by Wright
the idea of growing strawberries but
nervous the rent may be too expensive.
Three people look at the exact
same thing yet think and feel very
Meanwhile the geologist looks at
different things.
the land and thinks, “I wonder what
type of experiments I could do here?”
The geological forces that shaped
the area, coastal protection laws and
research projects come to mind. The
geologist is moved by the natural
beauty of the coastline and laments
the damage human development
has wrought.
Your thoughts and beliefs are not reality. Your thoughts and beliefs are the way you choose to interpret reality.
One of the most fundamental beliefs you have is the interpretation of yourself. This is cal ed your self-image – the thoughts and beliefs you have about yourself.
96
EVOLVE
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97
Your past experiences, relationships, successes and failures have shaped the way you feel about yourself. This self-image has been mold-ed over such a long period of time that you’ve forgotten it’s an image.
Think back over the last day or two. Can you
It doesn’t feel like an image — it feels real. It’s not.
identify any negative thoughts or beliefs you had
In many cases these stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, can hold about yourself?
us back. These are cal ed limiting beliefs. We all have them and they come in many forms. They might look something like this:
Write down those thoughts or beliefs – there is power in putting them into words.
As you examine these thoughts, can you identify any patterns? Are there any recurring limiting beliefs that start to emerge?
Do any of these look familiar?
98
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Now, pick one of these thoughts or beliefs The shocking thing about our most fundamental limiting beliefs is that and let’s run it through a simple test.
they…are…not…true.
A single change in this type of belief is the world’s most powerful lever
— it will instantly affect how you interpret everything and how you feel.
1. What is your thought or belief?
The lens through which you view the world is a choice. So, if you get to choose, why not choose to feel amazing?
The more often you remember how incredible you are, the more often you’ll act that way, which will bring even more goodness into your life.
2. Is it true?
It’s a virtuous cycle. You will immediately feel better, you will energize those around you and you’ll start to notice signs everywhere that reinforce how amazing you real y are.
3. If you answered Yes, can you absolutely know that it’s true?
4. How do you feel when you believe that thought?
5. What evidence do you have to suggest this thought or belief isn’t true? Write down any specific examples that come to mind.
6. How would you feel without this thought?
7. Turn the thought around and re-state it in its opposite form.
EVOLVE
LIFEWORK
100
101
Evolve, in a nutshell...
Think back to a time when you felt successful, exhilarated or loved.
Put yourself back in that moment. Recreate the scene as vividly as you possibly can.
Who was there? Where were you? What little moments or details stand out?
How did you feel in that moment?
Learn to love
How do you feel now?
the process
of personal
growth,
and, most
importantly,
learn to love
yourself.
102
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103
Summary
Now that we are
Dream
approaching the
Test
end of our journey
Revise
together, let’s take
Choose
a little trip down
Evolve
memory lane.
104
LIFEWORK
105
The Lifework Method
Dream
Test
Revise
Choose Evolve
First, you
Next, we put
Then, we
Now you
You are
learned how
your dreams to
revised your
are ready
constantly
to dream.
the test.
dreams.
to choose.
evolving.
You reflected on what
You used A Day in the Life
As you took the time to
The 7 Rules for Choosing
As you go forth into the
energizes you, what
to learn from the real-
test your dreams, you
exist to help you do just that.
world, you learned how
problems you are most
world experiences of
learned about the things
to harness the power of
motivated to solve, and
people who are already
that matter most if you
deliberate practice and
what every aspect of your
doing the things you’re
want your work to be a
your mindset to grow
7 Rules For
dream life might
interested in. You had
rich source of meaning
smarter, stronger and
Choosing
look like.
curiosity conversations to
and income.
more confident with each
learn more about these
1. Limit your
passing day.
experiences, expand
For meaning,
choices.
your network and access a
The Principles of
2. Spend less time
hidden world of opportunity.
Meaningful Work
on choices that
And you designed
don’t matter.
experiments to get hands-on
1. Engagement
3. Find believable
experience with living your
2. Interests
sources of
dreams.
information.
3. Competence
4. Choose for the
4. Autonomy
right reasons.
5. Relationships
5. Manage
6. Purpose
expectations.
6. Don’t compare.
For meaning and money,
7. Commit and
appreciate.
A dream is a
Test your dreams.
Love the process and
hypothesis on what
Learn from others.
love yourself!
you might want to do.
Talk to people.
Do your own
experiments.
106
SUMMARY
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Parting Thoughts
Achievement is a funny, and misleading, thing.
You only see people once they’ve reached the top of a mountain.
They only surface on the magazine covers, appear on the news and receive the awards once they’re at a peak.
Nobody sees the climb.
Yet eve
ry person who has achieved any measure of success says the same thing – it’s all about the climb.
Life is a practice. A daily ritual.
It takes time to become great at anything. It takes years to nurture a great skil , a great company or a great relationship. It is all part of a beautiful cycle – you set goals, face adversity, persevere, overcome, grow and evolve. Over time, you’ll ascend to new heights, face stronger The world is a
challenges and solve bigger problems.
If you commit yourself to the lifelong practice of growth, you will achieve incredible things. So you must be patient. But you don’t have to wait.
better place
Waiting is a state of mind. It means you want to be “there” but you are
“here.” You want the future, but not the present. You get stressed about because you are
what you don’t have and miss out on all the joys of what you do have.
You don’t have to wait for anything – you already have everything you need to be happy. Consider all of the gifts in your life – the people that in it. Thank you
love you, the experiences that have shaped you and the knowledge you have. Look around you and marvel at all the little things that make your life beautiful.
for being you and
This world is nothing short of incredible and your story is just beginning.
So ful y embrace where you are, who you are and what you are doing right now.
for sharing this
You are exactly where you are supposed to be.
journey with us.
Wright
SUMMARY
LIFEWORK
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109
More Resources
Gratitude
A huge THANK YOU to all the people who helped bring this project to Hi, friend! Thanks for reading Lifework. We are proudly a self-published CONNECT
life. It real y does take a vil age.
project and are hugely grateful for your support. You can learn more Special thanks to Hannah, Josh, JR, Maile, Matt, Matthew, Lauren, Ron about why we chose to self-publish on our website at hiwright.com
@wright
and Sasha for inspiring and shaping this book.
(headline: autonomy is real). If you enjoyed this journey we would love to hiwright.com
hear from you.
[email protected]
Thank you to Aly, Alex, Amy, Angus, Anne, Bri, Brucer, Cait, Caroline, Chad, Chris, Danny H., Danny S., Heather, Jack, Jeremiah, Josh, Kevin, 415-993-3943
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Monty, Natalia, Nina, Rachel, Ricky, Ryan, Sam, Sarah, Sean, Ted and everyone else who shared feedback along the way. Big hugs to Mom & Go to “Orders” via the Amazon website, app or confirmation email.
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SUMMARY
LIFEWORK
110
111
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