I’m “giving myself an A” in advance for the year ahead.

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander

On the first day of class, he Benjamin told his music students they were all going to get an A. ‘

He did this so they could stop measuring themselves and take the risks required to be a daring musiciosn. The only condition was an assignment:

Assignment – I got an A because…

Place yourself in the future, looking back and report on all the things you have acquired and milestones attained. Everything must be written in the past tense. I am interested in the person you have become. The attitude, feelings and worldview of that person who has done all she wished to do or become everything he wanted to be.

I want to fall passionately in love with the person you are describing:

I see the beauty and the possibility in people

Over the last year I have practiced the art of seeing the best intentions and the immense potential that lies within the important people in my life.

Also read the story of The Rabbi’s Gift

At the beginning of the year, I focused on the faults and only saw the scarcity in the people in my life. The lack of ability, the lack of motivation, the lack of care or love for me, the lack of confidence in me. But slowly I changed my framework.

Now I have invented my own world and my own rules of the game

My colleagues: They care about the success of our business. In fact I can see now that everyone has the best intentions at work. They want to make meaningful change and a real contribution.

They all are GOOD people, they work hard and look after each other. They want the best of our staff and for our customers. They love working for the company.

Each of them respect me and have confidence in my abilities and motivations.

If they are not successful at work, I seek to understand their contribution on how things could improve. My way is never the only way. I don’t make assumptions. We have teamed up and are looking at the horizon of possibilities together.

Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

Michelangelo

My friends and family: They love me, they care about me. They have creativity and ideas and magic bursting from their seams. Their lived are rich, full of experiences unknown to me that I am learning from.

I see them all as contributing something to my life and I am curious about their perspective and their stories.

I have mastered my thoughts

Now I’m glad to say that I am no longer a slave to the ‘lizard brain’. I am no longer shackled to self-doubt and fear.

This doesn’t mean I don’t still get these negative thoughts in my brain. They come and go like respected visitors. I acknowledge their presence. They are there to protect me, they are biological.

I observe them them from my clouds in the blue sky, I always examine them with curiosity and let them glide along. I remember they are there to protect me but they no longer serve me.

I tell myself, I am enough. Just as I am, just this minute. I am perfect.

When the thoughts are more persevering I say “Fuck off Frank”

When I make mistakes, I put up my hand and yell “That’s fascinating!”

I honour the process

Over the last year, I have realized the power of the mundane task of sitting down to start my work.

Ideas flow, the muse takes over and every day I honour my contributions to the world by doing the work.

I have shed the armour of perfectionism, I care so much less about the outcomes of my job. I honor the process. That is all I can do, its the only control I have.

I know that the only way to overcome the fear/resistance is to Show up and Lean in further.

Be less impressed. Get more involved.

Matthew McConaughey