Are you ready to level up?When I was younger, I loved video games, specifically, Super Mario Brothers. Little Mario traveled his way through all sorts of obstacles and challenges, bumping into mushrooms, dodging flaming balls, and jumping on turtles, all in an attempt to rescue the princess.
I remember the sense of accomplishment when Mario achieved the next milestone, but that dopamine hit didn’t last long. As soon as I made it to the next level, the game got more difficult. The threats were greater, the challenges harder, and the next level seemed impossible. I had a couple of choices: I could keep playing the levels I’d already passed. After all, I knew the tricks and shortcuts, and every time I went through those levels, they got a little easier. Or I could try the next level where I was most certainly going to fail.
Like a video game, life is a series of challenges, obstacles, lessons, and growth. It can feel like the second you recover from one challenge, you are confronted with another. You put in the work, you learn, you grow, you overcome, yet there always seems to be another challenge ahead.
Just like a video game, life is a series of opportunities to level up.
Think of your life as a series of levels. In level 1, childhood, you learn the basics of life: How to walk, talk, eat. Quicker than you realize, you advance from one level to the next, learning to work with others, problem solve, live on your own. All the skills you learn in level 1 build in level 2. You’ll still need to know how to walk, talk, and eat in level 2, but it won’t solve all your problems. That is something we constantly forget. While the skills we’ve learned are helpful, what worked to win in level 1 and 2, won’t always work in level 3 and 4.
The same is true in any time or place of change. When your team is changing at work, you’re starting a new level. New circumstances, new skills, new challenges, new teammates. The way you’ve always done things isn’t always going to work.
Leveling up often happens without you even realizing. Once you find yourself outside of your comfort zone, feeling stuck, scared, or lost, you’ve probably leveled up. The real question is, how do you find comfort and success in this new level of your life?
Whether it is learning to walk, getting through high school (you couldn’t pay me enough to do that again), starting a new job, or building relationships, we face obstacles, learn, make a plan, and move forward. We can either play it safe and do what we’ve always done, or we can choose to tackle the next level. The only way to achieve our potential (or save the princess) is to embrace the discomfort of the unknown.
Over the next several weeks, we will look at ways to level up. So, I have two questions for you, and you can reply directly to this email with your answers:
- If your life were a video game, what game would it be?
- Where in your life would you most like to level up and why?
Leave a comment with your answers.
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Life lessons from Truck Yard 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Tru dat!
Truth!
A trigger for many to be sure…I’m included in the “many.”
Saying that actually provokes you the the more … 😅😅
Kyra Hill 🤣🤣
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Are you in control? 🎥
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Are you an authentic and likeable person? How do you know? When you are the topic of conversation, what do people say?
Not everyone has to like us, and that’s okay. That said, you will get more of what you want and less of what you don’t if you make an effort to be likeable. Here are 5️⃣ ways to be more authentic and likeable 👇👇 ... See MoreSee Less
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Thanks so much for having me Jan!
VoiceAmerica - Live Internet Talk Radio ... See MoreSee Less
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When you are willing to be vulnerable, it makes other people more comfortable to do the same. This doesn’t mean you should air dirty laundry or show people that rash that keeps spreading, but it is okay to let your guard down. Not only is it okay, it helps you build resilience.
It is only through our willingness to embrace our imperfections that we can find courage, emotional resilience, self-compassion, and that ever-so-elusive peace of mind. #MindfulMonday ... See MoreSee Less
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What’s in your gratitude jar? Tell me in the comments! 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less
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It took years to get to this point, but I’m so grateful that I finally found a doctor/surgeon with the right knowledge, compassion, communication skills, and technical ability. The surgical team and my support system did not let me down. I’m upright, breathing, and ready for some changes!
Grateful that my brother and sister-in-law moved here. It’s been 45 years since he left for college and we haven’t lived in the same city since!
My Family! Birthday weekend for our son and my mother in law. They are both very special people.
I am really grateful for my neighbor who encouraged us to get drainage work done this summer. This photo is our yard after days of rain. It's fine. My basement is fine. I am thankful both for the workers and for my wonderful neighbors
I know all my children are safe and well at this moment. 🙂
Grateful for my 2 Charlie’s (daughter & son) both are healthy & doing well! Thankful & blessed!
Beautiful sunshine today!
I was going to say grateful that I finally get to go see P!nk in concert on Monday, but after reading everyone else's beautiful gratitude responses that feels a bit silly...lol. I'll have to think about it some more! 😁
Do-over, or do-again (!),. I'm grateful for all those friends who laugh and cry with me during the times when my children are not safe and well.
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What’s better than spending two days speaking at the Lockheed Martin Leadership Conference? Getting to speak to these incredible leaders while visiting a Twinkie Bar! 😊 ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
We need a twinkie bar!
Looks like a wonderful team - I'd never expect a twinkie bar though!! No wonder they're all smiles with you at the helm.
Kelly Dafor - were you part of this group? Anne is a favorite!! ❤️
Friendly reminder…🤗
Let whatever you do this week be enough. There will still be tasks to complete, emails and texts to respond to, things to plan, and closets to unclutter.
Regardless of how much you do, you will feel like you should have done more. Don’t.
You have done enough.
Take a deep breath.
Relax your shoulders.
Soften your eyes.
Drop your tongue from the roof of your mouth.
Unclench your butt.
Relax your legs.
Wiggle your toes.
You got this. ... See MoreSee Less
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you - just the reminder I needed! Our value as human beings isn’t centered on productivity alone - not even close. Unclenching in progress 😉 TGIF
You always know what I need to hear!
Perfect!!!
I received your email this morning and this is exactly what I needed to read.
Barbara Northern
For sure!
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