Focus and Ignore

Focusing your energy and attention on the critical few things that matter to you, while ignoring the trivial many is the secret (if there is such a thing) to major emotional, physical, financial, and general life upgrades.

As in the famous Prayer of St. Francis, the wisdom is in knowing the difference between the two.

sticks and stones fallacy

Let's retire the saying that sticks and stones can break bones, but words can't hurt. My first broken bone is a faint memory, yet hurtful words lingered, shaping my inner dialogue for years.

A few years ago, I made a New Year's resolution that changed my life: I never keep a sincere compliment to myself. If it's genuine, I never hesitate to share a compliment.

Never underestimate the power of words to impact someone's life.

How tiny daily choices lead to big changes

You'll barely notice the effect of scarfing down ice cream tonight. Do that tomorrow, and consistently over time, and get diabetes.

Practicing guitar (or swimming or a foreign language) for 15 minutes daily won't produce noticeable results the first week.

But 15 minutes daily is over 90 hours of concentrated practice over one year.

Minor habits practiced consistently over time produce momentum and lead to surprising outcomes.