How to Transform Perception Through Self-Improvement

Too Much To Do and To Little Time to Do It….Ugh Monday is tomorrow!  When can you catch a break ! From being a combat veteran  To being a husband and father  To CISO, business executive and CEO Stress can get out of control – I like to use Sundays as a time for focused personal development. From reading a book to Rucking (or other heavy workouts) to journaling about what I am grateful for. Sundays are a great time to pause and see the bigger picture. Strategic Reflection Session: Dedicate 60 minutes each Sunday to reflect on the past week's critical decisions, their reasoning, and outcomes. Analyze how these align with your broader life and career objectives. This deliberate reflection aids in developing deeper strategic insights and enhances the ability to predict and manage future challenges. Learning from Diverse Fields: Every other week, commit to reading or attending a seminar outside your usual field of expertise but relevant to leadership, cybersecurity, or relationships. Delve into behavioral economics, military strategy, or organizational psychology to broaden your perspective, strengthen your strategic thinking, and improve your capability to identify and mitigate complex security issues. Self-Awareness: Closely to your inner dialogue, particularly during stressful or negative moments. Identify recurring thought patterns, such as tendencies to catastrophize or self-criticize. Approach these thoughts with curiosity rather than judgment, and understand their impact on your emotions and behavior. Evidence Examination: Question the validity of your negative thoughts. Assess the evidence supporting these beliefs and consider alternative viewpoints. Reminding yourself of past achievements and strengths can counteract negative assumptions and help you view situations more objectively. Narrative Change: Words can shape reality, making it essential to transform your internal narrative. Shift from negative or critical self-talk to more positive or neutral language, fostering a mindset of learning and growth rather than failure and inadequacy. Perspective Shift: Offer yourself the same compassion and advice you would give a friend in a similar situation. This shift towards a more empathetic and realistic view of your circumstances can lead to a more balanced and positive outlook. Present-Moment Focus: Concentrate on the present to break free from the cycle of negative thoughts tied to past regrets or future anxieties. Mindfulness practices help you stay focused now, enhance your awareness of the immediate environment, and promote mental stability. Incorporating these practices into your Sunday routine can lead to significant personal and professional growth, enabling you to approach life with a more strategic, informed, and positive mindset. Great people to follow on this topic Jon Macaskill Herb Thompson Atlas Aultman Ashwin Krishnan Jason Firch, MBA #CISO #CEO #CIO #Cybersecurity #Leadership #personaldevelopment #mindfulness

I spoke to an advisor today who has achieved more than most dream of. And yet, he said that for the first 20 years of his career, he was chasing the “wrong things.” He ran, pushed, and sweat, earning accolade after accolade only to realize it was never really about the accolade. One morning, he woke up and realized that the things he most craved were most absent. Connection, fulfillment, balance, peace. He said that his shrink helped him realize that there was a voice in his head that kept telling him that he wasn’t enough. That he didn’t belong. That he would lose it all. He learned that the voice wasn’t his. He’d picked it up along the way due to how other people behaved around him, the messages and expectations they bestowed on him. Then, he realized that he had a choice. He could continue to give that voice the wheel, or he could take back the reins. He started reflecting more proactively on his values. He learned to reserve and protect time and resources for his top priorities. In the past 5 years of his career, he’s felt closer to a true sense of success than in the prior 20. Don’t keep doing something the way you always have just because that’s how you’ve always done it. It’s never too late to gain new perspective. Take an hour this week to revisit what you want your next 5 years to look like. Is how you are spending your time setting you up for that trajectory? If not, what is one small change you can make today to adjust your compass? The first step is self-awareness. When in doubt: therapy helps. Let me know in the comments one thing you’re working on today 💬👇🏼 #mentalhealth #mindset #leadershipdevelopment

Here is one key lesson I learned a few years ago. "You cannot improve if you don't know what you are doing wrong." Embarking on the journey of self-analysis is like turning on a flashlight in the dark. It lights up your path, revealing both your strengths and the pitfalls you might stumble into. This is not about being hard on yourself; it's about #growth. It's about understanding the nuances of your actions, the why and the how, and then using that #knowledge to forge a better version of yourself. Let me say it this way, "You cannot improve your 2024 if you do not know what you have been doing wrong in 2023 and in the last couple of years." Reflect on your achievements and your failures alike. When you celebrate your successes, look deeper into what made them possible. Was it your dedication? Your creativity? Your ability to work under pressure? Acknowledge these strengths. Then, turn your eyes to the mistakes. These aren't failures; they are lessons in disguise. Analyze them without judgment. What led to these errors? Was it a lack of knowledge, a miscommunication, or perhaps a lapse in judgment? This self-analysis isn't a one-time task. Make it a habit. Regularly set aside time to reflect on your actions and their outcomes. Use these insights to set realistic goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Remember, transformation is a journey, not a destination. Each step of self-analysis takes you closer to the person you aspire to be. Embrace this process of self-discovery. Let it mold you into a more competent, confident, and compassionate professional and entrepreneur. Here is one thing I know, your journey towards self-improvement is a beacon of hope, inspiring others to embark on their paths of transformation. Cheers Javnyuy Joybert