The Formula for Progress

I am a #booknerd.
It's a fact. So, anytime I hear a podcast, attend a training or overhear a conversation and someone mentions a book they love, you will see me whip out my phone to check the library app to try and reserve that book before I forget about it.

The latest book recommendation came from skateboarder turned mogul billionaire, Rob Dyrdek. The book he recommended was called
Principles by Ray Dalio and my library had it ;)

In this book, there is a formula for progress.

PAIN + REFLECTION = PROGRESS

Dalio writes:
"There is no avoiding pain, especially if you are going after ambitious goals... Most people have a tough time reflecting when they are in pain and they pay attention to other things when the pain passes, so they miss out on the reflections that provide the lessons...The challenges you face will test and strengthen you. If you're not failing, your'e not pushing your limits, and if you're not pushing your limits, you're not maximizing your potential."

This process of reflection is actually the purpose of the month-end journaling exercises that I have been sending you at the end of every month.

I guide you through the process of reflecting back on all that you have been through in the past month (the joyful times and the painful times) so that you can harness the wisdom of your challenges and use them to maximize your potential.

It's actually super simple. It takes me about 30-45 minutes to go through the entire process and it's something that I refer back to throughout the month.

FUN FACT: When I ask people to summmarize their month in one word - their first response is usually something negative. But after they complete this writing exercise, that one word is usually something
POSITIVE.

The process of reflection helps them look forward to the process of reflection each month.
Regarding this process of reflection, Dalio goes on to write,
"it can be so thrilling that it becomes addictive."

Use the worksheet below to get started and let me know how this process of reflection worked for you.

REFLECTION

If you are not interested in the full month-end review process, just write for a few minutes your answer to this question:

How was the month of September?

Then go back and read what you have written. REFLECT on the tone of your writing and anything that stands out to you and capture that in another sentence or two.

This reflective part of journaling (going back and reading what you have written) is part of the Adams Method. It is a game-changer for your journaling practice.