We look at indecisiveness as a negative attribute. There is unquestionable value in the ability to decide and act. But sometimes being indecisive can have its advantages, especially if it involves multiple sides to a complex issue. Often, we don’t care. We will follow our friends to whichever restaurant or movie the group chooses, knowing the real joy is in the moments spent with our buddies.

Someone once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Being indecisive allows time to gather and digest facts essential to validating or disproving opposing points of view. We open ourselves to information which conflicts with our existing opinions. We examine the merits of both sides of an argument. The pause stops us from blindly following long-held convictions. It means we are self-aware and willing to consider if those doctrines still reflect our inner selves.

Indecisiveness provides an opportunity to analyze what might happen if we opt to answer “yes” instead of our automatic “no”.  We can weigh short-term gains against a future benefit which may far surpass an easy decision.

It is a valuable exercise to break from daily details and habits to give serious consideration to our assumptions. By questioning beliefs, indulging in contemplation, and trying new things, we find space to grow and find ourselves.

How can your indecisiveness improve your life?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Learning a new skill can be an exciting and terrifying experience. There are new skills to learn, a new lingo to speak and a huge expectation to succeed. We can feel like a kid learning to ride a two-wheeler, fearing falls, scraped knees, and broken bones. Half the battle with learning to ride a bike is gaining the confidence you can defy gravity.

There are tricks to help us succeed. The first trick is to set ourselves up for success. Setting small attainable goals and building on a track record of success puts us in the right mindset to attempt more difficult challenges. Give yourself a set of training wheels and then get on your bike and practice every day.

Have you set yourself up to succeed?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I love the visual impact of Covey’s gallon-sized mason jar example. He first adds large rocks, then layers in smaller stones between them, followed by gravel, sand and finally filling any remaining space with water. He uses the demonstration to illustrate the importance of beginning with the biggest pieces. If he filled the container with sand, there wouldn’t be room for the rocks.

I use this principle when I am planning out my weekly and daily agendas. The important rocks, my non-negotiables I need to advance my goals, I arrange first. Often these big rocs may require several days or weeks of work. Once I organize the rocks, I plot successively smaller components from my list. I fill the spaces in between with sand and water. These are nice to finish but there is no penalty if they remain undone.

By approaching my organizer in this manner, I ensure I complete essential tasks. Should I find myself at an impasse, or with a task finished sooner than the allotted time, I’m not left wondering what to work on next. Instead, I move to the less significant stones addressing each one in turn until they are complete. If an important task requires more time, I bump everything down the line.

How do you schedule your day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

What images does the word discipline conjure in your mind?

Did you picture arduous work, late nights at the office with the daily grind required to reach your goals eliminating fun from your life? They say success’ biggest enemy is the path of least resistance. They say you must choose what is hard and necessary, forsaking what is fun and easy.

But does it really need to be that way? What if discipline was as natural as breathing? The key is in determining your core values. What are your important and non-negotiable principals? Are your goals aligned with your beliefs? Chances are if they are not in alignment you will struggle on the journey. Life is an adventure which we are supposed to enjoy. After all, reaching a goal is a fleeting moment compared to the time we invest in getting there.

How will you find fun in discipline?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer