Do You Really Start From Scratch?
October 20, 2021
Forming habits is one of the most challenging tasks that we take on in our lives. This is especially true when the goals we set are too high that they become unsustainable. More often than not, we end up not meeting our goals and giving up almost instantly. We punish ourselves and think that we're such a failure. We compare ourselves to others and feel disappointed. Some even fall into “paralysis,” like what happened with my friend RJ Vargas from the last two episodes. And with every failure, we feel as though our time and energy have been wasted, and we are back to square one. But this is where I stop you and tell you that it's not true.
Show Summary: “No effort or time that you invest in yourself is ever wasted.”
Forming habits is one of the most challenging tasks that we take on in our lives. This is especially true when the goals we set are too high that they become unsustainable. More often than not, we end up not meeting our goals and giving up almost instantly. We punish ourselves and think that we're such a failure. We compare ourselves to others and feel disappointed. Some even fall into “paralysis,” like what happened with my friend RJ Vargas from the last two episodes. And with every failure, we feel as though our time and energy have been wasted, and we are back to square one.
But this is where I stop you and tell you that it's not true. Whether you decide to change careers, build new habits, or even switch goals midway, all the efforts that you've put in are NEVER A WASTE. There are many ways and aspects in your life to apply everything you've learned in the past. Release your creative juices and think outside the box. I swear to you, walang matatapon. Don't let the feeling of panghihinayang stop you from pursuing what you want.
And when it comes to forming new goals and habits, the key to achieving them is setting REALISTIC targets. Scope them down. Learning new things takes time, time that you should be kind enough to give to yourself.
If you have a friend or family going through the same thing, please share this episode with them.
Show Highlights:
What is "sunk cost," and how does it relate to our lives?
06:45
- In economics, sunk cost means money that's already been spent and can't be recovered. In life, this is the feeling of panghihinayang. It happens when we feel our efforts and energy have been wasted whenever we fail at meeting goals or become inconsistent with our habits. It's the same emotion when we move to a new job, end a relationship, or switch plans midway. We feel as though we're starting from scratch again.
What exactly is lateral thinking, and how does it help our productivity?
19:58
- Lateral thinking is when you connect two things that are not directly related. In other words, it means being creative and thinking “outside the box.” This applies when we take on a new and unfamiliar task or when we’re solving a problem.
- In productivity, lateral thinking helps us reuse and reapply our previous skills and knowledge to our new goals or engagements, even if they’re entirely unrelated. No effort is wasted because you’re able to repurpose your skills in different ways.
P.S.
I’m doing a giveaway contest for you, my podcast listeners! Prizes include free group coaching with me. And if you’re already a newsletter subscriber, that already grants you an entry to win! You can check out the links below.
I will announce the winners in mid-November 2021!
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