For some people, the difference between thriving and surviving could be the difference between being proactive and being reactive.
We hear that to thrive we need good quality relationships, but what about the relationship we have with ourselves? Let’s be proactive there first and ask the following questions:
- What language do I use when I’m talking to myself?
- Am I making judgments and picking myself apart?
- What areas of my life and business need my attention?
- Are the hopes and dreams I have for my life aligned with the way I talk to myself and the activities I pursue to achieve them?
A lack of self confidence comes from not doing what you can do. Not doing what you can do out of fear fosters low confidence. Instead, when you try something new, accepting that failure is part of growth, it helps to fortify your confidence and pushes you beyond survival. Like EXIT Realty’s Founder and Chairman, Steve Morris, says, try, fail, adjust, try, fail, adjust, try, succeed. You always feel good about yourself when you accomplish something you didn’t know you could.
Personal growth and personal integrity are intrinsic to thriving. It’s all about refusing to compromise with yourself. Sure, you can phone it in, let it slide, and likely no one would know but you. But there’s the rub – you would know. When you continually let yourself down, you erode the relationship you have with yourself and stunt your ability to thrive. We don’t get paid for the number of hours we work; we get paid for the value we provide. The number one person you cannot compromise with is yourself. Every single disciplined effort you put forth returns multiple rewards. During the pandemic when I was traveling less, I started to pursue my dream of becoming a martial arts master. I am a 3rd-degree black belt in taekwondo and getting back into martial arts has made me much stronger, not just physically but also in the discipline of the mind/body connection and cause and effect of every aspect of my training.
But how do you stay motivated? One of the key ways is to surround yourself with people who want the most and best for you, and for whom you want the most and best. Remember that behavior doesn’t lie. Ralph Waldo Emmerson said, “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you are saying.” Are the actions of the people who say they support you in alignment with their words?
Thrivers attract, and mere survivors don’t. Thrivers want more for their lives and the lives of the people they care about – more moments, opportunities, relevance, and experiences. They are proactive in achieving their dreams and helping others excel and shine. And more than anything else, thrivers focus on the solutions, not the problems.
By Tami Bonnell
