It seems there are two prevalent messages out there these days. And while individually they make sense, when we look at both together, they seem to contradict each other. But do they really?
Let’s start with the one that’s received more attention in the long term: Plan for tomorrow. As a species, we tend to be forward thinking. When we find ourselves in a new or different situation, our brains begin evaluating the options and playing out different scenarios. We do this automatically without conscious thought much of the time.
When we consciously plan, we review options and set course down the path that makes the most sense to us at that time. It’s planning ahead that has resulted in the long-term survival and prosperity of our species. Planning is was brought about agriculture. Farmers plant seeds in the spring and plan to harvest the resulting crops in the fall.
What do you think of when you think of someone who’s creative? You probably pictured a painter, musician, or something else in the artistic realm. You probably didn’t think of someone searching for the cure for cancer or writing software to beat the stock market. Yet both of those are highly creative tasks.
As we go through life, some of us are successful while others get stuck. What makes the difference? While any number of factors are involved, some are more important. If you want to be successful in life, you need to check if you’re doing any of the seven items listed here. If you are, STOP! These things are holding you back.