Sunday Thinking

When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. That's where the power is.

January 14, 2024

The weekly Sunday Thinking newsletter is quick-hit content that aims to provide a booster shot to your thought process as you end and start your week.

“In our relentlessly busy contemporary world, we are forever trying to defer the onset of winter. We don’t ever dare to feel its full bite, and we don’t dare to show the way that it ravages us. An occasional sharp wintering would do us good. We must stop believing that these times in our lives are somehow silly, a failure of nerve, a lack of willpower. We must stop trying to ignore them or dispose of them. They are real, and they are asking something of us. We must learn to invite the winter in. We may never choose to winter, but we can choose how.”

― Katherine May, Wintering

I. Rethinking Open-Mindedness

How to keep an open mind as a leader:

Think like a scientist: treat your opinions as hypotheses and decisions as experiments.
Embrace confident humility: argue like you’re right, listen like you’re wrong.
Build a challenge network: seek out people who sharpen your reasoning.

"Rethinking liberates us to do more than update our knowledge and opinions, it leads us to a more fulfilling life."

Source: Adam Grant, Think Again

II. We Always Have a Choice

Instead of...

Reacting emotionally ― pause and take a breath
Holding grudges ― learn to forgive and move on
Worrying about the future ― concentrate on the present
Making Assumptions ― ask questions
Jumping to conclusions ― listen
Trying to change them ― accept them
Competing ― celebrate each other
Bottling up emotions ― talk to someone you trust
Gossiping ― have meaningful conversations

"One of the most rewarding and important moments in life is the moment you finally find the courage to let go of what you can't change and control."

Source: The Rising Circle

III. Embrace Your Growth

When you start living differently from the masses, it makes everyone uncomfortable.

The fact that you no longer play the same game of fear and drama like you were conditioned to, makes everyone aware of their own limitations.
When you operate on an absolute authentic frequency, people don't even know how to approach you anymore because you outgrow their energy and your existence transcends their preconceived ideas.

You won't be able to meet people's expectations anymore because you're not the same person anymore and you no longer operate on the same frequencies.

Embrace the growth anyway.

Source: The Higher Self

IV. Question

What is getting too much of my time right now? What is getting too little?

V. This Week, I Will

Focus on gratitude.
Focus on my mindset.
Focus on being present.
Focus on slowing down.
Focus on leading with humility.

The Last Words…

"Honor your slow seasons. Take advantage of the rare opportunity life has granted you to rest, tune inward, and do what you want to do. You might not feel externally productive but it's in times like these that the most powerful and intentional inner work has space to occur. Get to know who you are outside of your roles and responsibilities. Become comfortable with your own company. Re-evaluate how you're spending your limited time. Pretty soon, life will revert back to the chaos and busyness that you're used to so cherish this moment for what it is. Allow the insights and realizations you gain to guide your next steps. As scary as quiet seasons can be, they oftentimes end up blessing those who embrace them with the most clarity."

― Delicate Hibiscus, Writer