![\"\"](\"http:\/\/dierschow.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Rubber-Band.jpg\" "\\"Rubber")
So here’s the real trick:\u00a0 To maintain a constant tension between working for change, and accepting what is.<\/p>\nThe Olympic games are underway, and it’s all very exciting.\u00a0 But let’s be realistic – these athletes are the top in the world.\u00a0 And the ones we get to see on TV are at the tippy tippy top.<\/p>\n
Kind of hard to relate to at a personal level.\u00a0 I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t feel like my skills are the best on the planet.<\/p>\n
The challenge, though, is to always be striving.<\/p>\n
That can get depressing.\u00a0 If I’m always striving but never achieving my lofty goals, I’m in a constant state of disappointment.<\/p>\n
So here’s the real trick:\u00a0 To maintain a constant tension between working for change, and accepting what is.<\/p>\n
Striving and settling.<\/p>\n
A great visualization of this is a rubber band: there’s a connection between working and achieving, but you don’t want so much tension that it breaks.\u00a0 And ideally, you want the two dynamics to be with each other a bit.<\/p>\n
Suppose that you’re working to get a promotion at work.\u00a0 That requires learning new skills, and developing great relationships with your boss and other decision makers.\u00a0 It’s not comfortable, and it’s not an exact science.\u00a0 But you’ll only make progress if you strive to achieve that goal.<\/p>\n
But recognize that it may take a lot of time, and more work than you expect, to get the promotion.\u00a0 Perhaps you’ll never get it.\u00a0 Depressing?\u00a0 Maybe, if you don’t spend time thinking about how the striving in itself is a good thing.\u00a0 You are, after all, still developing skills and improving relationships.\u00a0 That will give you more flexibility no matter what direction your career takes.<\/p>\n
Be happy with the fact that you’re working toward a goal, and going in a useful direction.\u00a0 And simultaneously strive for something even better.<\/p>\n
I saw an interview with Kimberly Rhode, the lady who got the gold medal in skeet shooting yesterday by hitting 99 out of 100 targets.\u00a0 Her new goal?\u00a0 To get 100.<\/p>\n
Always striving, always growing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"