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Quote of the Week:
“Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success” – Shiv Kher
Life Hack:
Excitement, Enthusiasm, Acceptance. Since my Dad turned me onto Eckhart Tolle years ago I’ve reread his books The Power of Now and A New Earth numerous times. Eckhart’s teachings are built to help give you a life of more purpose and presence. One of his methods revolves around “acceptance, excitement and enthusiasm.” He explains that in order to find happiness in our everyday life we must embody one of these three feelings at all times. If we are not in one of these states then we risk becoming anxious and possibly even depressed.
For you, it might make sense to relate this to your job. If you are not excited to go to work everyday or can’t find enthusiasm in your day-to-day activities then it is essential for you to be in a state of acceptance. You must accept that you are here now and that this job, no matter how menial it might feel. This is where you are and what you must do in this moment. By accepting your present situation you can find a sense of peace. This does not mean you need to accept your fait forever, but if you accept it for now you will be able to live happier while you find something new.
Career Tip:
The Power of Weak Ties. When you’re looking for a new job it’s natural to think you should start talking to your friends first. How do they like their company? What would it take to get you in the door? But, the power of our network does not lie in our friends. The power lies in our weak ties – the people who we know through our friends, someone we used to sell to or met at a conference. The problem with our immediate friend group is that they tend to know the same people. On the other hand, our weak connections can launch us into a completely new social circle or industry.
Whenever I meet someone at a conference or in a meeting and realize we have something in common I make a point to get their card and make a connection on LinkedIn. Depending on the situation, I might try to set a coffee date right there. I usually conduct these meetings without a specific business agenda. I’m more curious to learn their story and why they do what they do. It’s these conversations that have paid dividends for me down the line and got me new jobs and new opportunities. I challenge you to discover the power of your own weak ties.
Book to Check Out:
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant. One summer Kamal Ravikant, a startup founder in Silicon Valley, was going through fits of depression. He was sick, his startup was failing and one of his best friends had just died. After months of suicidal thoughts and a struggle to find hope Kamal decided enough was enough. He woke up one morning and started a new practice: to love himself. Everyday he filled his head with the mantra “I love myself” and within months his hope reemerged and his life transformed. If you’ve been struggling with your own emotions lately, Kamal’s book and method could help transform your thoughts and begin finding magic in your own life. This is an extremely short read, but highly recommended. I read it twice this week and started using Kamal’s practice in my meditations.
Poem to Internalize:
Look To This Day For It Is Life. I’ve never included a poem on the blog before but I chose to make an exception this week. The poem below recently helped a friend overcome a major life challenge and has changed the way he views the world. Since he passed it to me last week I’ve shared it with a handful of others. For me, it’s an incredible reminder that if we focus only on living well today, the future will take care of itself and our past will be filled with wonderful memories.
Look to this day for it is life
the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all
the realities and truths of existence
the joy of growth
the splendor of action
the glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory
and tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well lived
makes every yesterday a memory of happiness
and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.
