Purpose: To reflect on the considerations that should be taken when moving from personal to external improvement.
Explanation: Interactions mark a distinct move from the personal realm to the external realm. It is important to understand this transition and adjust our mindset to authentically engage in our external environment. In the personal realm, the focus is on learning about ourselves, understanding our motivations, goals, and actions. Conversely, in the external realm, the focus is on us, our place in our environment, and the other people who make up our environment. To succeed in our external environment, we must learn about the world around us and act to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.
Moving from Personal to External: Considerations
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There are many things outside of our control - Accepting that in the external environment, there are many situations we will be unable to influence or change is essential to maintaining our motivation and wellbeing.
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There are many things within our control - Despite the first point, there are many things that we can control. The key is to focus on the things in our environment we can control and use effective strategies to maximize the effects of our actions.
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We are all experiencing different lives - It is important to recognize that not only is everyone different but their lives, journeys, and timelines are different. Learning about a person's past, social circles, and goals are essential to gaining a deeper understanding of them.
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Interactions are tools for communication and control - In the external environment, we use interactions to communicate with others and when we choose to, to control others. Interactions are the currency of the external environment. Learning to improve our interaction skills should be a perpetual goal for all of us.
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Change is ubiquitous - Things are always changing. Acceptance of this is critical. Being able to comfortably deal with change and anticipate the impact of change are two essential skills that can lead to both personal and financial gain.
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Reflection is essential - The external environment is constantly changing. We engage in countless interactions each day. Reflection time is essential to focus our minds on our goals and life strategies. It is also an opportunity to make strategies to react to the changing external environment and evaluate our progress.
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Self-awareness is still relevant - In the external environment, a strong sense of self forms the basis of our strategies for interaction and effective goal setting. It is essential to develop a good level of self-awareness, otherwise, the many influences that exist in the external environment can become the main incentives of our actions.
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Perfection is almost impossible and mastery is a journey - It is impossible to always be perfect due to external and physiological factors. We may learn and know something for a period of time, but we may also forget it if we no longer use it or no longer have the capacity to do it. Time is an important concept to consider when trying to understand learning and mastery of skills. There is a time period associated with what we know and what we learn. The skills that we want to master must be practiced and cultivated throughout our lives, otherwise, they may be forgotten. The journey of learning to become a master is achieved through building experience and effective time management.
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