8 Challenging Tasks That Can Triple Your
Chance Of Success
A common
piece of fitness advice is to “find comfort in discomfort.” The basic premise
is that you cannot move forward and grow without pushing yourself past the
boundaries of your comfort zone and into new territory. You need to learn to
recognize that being uncomfortable means positive change. This advice is beyond
fitness enthusiasm: it is a mantra for achieving life success.
Our
personal habits revolve around avoiding stress and discomfort at all costs. It
is difficult to see the long-term benefits in short-term excursions outside of
our comfort zones, especially when the hurdles to surmount are particularly
distasteful. Lucky for us, our brains are hard-wired to propel us to action
once we begin to feel some level of stress and discomfort. The key is finding
balance: too much stress can lead to the undesirable meltdown,
while not enough stress will keep us imprisoned in our comfort zones, well out
of the reach of meaningful actions.
If you’re
ready to push towards optimal performance — and are prepared to handle the
discomfort that comes along with it — then it may be time to embrace these
uncomfortable tasks.
1. Meditate daily
Meditation
may sound simple, but anybody who has tried — and failed — to consciously still
their mind will tell you otherwise. Take a few minutes every day in a quiet
space to forget what is going on around you and find some perspective. It may
not be comfortable to “do nothing”, but it will physically improve your brain
by increasing density in areas responsible for self-control and focus.
2. Tackle the “impossible”
You know that list of things you keep that
you’ve always wanted to do, but don’t do them for fear of failure? Get it out
and start knocking off tasks. Achieving goals that you think are impossible not
only challenges you, but gives you an immense sense of satisfaction and
accomplishment that boosts self-esteem and overall well-being.
3. Wake up earlier
This may be your least-favorite challenge,
but the benefits of early wake-ups are worth the discomfort. Waking up even an
hour or two earlier gives you time to get more done in your day. You will have
the opportunity to plan out your daily schedule, squeeze in some exercise,
meditate, and eat a solid breakfast that will fuel the rest of your day.
4. Speak in public
If you’re one of the 74 percent of
Americans who fear public speaking, then this
task will be especially challenging. Even if you need to start out in a room
with five audience members, any level of public speaking is a boost to your
confidence and career. Tip: speak about something you are passionate about —
you will feel more knowledgable and less like you don’t know what you’re doing.
5. Say no
We all need to say no at some point in our
lives in order to keep from being overwhelmed. Not only does saying no honor
your existing commitments, but it frees up time and energy that you could spend
on more important — or enjoyable — things. Make sure your “no” is decisive,
though; phrases such as I’m not certain leave room for
negotiation.
6. Practice self-control
Lashing out at an irritating coworker or the
inconsiderate neighbor brings short-term benefits and long-term problems.
Wrecking relationships beyond repair for the sake of being right in a conflict
is hardly worth it. Keeping quiet and considering the wisest move will keep
your relationships and sanity intact.
7. Make new connections
Talking to unfamiliar people is a fear right
up there with public speaking for most people. Even if social interaction is
something that makes you uncomfortable, it is a tool for widening your
professional and social networks, increasing self-confidence, and absorbing new
ways of thinking.
8. Stop procrastinating
Stop putting off things that you know you
should do just because they are difficult. Start with one or two things on your
“must-do-but-don’t-want-to” list and get them done. The “I’ll do it tomorrow”
mentality never brings about success. If you want to improve your chances of
being successful, then you need to complete every task, even if it is
undesirable.
Comfort zones are stagnant — you will never
accomplish things within them. If you can “find comfort in discomfort” in life,
then you can greatly improve your chances of success.
ASHLEY PEREIRA
http://www.lifehack.org/454247/8-challenging-tasks-that-can-triple-your-chance-of-success?ref=mail&mtype=daily_newsletter&mid=20161114_customized&uid=687414&hash=707e797f7e757e6d794c856d747b7b3a6f7b79&action=click
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