Notice the Things You Notice
The things you notice reflect who you are.
Competitive people notice rivals. Highly agreeable people see opportunities to collaborate.
What you see impacts who you become. First you give attention. Then you choose to respond. Habitual responses shape character.
The things you notice reflect who you are and shape who you become.
#1. Priorities impact attention.
When you’re shopping for a pickup truck the world spawns pickups. When you’re not reaching the numbers you think about goals.
#2. Problems impact attention.
Life is painted with a toothache.
When you fail you get cautious.
#3. Joy impacts attention.
When you build furniture, you examine joints and finishes. People who carve ducks see wooden ducks.
Notice the things you notice:
Attention determines direction.
Self-proclaimed motivational quote hater John Green said, “What you do with your attention is in the end what you do with your life.”
#1. Keep a thought journal.
Set a timer to go off at random times of the day. Record what’s on your mind when it sounds.
- Problems or solutions.
- Obstacles or opportunities.
- Weakness or strength.
#2. Get a grip on your responses.
“Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Rollo May
- What solution might improve this nagging concern?
- What fulfills you about working with your team?
- What opportunities lie within this obstacle?
- What do you respect about this frustrating person?
- How might I have this tough conversation quickly?
When you notice frustration, redirect your attention to gratitude. Who are you thankful to? What are you thankful for?
You can’t control what pops into your head, but you can control your attention.
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts…” Marcus Aurelius
How can leaders get a grip on their thinking?
Still curious:
4 Things All Remarkable Managers Learn to Notice
A Simple Project that Nudges Managers to Notice Others
I love this article – even more so than I do the other even though I like them all! Thank you!
Thank you, lalilaw. I wish you well.
Good morning. So, every morning Dan’s articles get my attention. What does that say about what I’m doing with my life? This is a question I must reflect on today. Thanks Dan, I’ll be busy all day now!
I agree with you 100%, HOW we view a situation is far more important than WHAT is actually occurring. the tag line on one of my emails is:
It has been suggested homiletically that the etymology of the Hebrew word “simcha” (joy),
comes from Hebrew “sam mo’ach,” meaning “focus your thoughts”.
Make the decision to be happy and the feeling will follow!
on another email address , i have the tagline:
There are no limits to what you can accomplish except the limits you place on your own thinking. – Brian Tracy
and the third and final tagline on my last email address is:
“Change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
– Dr. Wayne Dyer
You can see that the power of HOW we think about what is out there, is the recurring theme of all my taglines. We cannot control what occurs to us. We CAN control ( with a lot of effort…) HOW we react to it.
Thank you for your inspiring emails. I have learned a lot and have shared the gained wisdom with many of the teachers and staff whom I mentor.
Thanks for sharing your story, Debby. We can neglect the power of thinking when our lives are frantic. Thank about what you want. Think about how you are going to move in that direction. Go do something.
Hey, Tim. It’s a pleasure to instigate thought. 🙂 The world could use a little more thinking.
Recently, I have been having conversations with my ‘self’ about what I notice.
Your post today reminds me to be open, to be fair, and to listen to that which I (sometimes) refuse to hear.
I think we all get so busy and, possibly, we forget to have a larger perspective, to see the ‘human’ and not the situation the human is projecting. my mantra this 2024 is to, Live and Let Live. I thank you Sir Dan, for your wisdom and words.
Thanks, Melanie. I’m so glad your brought up self-talk. The most important conversation you have is with yourself. Problem is without attention and intention most of us go to dark places. I wish you success.
Dan, you blew off my last request but I will try another one. What is your favorite “definition” of leadership?
Also, my previous question was… is it possible to do one of your articles on an explanation of the ending of “the vagrant”. I am still stumped.