Summer Fun Week 2 -Use This Simple Trick

Time to read: 35 seconds

Gorgeous 1960s vintage! So fun!

It's week 2 of fun, pleasure, and ease. Ahhh…summer!

When there is conflict or you want something and feel like you are not getting it, often the issue is your focus, not the thing.

Here's a concept: Focus on the function, not the form.

In last week's vacation example, the form was beach or mountains. When the form is the focus, there's irreconcilable conflict. Instead, look for the function…spending time together or physical activity or going off the grid for two weeks to recharge. When you shift your focus to the function, infinite possibilities open for the form.

I love examples, so let's play with a work-related one. You want a promotion, and it hasn't happened. The promotion is the form and keeps your lens on one narrow option. When you shift your focus to the function of what you want in the promotion…like more responsibility, supervising and mentoring employees, or a more strategic role, you have lots of ways to create those experiences both at work and outside work.

To have more fun, look to satisfy the function you want, rather than focus narrowly on the form. More possibilities = more fun.

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Summer Fun! Day 1

Time to read: 1 minute 5 seconds

Easy = using photos I already have. Hard = trying to find the right "fit" whatever that means

It's almost summer!

For the next 10 weeks, I want to focus on fun, pleasure, and enjoyment. Winter has those things too (if you like skiing and ice-fishing), and summer is all about play and fun.

Let's start with this: Make things easy.

I know that many of you know how to make things harder than they need to be. I know because that used to be me and many of my clients do it, too.

There is no reward for finding the hardest way through something. Let's take writing this newsletter as an example.

Hard = thinking of something new to say every week. Easy = creating a theme and letting my brain get creative on one idea.

Let's look at a work example:

Hard = hating on and resisting your new VP's leadership. Easy (or at least easier) = accepting the VP is the way they are, leaving you free to choose to work with their style or leave. (I realize working for someone you don't jive with is a challenge, as is leaving your job. You can make things much easier by dropping the resistance.)

And a personal example:

You want to vacation in the mountains. Your family wants the beach. Hard = arguing about it and someone becoming resentful on vacation. Easy = choose to value the family time and just go to the beach and enjoy yourself. Beach/mountains? Doesn't matter.

I'll talk about how to get to what matters next week.

Here's to your fun summer!

P.P.S. If you love this newsletter, please share it with your colleagues. They can sign up here.