Forget Your Failings and Focus on Your Feats

It seems to be human nature to remember the things we messed up more than we do the things we did well. Most of us tend to focus on what’s wrong rather than on what’s right.

Even people with positive attitudes fall into the trap of discounting their successes and inflating their failings. The fact is, we’re being programmed all the time, and most of it isn’t helpful.

Problems, negative news, complaints, and criticisms get more of our attention than accomplishments, good news, and compliments.

The wise person understands this and takes charge of their programming. They use affirmations, they visualize, and they listen to good audios, read good books, and watch video resources that help them stretch and grow. They invest time with positive, supportive people.

I urge you to incorporate two lists into your life … lists you regularly maintain and review often. Use these lists to stay focused on what works instead of spending so much time and energy on what doesn’t.

These two lists are your “Win List” and your “Significant Accomplishments List”.

I challenge almost all my clients to document their accomplishments. This helps them increase focus on their progress and helps members of their team be more motivated and inspired. Often, I hear comments like, “My team is just getting started, and already their progress is substantial.”

I highly suggest you start YOUR “Win List” today. Begin tracking all the good things that happen to you, the things you fix, overcome and conquer, the goals achieved, new clarities, breakthroughs, etc.

Your “Significant Accomplishments List” is important, too. It may take a while to recollect all the things you’ve achieved and list them for easy, and hopefully, for regular review.

It’s human nature to discount the value of what we’ve done, especially when it didn’t seem too hard for us to achieve. But even if it didn’t require a lot of struggle on your part, it’s still a good thing to put it on the “Significant Accomplishment” List.

Start today. Build your “Significant Accomplishments List” and your “Win List”. Review them often. Bask in the good things you've drawn into your life. Watch your attitude improve and your accomplishments increase.

Remember: Energy flows where focus goes. What we focus on expands, so let’s focus on the right things. Building and using these two lists will do just that for you.