by silence | Aug 18, 2024 | life
My dad called me on a Wednesday, asking me to him with his email as it was not working. I was in a rush that day and I told him that I didn’t have time, and I will attend to it on Saturday.
My dad passed away on Friday, two days after I was too busy to attend to his needs. The Friday was one week away from when my wife and I were supposed to fly back home to spend Christmas with him.
Have you called and spoken to your parents today?
I learned this painful lesson the hard way. Until today I regret not attending to his call, attending to his need, always thinking that my time is more important.
Soon afterwards, I left the country I was working in and returned home to spend time with mum, who was aging gracefully.
If I could turn back time, I would do the following
Make regular quality time a priority
Consistently set aside dedicated time to spend with your parents, even if it’s just for short periods. This could involve weekly dinners, regular phone calls, or planned visits. Quality time doesn’t necessarily mean long durations, but rather focused, meaningful interactions.
Create and preserve memories
Engage in activities that create lasting memories with your parents. This could include taking family vacations, celebrating special occasions together, or simply documenting everyday moments through photos or videos. These shared experiences will be treasured long after they’re gone.
Show appreciation and express love
Actively demonstrate your love and gratitude for your parents. This can be done through verbal expressions, thoughtful gestures, or small acts of kindness. Don’t assume they know how you feel – make it a point to tell them and show them regularly.
Seek their advice and wisdom
Take the time to ask your parents for guidance and listen to their life experiences. This not only shows that you value their input but also allows you to learn from their wisdom. Ask them to share stories about their lives and the lessons they’ve learned.
Involve them in your life
Keep your parents involved and informed about your life, including your challenges, successes, and everyday experiences. Share your goals and aspirations with them, and include them in important life events. This helps maintain a strong connection and makes them feel valued and included.
At the end of the day, at your death bed, you wont be thinking about work, or money. You will be regretting the times you didn’t spend together. You will be regretting your loved ones. You will be crying within about the things you wished you did for others when you were capable off.
by silence | Jul 28, 2024 | life
It took me 50 years to learn why I couldn’t achieve anything remarkable. I made so many changes in my life but nothing would stick with me. I ended up going back to my old habits.
I lacked discipline!
Discipline is the foundation of achieving long-term success. It is the bridge between setting goals and realizing them. Without discipline, we are left with mere intentions and unfulfilled dreams.
And how do you cultivate discipline?
You build habits. One step at a time. Building habits is a crucial step in developing discipline, and it is essential to understand how habits can help us stay motivated and on track.
How Habits Can Build Discipline
Habits are repetitive behaviors that we perform automatically, often without conscious thought. By building good habits, we can create a routine that helps us stay disciplined and focused on our goals. Here are some ways habits can build discipline:
- Consistency: Habits help us establish a consistent routine, which is essential for building discipline. When we perform a task consistently, it becomes second nature, and we are more likely to stick to it.
- Accountability: Habits hold us accountable for our actions. When we commit to a habit, we are more likely to follow through, even when we don’t feel like it.
- Self-control: Habits help us develop self-control, which is a critical component of discipline. By resisting temptations and staying focused on our goals, we build our self-control.
- Motivation: Habits can motivate us to take action, even when we don’t feel like it. When we see progress and results from our habits, we become more motivated to continue.
How to Stay Motivated
Staying motivated is crucial for building discipline and achieving long-term success. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated:
- Set clear goals: Setting clear goals helps us stay focused and motivated. When we know what we want to achieve, we are more likely to stay on track.
- Track progress: Tracking progress helps us see how far we’ve come and motivates us to continue.
- Celebrate small wins: Celebrating small wins helps us stay motivated by recognizing our progress and achievements.
- Find accountability: Finding accountability, whether it’s a friend, family member, or mentor, helps us stay motivated and on track.
How to Get Back on Track When You’ve Missed Deadlines
Missing deadlines can be discouraging, but it’s not the end of the world. Here are some tips to help you get back on track:
- Don’t give up: Don’t give up, even when you’ve missed a deadline. Instead, focus on getting back on track as soon as possible.
- Reassess your goals: Reassess your goals and adjust your schedule accordingly.
- Break it down: Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to help you stay focused and motivated.
- Seek support: Seek support from friends, family, or a mentor to help you stay motivated and on track.
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
Recommended Books on Discipline
Here are some recommended books on discipline that can help you build habits and achieve long-term success:
- “Atomic Habits” by James Clear: This book provides a comprehensive guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones.
- “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg: This book explores the science behind habits and provides practical tips for building good habits.
- “Discipline Equals Freedom” by Jocko Willink: This book provides a no-nonsense approach to building discipline and achieving success.
Remember, discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment!
by silence | Jun 30, 2024 | life
Being half a century old makes you ponder on what you have done all these years and is it enough?
Are you happy with what you have done?
Are you able to cope with the future?
Can you make a change?
This blog is about my pursuit to making a change.
I have tried making drastic changes over the years, but it never worked. Then I read Atomic Habits by James Clear and how making small changes helps. He gave an example of the British cycling team of how it went from a nobody to world beaters.
In 2003, Dave Brailsford was appointed as the director of performance. unlike previous directors who came in and made sweeping changes, Dave implemented something called “marginal gains“. Marginal gains is tiny improvements that the cyclists could make over time.
Brailsford and his coaches began by making small adjustments to the team’s equipment and training methods. They redesigned bike seats for better comfort, used alcohol on tires for improved grip, and even tested different fabrics in a wind tunnel to optimize aerodynamics. These small improvements were not limited to the obvious areas; they also extended to overlooked details such as the type of massage gels used for muscle recovery, the best way to wash hands to prevent colds, and even the type of pillows and mattresses used by the riders to ensure better sleep.
The key to the success of this strategy lies in the compounding effect of these small improvements. By improving each aspect by just 1%, the cumulative effect led to significant gains over time. As James Clear explains, “if you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done.” This approach not only led to improved performance but also helped the team to sustain their success over time.
The results of this strategy were nothing short of remarkable. Within five years, the British cycling team dominated the road and track cycling events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning 60% of the available gold medals. They repeated this success at the 2012 London Olympics, setting nine Olympic records and seven world records. The team’s success continued, with British riders winning multiple Tour de France titles in the following years.
The British cycling team’s example serves as a powerful reminder that small, consistent improvements can lead to significant and lasting success. It highlights the importance of patience, persistence, and a focus on building systems rather than relying on single, dramatic changes. As James Clear notes, “time magnifies the margin between success and failure. It will multiply whatever you feed it. Good habits make time your ally. Bad habits make time your enemy.“
Hence, this is my journey. It start’s today. Everything I am doing to make myself better will be listed in these pages.
The day this blog stops, I would have breath in my last breath.
