- The Quest Newsletter
- Posts
- The Quest Newsletter
Read time: 3 minutes
Welcome to Quest, a weekly newsletter where I share ideas to help you build a life you love — one filled with more energy, purpose, and joy.
Preview:
Quote: Your Character
Useful Ideas: Presence, Cost of Inaction, Complaining
Exercise: Take a Break
Story: Just Say No
Thought: One Small Act
Quote
Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus on character formation:
“The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become.”
Useful Ideas
I.
We live in a time of constant bombardment by technological distractions: computer screens, TV screens, phone screens, and tablet screens. Alerts, Buzzing, Dinging.
This leads to a fractured presence. We can be with someone but not really there.
One of the kindest things you could do when someone you care about wants to talk would be to say:
“Hold on, let me put my phone away so I can fully listen to what you’re saying.”
Or…
“One second, let me pause this game, I want to be fully present with you right now.”
How would you feel if someone said that to you?
In a day of constant distraction, the ability to offer someone your full presence is one of the most loving things you can do.
II.
Is there an area of your life that you need to change?
Consider this: what is the cost of your inaction? If the status quo continues, what happens?
Sometimes we need to consider the consequences of inaction in order to generate the inspiration to change.
III.
Don’t be a complainer.
If it’s in your control, go change it.
If it’s out of your control, complaining won’t change anything.
Exercise
The challenge today: schedule breaks between your meetings OR schedule meetings that are 25 minutes long.
Microsoft did a study that showed that back-to-back meetings builds up stress in the brain.
Short breaks in between meetings allowed the brain to reset and not experience the stress buildup.
Overwhelmed? Just Say No by Arthur Brooks
Solid article here on the power of saying no.
“If you find yourself more and more distracted and harried, struggling to pay attention to what really matters and baffled by how whole days seem to simply disappear, you might be missing the single most effective way to free up time and focus attention: saying no more to all the demands bombarding you.
This is more than just a way to increase your productivity. Psychologists have shown that the feeling of being harried and having insufficient time because of busyness is linked to less happiness.
Almost everyone knows the sensation that comes when commitments pile up and deadlines bear down. A seemingly innocuous yes to a request is just one more thing added to the pile already weighing on you and making it impossible to pay attention to what you really want or need. The strategic use of no can truly change your quality of life.”
Thought
What one small thing could you do today to show someone that you care about them?
If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, feel free to share it with family, friends, or colleagues.
If you were forwarded this e-mail, you can subscribe here to receive it in the future.
Make it a great weekend.
Much love,
Beau Burns