice the martial art of Judo. And one thing that impressed me was how we use to have people two and three times my age still practicing. This beginner’s mindset can be traced back to the sport’s founder, Jigoro Kano, who insisted that he be buried in his white belt to demonstrate that he was a learner and not a master.

What is something you want to learn? (i.e., chess, gardening, writing)

2. Play: How can you incorporate fun at work?

Now more than ever, we need to create fun. Most of us are stressed out, trying to keep it all together. And working from a place of stress causes misguided emotional energy.

Fish: A proven way to boost morale and improve results, is a business book that tells a story of how a manager could turn a toxic department to one of the most desirable work floors by following the fun philosophies of the Seattle fish market.

What is one thing you can do to create fun for yourself and others while working?

3. Relax: Deep Breaths

You build muscles by applying both tension and relaxation. Both science and increased attention are talking about the importance of rest days when working towards optimal performance.

Always having my phone on or near me, doesn’t help me relax.

Morning walks, prayer, and time with friends help me stay recharged.

Take care of yourself. There is a reason why we are told to put on our oxygen mask first. You can’t give from an empty well.

What is one thing you can do to help you relax?

This year has brought about unprecedented change and disruption to our daily life. And the uncertainty of not knowing when it will end is tiresome. But we now have a motto. A belief that will give us hope towards a bigger future while remaining in the present. So the next time someone is talking about how bad this year has been, tell them…2020 is my Growth Year!

by Eric Papp

Time Management Speaker Eric Papp is the founder of Agape Leadership, LLC. This intellectual capital company helps leaders and sales professionals apply “better thinking vs. more effort.” He is the author of the Priority Planner and Leadership By Choice. To receive Eric’s Weekly Strategy Sheet visit www.EricPapp.com

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