{"id":576,"date":"2018-05-24T02:30:44","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T02:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sudlatnid.com\/apps\/wp\/?p=576"},"modified":"2018-05-24T02:30:44","modified_gmt":"2018-05-24T02:30:44","slug":"unsuccessful-people-focus-on-the-gap-heres-what-successful-people-focus-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/?p=576","title":{"rendered":"Unsuccessful people focus on \u201cThe Gap.\u201d Here\u2019s what successful people focus on."},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"section section--body\">\n<div class=\"section-content\">\nOriginal link to this article can be found <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/thrive-global\/this-unorthodox-goal-setting-process-increases-your-happiness-confidence-and-success-3c6bc40ebfd7\">here<\/a><\/span> . <\/p>\n<hr class=\"section-divider\" \/>\n<div class=\"section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn\">\n<p id=\"4d78\" class=\"graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf--leading\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">\u201cThe way to measure your progress is backward against where you started, not against your ideal.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"698b\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p graf--trailing\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">\u2014 <\/strong>Dan Sullivan, <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/now.strategiccoach.com\/the-gap-and-the-gain-ebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/now.strategiccoach.com\/the-gap-and-the-gain-ebook\">THE GAIN AND THE GAP<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--body section--last\">\n<div class=\"section-divider\">\n<hr class=\"section-divider\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section-content\">\n<div class=\"section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn\">\n<h3 id=\"41c5\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf--leading\">Key concepts to understand in this article that will be explored:<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"453f\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--h3\">Your ideals and your goals are two separate things<\/li>\n<li id=\"cb17\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Ideals are general and immeasurable<\/li>\n<li id=\"793a\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Ideals are constantly changing and moving as you change and move as a person<\/li>\n<li id=\"6bc8\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Your ideals should <strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">not be your benchmark<\/strong> for achievement<\/li>\n<li id=\"026f\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Instead, your ideals should be <strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">the source<\/strong> from which you create your specific, challenging, time-bound, and measurable <em class=\"markup--em markup--li-em\">goals<\/em><\/li>\n<li id=\"c5ac\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Moreover, your ideals are intended to produce positive emotions such as excitement and anticipation\u200a\u2014\u200abut these emotions are not what you\u2019re trying to replicate in the future (most people get this wrong and it creates a great deal of unhappiness)<\/li>\n<li id=\"783f\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">The emotions you want in the future relative to this ideal are happiness, satisfaction, and confidence <em class=\"markup--em markup--li-em\">that come from achieving your goals<\/em><\/li>\n<li id=\"bb90\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you measure your current-self against your ideal, you\u2019ll never be happy because there will always be a gap<\/li>\n<li id=\"1820\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\"><span class=\"markup--quote markup--li-quote is-other\" data-creator-ids=\"5153880ce2ee anon\">If you measure your current-self against your previous-self\u200a\u2014\u200awhere you were when you set your goals (and even before)\u200a\u2014\u200ayou\u2019ll experience happiness, satisfaction, and confidence<\/span><\/li>\n<li id=\"15ff\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If your goals are not specific, they\u2019ll be hard to measure (which is one reason you shouldn\u2019t measure yourself against your ideals, because your ideals are general)<\/li>\n<li id=\"a4e3\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you don\u2019t have a specific measurement criteria, you won\u2019t experience the joy of the progress you\u2019ve made<\/li>\n<li id=\"8762\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Once you hit your goals and have taken the time to adequately measure where you are, you should set new ideals and re-experience the excitement, anticipation, and motivation that comes from pursuing new adventures and growth<\/li>\n<li id=\"7103\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you\u2019re not making progress, you can\u2019t feel happy<\/li>\n<li id=\"d3c7\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you don\u2019t feel happy, your brain will be less adaptive and less effective toward future endeavors<\/li>\n<li id=\"9c0c\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you\u2019re not making progress, you can\u2019t feel confident\u200a\u2014\u200abecause confidence is a byproduct of prior success<\/li>\n<li id=\"d50d\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you don\u2019t regularly take the time to review your progress, you\u2019ll never appreciate the small details, which will rob you of the experience and of all the benefits of gratitude<\/li>\n<li id=\"7e6c\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">If you fail to appreciate where you are, you\u2019re missing out on the benefits of mindfulness as well, which can lead you to pursuing the wrong goals and missing the small moments along the way<\/li>\n<li id=\"139e\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">When you set and measure your goals in this unique way, you get the benefit of deeply experiencing all of the positive and energizing emotions that will allow you to become increasingly successful<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"e6b4\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">With this foundation in place, we will further dial-down the process and also detail the science behind why this process is so brilliant.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7937\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Here\u2019s the thing: most people have a negative relationship with goal-setting. There\u2019s a lot of emotional baggage associated with the concept.<\/p>\n<p id=\"d382\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">One group of people may believe they should be happy just the way they are. Another group is constantly striving for more and are never quite happy with what they\u2019ve achieved.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"ce4b\" class=\"graf graf--h4 graf-after--p\">Both of these approaches to goals are ineffective because neither can produce actual joy and happiness.<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"1b25\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--h4\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">If you\u2019re not growing and changing, you\u2019re not happy. <\/strong>Research is clear that as people, we are happiest when we are improving. Self-acceptance is important, but self-acceptance is also intended to be a vehicle for positive growth, not for staying stagnant and justifying mediocrity. Moreover, you can\u2019t have hope for the future if you don\u2019t believe you can change. Trying to force yourself to remain the same stunts hope and happiness.<\/li>\n<li id=\"8513\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">If you\u2019re growing but constantly measuring where you are against your ideal, you\u2019ll never get there. This will lead you to always feeling dissatisfied with yourself<\/strong>, which isn\u2019t helpful to your future goals and it robs you of the joy of the distance you\u2019ve made. When you rob yourself of the joy of measuring how far you\u2019ve come, you don\u2019t experience happiness, gratitude, or confidence. And when you don\u2019t experience these, you actually set lower and less clear goals. Put simply, when you take the time to reflect and measure how far you\u2019ve come, you\u2019ll set clearer and more powerful goals, because those goals will be set from a place of confidence, happiness, and gratitude. They\u2019ll also be set from a place of tangible measurement, not abstract idealization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"8053\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--li\">The Gap vs. The Gain: How Happy, Motivated, And Successful People Approach Their\u00a0Goals<\/h3>\n<blockquote id=\"7fa0\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--h3\"><p>Your future growth and progress are now based in your understanding about the difference between the two ways in which you can measure yourself: against the ideal, which puts you in what I call \u201cThe Gap,\u201d and against your starting point, which puts you in \u201cThe Gain,\u201d appreciating all that you\u2019ve accomplished.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote id=\"881e\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--blockquote\"><p>When you\u2019re in The Gap, you feel as though you haven\u2019t accomplished anything at all. This is because even though you\u2019ve moved forward, the ideal remains distant from you. The ideal is a moving target. It might even get bigger, leaving you worse off than where you started if you measure against it. You\u2019ve also used up time and energy getting to where you are, so if you don\u2019t measure the progress, you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve wasted that time and energy and have fallen even further behind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote id=\"628f\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--blockquote\"><p>But if you turn around and measure your progress against where you started, then you\u2019re in The Gain, and you\u2019ll experience a sense of having moved forward, of having achieved something, and you\u2019ll be motivated to continue on to your next stage of growth.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote id=\"1630\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--blockquote\"><p>\u2014 Dan Sullivan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h4 id=\"6ea6\" class=\"graf graf--h4 graf-after--blockquote\">Here are two definitions of\u00a0\u201cideal\u201d:<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"3716\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--h4\">satisfying one\u2019s conception of what is perfect; most suitable<\/li>\n<li id=\"bbcd\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">existing only in the imagination; desirable or perfect but not likely to become a reality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"1743\" class=\"graf graf--h4 graf-after--li\">Here are two definitions of\u00a0\u201cgoal\u201d:<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"529c\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--h4\">the object of a person\u2019s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result<\/li>\n<li id=\"e3c1\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">a specific, measurable, and time-bound outcome or experience a person is seeking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"b899\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">Once you\u2019ve made tangible progress on your goals, it\u2019s important to measure, track, and report your progress. That progress should clearly be measured against where you were when you set your targets, not against some vague imagination.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"9a38\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--p\">Creating Your Vision And Experiencing The Excitement And Anticipation<\/h3>\n<blockquote id=\"4b9e\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--h3\"><p><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--blockquote-strong\">\u201cSome adults try not to engage in make-believe anymore because they think it\u2019s childish, but I don\u2019t think we ever really outgrow it. In fact, I think that make-believe is the basis for all our motivations in life.\u201d<\/strong>\u200a\u2014\u200aDan Sullivan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"0318\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">Children are generally considered more imaginative and creative than adults. This isn\u2019t actually true.<\/p>\n<p id=\"e3b6\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The ability to imagine and fantasize about the future never actually goes away. Some adults constrain themselves from indulging too deeply into their fantasies, because the positive emotions related to those fantasies are quickly shattered by the pain of their reality. Or, they\u2019ve experienced the disappointment that comes from achieving goals and not feeling satisfied.<\/p>\n<p id=\"697e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Indeed, people adapt quickly and if the target for happiness is always moving and in the future, it\u2019s impossible to reach. Hence, those powerful and positive emotions end up being reframed in the memory as negative, which creates a negative association between goals and happiness in people. Thus, people stop setting goals and develop a personality of being comfortable where they are\u200a\u2014\u200aand never truly happy.<\/p>\n<p id=\"af9c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Again, it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. This process Dan Sullivan has created allows you the playfulness, the excitement, and the motivation involved in creating ideals and dreams for your future.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ef9c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Lots of science has found <em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">play<\/em> to be extremely important for productivity and creativity. As <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/gregmckeown.com\/blog\/difference-successful-successful-people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/gregmckeown.com\/blog\/difference-successful-successful-people\/\">Greg McKeown explains<\/a>, <em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">\u201cVery successful people see play as essential for creativity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"9025\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">In his <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/stuart_brown_says_play_is_more_than_fun_it_s_vital?language=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/stuart_brown_says_play_is_more_than_fun_it_s_vital?language=en\">TED talk<\/a>, Stuart Brown said, \u201cPlay leads to brain plasticity, adaptability, and creativity\u2026 Nothing fires up the brain like play.\u201d There is a burgeoning body of literature highlighting the extensive <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/www.parentingscience.com\/benefits-of-play.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.parentingscience.com\/benefits-of-play.html\">cognitive<\/a> and <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/udel.edu\/~roberta\/play\/benefits.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/udel.edu\/~roberta\/play\/benefits.html\">social<\/a> benefits of play, including:<\/p>\n<p id=\"8370\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\"><em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">Cognitive<\/em><\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"3efc\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">Enhanced memory and focus<\/li>\n<li id=\"1c71\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Improved language learning skills<\/li>\n<li id=\"2fe2\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Creative problem solving<\/li>\n<li id=\"66ef\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Improved mathematics skills<\/li>\n<li id=\"a1de\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Increased ability to self-regulate, an essential component of <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--li-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1SuiXtL55BVlGfDB6J-aQXPUvbvTZXtNK-KaKuPYo9ig\/embed?hl=en&amp;size=s&amp;slide=id.p5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1SuiXtL55BVlGfDB6J-aQXPUvbvTZXtNK-KaKuPYo9ig\/embed?hl=en&amp;size=s&amp;slide=id.p5\">motivation and goal achievement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"5db5\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\"><em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">Social<\/em><\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"ee4d\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">Cooperation<\/li>\n<li id=\"d34b\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Team work<\/li>\n<li id=\"8dc9\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Conflict resolution<\/li>\n<li id=\"1c7f\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Leadership skill development<\/li>\n<li id=\"1f94\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Control of impulses and aggressive behavior<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"c803\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">One of the core learning styles is \u201cimagining,\u201d and it\u2019s something that few people allow themselves to do enough. Imagining and fantasizing are learned skills, which can also be like muscles that atrophy. If you don\u2019t develop these muscles, you\u2019ll lack the creativity and excitement of pursuing crazy dreams and ideals. You\u2019ll \u201cgrow-up\u201d as they say and settle for reality as society and the norms around you have deemed-it.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3310\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Instead of such a bleak and uninspiring existence, you want to spend a great deal of time fantasizing about your future. You want to dream big and dream creatively. You want it to be fun and playful. Set no boundaries on your ideals and what you imagine.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9935\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The more immersive you can get into what Dan Sullivan calls, \u201c<em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">Make-believing<\/em>,\u201d which is creating a make-believe future or ideal, the better. You want to experience all of the excitement, anticipation, and motivation that comes out of that possible future. These emotions drive you forward. But again, they aren\u2019t the emotions you\u2019ll experience when you get to your intended goal.<\/p>\n<p id=\"b160\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Your future should be big, fun, and playful. In in Sullivan\u2019s words, \u201cYour future should always be bigger than your past.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"48f2\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The more playful the imagining, and the more immersive, clear, and specific you get about that imagining, the more creative and powerful will be the goals that you set to strive for that ideal.<\/p>\n<p id=\"50a5\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">However, it\u2019s important to realize a few things:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"5f92\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">this ideal that you are forming is always changing<\/li>\n<li id=\"d040\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">once you reach a destination, your ideals and fantasies will change<\/li>\n<li id=\"8cce\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">these dreams and ideals are the direction for guiding and creating tangible goals to move toward<\/li>\n<li id=\"58ba\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">if you constantly measure yourself against your ideals, you\u2019ll be living in what Dan Sullivan calls, \u201cThe Gap,\u201d which will create feelings of unhappiness and disatisfaction<\/li>\n<li id=\"c160\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">instead of measuring yourself against your ideals, happiness and satisfaction come by measuring yourself against where you were when you formulated the ideals and set the tangible goals<\/li>\n<li id=\"86db\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">when you measure yourself against where you were, you live in what Dan Sullivan calls, \u201cThe Gain,\u201d which helps you realize and appreciate how far you\u2019ve come<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"16c4\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">According to psychological research, the anticipation of an event is almost always more powerful than the event itself. Both positive and negative events are generally more emotionally-charged in your head than the actual experience ends up being.<\/p>\n<p id=\"74ce\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Very quickly, we adapt to our new experience and the event itself is underwhelming compared to how we imagined it to be.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ff16\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Because we adapt so quickly, it\u2019s easy to take for granted where we currently are. Moreover, because our ideals and dreams are like a horizon which is constantly moving\u200a\u2014\u200awe never reach our ideals. The horizon always moves, no matter where you are. It\u2019s the direction, not the destination.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7c9c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">This is what creates feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. We quickly adapt to where we currently are and our ideals are always out of reach. This is living in \u201cThe Gap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"44c1\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">We mistakenly believe that our experience once we hit our goals should be the playful and exciting emotions we had when we were imagining the goal. This is not the case.<\/p>\n<p id=\"0fed\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The playful and joyful experiences of imagining our dreams and ideals are not the experiences we are to have in the future. We have those experiences to draw us forward. Actually, when you expect these same emotions to be what you\u2019ll experience when you get there, you downplay their importance. These emotions are both a means to an end, and an end in themselves.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ffa7\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">They are a means to the end of allowing you to create highly specific goals which lead to growth and happiness. But they are an end in themselves because the playful anticipation and excitement of ideals is a beautiful part of life. Don\u2019t downplay these emotions. Allow them to be what they are. You get to experience them again and again as you continue to expand your horizon and dreams.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1501\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Once you\u2019ve developed that horizon, you then need to set tangible, measurable, challenging, and time-bound goals to move toward that horizon.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"07d5\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--p\">Set Measurable And Highly Specific\u00a0Goals<\/h3>\n<blockquote id=\"547f\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--h3\"><p><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--blockquote-strong\">\u201cSpecifics must be measured against specifics. Trying to measure a specific against a generality is not real measurement. Setting up a goal of making $10 million is specific, and you\u2019ll feel successful once you\u2019ve done that by measuring from there back to where you started. But if you have the imprecise goal of \u201cbeing wealthy,\u201d that\u2019s a generality. You may never feel like you\u2019ve achieved it, and even if you do feel as though you have, this feeling won\u2019t last because it\u2019s not grounded in specific reality. The goal\u200a\u2014\u200abeing wealthy\u200a\u2014\u200awill continue to change and always seem out of reach.\u201d<\/strong>\u2014 Dan Sullivan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"767e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">If your goals are not specific and measurable, then you won\u2019t be able to measure your progress. If you can\u2019t clearly discern the progress you\u2019re making:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"c4c4\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">you won\u2019t know where you actually are<\/li>\n<li id=\"f1da\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">you won\u2019t experience the joy, gratitude, and confidence of growth<\/li>\n<li id=\"49a1\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">if you don\u2019t enjoy the the gratitude and confidence of growth, you won\u2019t operate as well in the future and you won\u2019t set bigger targets to strive for<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"44d0\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">Thus, when you don\u2019t set clear targets and measure yourself against what you\u2019ve gained, then you cheat yourself out of your past, present, and future.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"f512\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">you cheat yourself out of your past because you never take the time to appreciate and measure against it<\/li>\n<li id=\"0fab\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">you cheat yourself out of your present because without measurement, you never know where you truly are<\/li>\n<li id=\"d56a\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">you cheat yourself out of your future because without happiness, gratitude, and confidence, you won\u2019t imagine and create more compelling ideals and goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"6ab5\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--li\">Psychological Benefits Of Measuring Your Progress Against Where You\u00a0Were<\/h3>\n<p id=\"030d\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">According to the research of Harvard psychologist, Shawn Achor, <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work\">happiness is the secret to success<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"bd04\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Being happy allows you to work more effectively. It allows you to embrace your experiences more fully. It allows you to be far more open to feedback. Happiness is a powerful way to create high performance. Even my 10-year old son is realizing this when he practices the piano. Unfortunately, it\u2019s hard to be happy if you\u2019re living in \u201cThe Gap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"0359\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Not only will you be happier if you measure yourself against The Gain, you\u2019ll be more confident. <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Gillian_Yeo\/publication\/264479041_A_Meta-Analytic_Investigation_of_the_Within-Person_Self-Efficacy_Domain_Is_Self-Efficacy_a_Product_of_Past_Performance_or_a_Driver_of_Future_Performance\/links\/54b66dcd0cf24eb34f6d1a8d.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Gillian_Yeo\/publication\/264479041_A_Meta-Analytic_Investigation_of_the_Within-Person_Self-Efficacy_Domain_Is_Self-Efficacy_a_Product_of_Past_Performance_or_a_Driver_of_Future_Performance\/links\/54b66dcd0cf24eb34f6d1a8d.pdf\">Research has shown, confidence is the byproduct of past-performance<\/a>. So when you take the time to live in \u201cThe Gain,\u201d your confidence can increase, which will allow you the ability to set bigger and more imaginative goals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"b6e0\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">It will also give you the clarity to create better plans, which according to research will give you more hope and expectancy in your future that you\u2019ll achieve those goals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"e540\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">According to psychology\u2019s <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/557062b2e4b0b65c351948df\/t\/579a4120c534a544b31687e3\/1469727009106\/Hope+Theory%2C+Measurements+and+Applications+to+School+Psychology.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/557062b2e4b0b65c351948df\/t\/579a4120c534a544b31687e3\/1469727009106\/Hope+Theory%2C+Measurements+and+Applications+to+School+Psychology.pdf\">Hope Theory<\/a>, hope reflects your perceptions regarding your capacity to:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"47e3\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">clearly conceptualize goals<\/li>\n<li id=\"85ea\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">develop the specific strategies to reach those goals (i.e., pathways thinking)<\/li>\n<li id=\"19df\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">initiate and sustain the motivation for using those strategies (i.e., agency thinking)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"e1d6\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">Hope is a byproduct of confidence, which is a byproduct of past success. Thus, as you set clear and measurable goals, and measure your progress against the Gain, you\u2019ll recognize the changes and progress you make. This will give you both confidence and hope\u200a\u2014\u200awhich will allow you to set bigger ideals and dreams in the future, and to make better plans and strategies for achieving those goals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8d19\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">This is how you increase in your motivation overtime. According to <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/journals\/bul\/78\/1\/1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/journals\/bul\/78\/1\/1\/\">According to one of the core theories<\/a> of motivation\u200a\u2014\u200aknown as Expectancy Theory\u200a\u2014\u200amotivation involves three components:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"406e\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">the <strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">value<\/strong> you place on your goal<\/li>\n<li id=\"6fc1\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">your belief that <strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">specific behaviors<\/strong> will actually facilitate the outcomesyou desire<\/li>\n<li id=\"a558\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">your belief in <strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">your own ability<\/strong> to successfully execute the behaviors requisite to achieving your goals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"31f0\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">As your happiness, confidence, and hope increase, your motivation will increase. This motivation comes because you expect to achieve your goals and you highly value those goals. As you become more confidence as a person, you\u2019ll stop setting goals that society has placed on you.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7cb0\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Your goals will come from inside and be uninhibited by the standards and expectations of those around you. Instead, you\u2019ll purposefully surround yourself with better mentors, teachers, and collaborators, which will allow your dreams and ideals to expand far beyond what you could conjure-up on your own. Psychologists call this \u201cThe Transforming-Self,\u201d and it\u2019s the highest level of conscious evolution.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2f61\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">You\u2019re constantly seeing yourself improve. You\u2019re grateful and appreciate that progress. You spend just as much time soaking-in the Gains and you do imagining and indulging in the dreams. You then use your gains and the confidence you\u2019ve built to get back to the playful and fantasizing process of imagining new ideals!<\/p>\n<p id=\"3c2c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">One other potent psychological benefit of measuring The Gain is gratitude, which has nearly unlimited benefits to well-being, happiness, and high performance. Gratitude may be the most important key to success. It has been called the mother of all virtues. According to Sullivan, \u201cgrowth and gratitude\u201d go hand-in-hand. Yet, those who only focus on The Gap rob themselves of much of the benefits of gratitude.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5f09\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Gratitude journaling is a scientifically proven way to overcome several psychological challenges. The benefits are seemingly endless. <a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/happierhuman.com\/benefits-of-gratitude\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"http:\/\/happierhuman.com\/benefits-of-gratitude\/\">Here are just a few:<\/a><\/p>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"e3b0\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--p\">Gratitude makes you happier<\/li>\n<li id=\"0010\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes other people like you<\/li>\n<li id=\"d355\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you healthier<\/li>\n<li id=\"6f45\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude boosts your career<\/li>\n<li id=\"e7c9\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude strengthens your emotions<\/li>\n<li id=\"f367\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude develops your personality<\/li>\n<li id=\"4674\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you more optimistic<\/li>\n<li id=\"40cf\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude reduces materialism<\/li>\n<li id=\"8654\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude increases spirituality<\/li>\n<li id=\"c1eb\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you less self-centered<\/li>\n<li id=\"005c\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude increases your self-esteem<\/li>\n<li id=\"84e2\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude improves your sleep<\/li>\n<li id=\"e535\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude keeps you away from the doctor by strengthening physiological functioning<\/li>\n<li id=\"1f55\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude lets you live longer<\/li>\n<li id=\"ad27\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude increases your energy levels<\/li>\n<li id=\"1961\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you more likely to exercise<\/li>\n<li id=\"56e3\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude helps you bounce back from challenges<\/li>\n<li id=\"6e85\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you feel good<\/li>\n<li id=\"f30d\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes your memories happier (think of Pixar\u2019s <em class=\"markup--em markup--li-em\">Inside Out<\/em>)<\/li>\n<li id=\"1bfe\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude reduces feelings of envy<\/li>\n<li id=\"7794\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude helps you relax<\/li>\n<li id=\"e14b\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you friendlier<\/li>\n<li id=\"711f\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude helps your marriage<\/li>\n<li id=\"534d\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you look good<\/li>\n<li id=\"f834\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude deepens your friendships<\/li>\n<li id=\"3bb0\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude makes you a more effective manager<\/li>\n<li id=\"09e9\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude helps you network<\/li>\n<li id=\"088a\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude increases your goal achievement<\/li>\n<li id=\"6a06\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude improves your decision making<\/li>\n<li id=\"34ee\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--li\">Gratitude increases your productivity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"4f61\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--li\">It\u2019s a beautiful process and it allows you to experience ALL of the powerful emotions along the way.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"9e54\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--p\">The Importance Of Keeping A Record Of Your\u00a0Goals<\/h3>\n<p id=\"5d3e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">If you\u2019re achievement-oriented, you probably write down your goals and you probably achieve a great deal of them. However, it\u2019s powerful and important to regularly go back and examine your previous goals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3654\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Even if it was just the goals set for the previous 30 days. It\u2019s insane how many of our targets we hit without appreciating it because our targets and ideals are continually moving.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8371\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">I recently looked back at my goals from the previous 30 days and realized I\u2019d achieved something I\u2019ve wanted to accomplish for almost 4 years.<\/p>\n<p id=\"f2be\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">I hit a major milestone and didn\u2019t even realize or appreciate it because my mind quickly moved to the next ideal. Which isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing for setting new targets, but it also robs me of seeing how far I\u2019ve come.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8d0b\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Moreover, when you immediately move from achievement to visualization without taking the time to regularly measure how far you\u2019ve come\u200a\u2014\u200ayou rob yourself of the satisfaction, happiness, and CONFIDENCE of accomplishment.<\/p>\n<p id=\"a706\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Yes, all of these things can be subconscious\u200a\u2014\u200ayour happiness, satisfaction, and confidence. But you can compound the experience by making them conscious. By actually indulging in the moment and truly appreciating where you currently are vs. where you were when you set your goals. You then get all the benefits of the past, which allow you to create a more compelling future.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"bcb1\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--p\">You\u2019re Probably Living Your Dreams Right\u00a0Now<\/h3>\n<p id=\"80c4\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">When you measure yourself against \u201cThe Gain,\u201d you often realize that you\u2019re currently living your dreams right now. Where you are right now may be far beyond the ideals you had even one or two years ago. Yet, you\u2019ve probably adapted to your current reality and are now striving for newer and bigger ideals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"896b\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">But if you take the time to examine your previous goals, you often realize that your current reality is beyond the wildest dreams of your past. Indeed, your current reality has become your \u201cnew normal\u201d even though it may have been completely unimaginable to your previous-self.<\/p>\n<p id=\"fd55\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Wow!<\/p>\n<p id=\"c2b4\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The daily experiences you\u2019re currently having are the IDEALS of your past-self just a few short years ago!<\/p>\n<p id=\"c990\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Appreciate that fact.<\/p>\n<p id=\"75bf\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Allow that fact to create more confidence to set bigger and bigger ideals and clearer and more tangible goals!<\/p>\n<p id=\"d066\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">This is a beautiful and rare process!<\/p>\n<p id=\"14be\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Enjoy it. Soak it up!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"d2cc\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--p\">Ready to\u00a0Upgrade?<\/h3>\n<p id=\"e693\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">I\u2019ve created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.<\/p>\n<p id=\"89fc\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p graf--trailing\">Get the cheat sheet <a href=\"https:\/\/go.benjaminhardy.com\/optin-16784469\">here<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Original link to this article can be found here . \u201cThe way to measure your progress is backward against where you started, not against your ideal.\u201d \u2014 Dan Sullivan, THE GAIN AND THE GAP Key&hellip;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"excerpt-readmore\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/?p=576\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interesting","odd"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/576\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sudlatnid.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}