Category: <span>Goals</span>

Goals Leadership Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Global Leadership Summit – 2023 – Day 2

As I mentioned in my previous post, the Global Leadership Summit is a two day event hosted outside of Chicago. It brings together people from all over the world to learn from inspiring teachers, authors, pastors, and leaders from a variety of industries. Check out their content and consider attending in 2024 for the 30th GLS. I already have my ticket!

Here is a quick breakdown of the speakers from Day 2 and just a few of the main takeaways from each speaker.

JAMES CLEAR
Habits are the compound interest of self improvement. As such, good habits mean that time is our ally. Bad habits mean that time is our enemy. Excellence is not about radical change but about accruing small incremental steps. The biggest challenge people face is not personal defects but with the system we operate in. You don’t rise to the level of goals, you fall to the level of your system.
Form good habits by focusing on the four stages of habit formation. 1. Cue – Trigger that tells your brain to initiate a habit. 2. Craving – Prediction that compels you to act. 3. Response – The actual habit you perform. 4. Reward 0 The result that satisfies your craving.
Learn to manipulate these stages to your benefit in order to develop healthy habits, and, most importantly, develop an identity of being the better you that you want to be.

Read more

Confidence Goals Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Global Leadership Summit – 2023 – Day 1

Am I a leader? If so, what and who am I leading? And how good of a job am I doing at leading? If I’m honest, these are the questions that I have wrestled with at times over the past three years. They are not uncommon questions. In fact, they are important questions for all of us to consider.

Two days in Chicago helped me to gain clarity on answering these questions. Yes (resoundingly yes!), I am a leader. We all lead in some shape and capacity. We all have influence (in our homes, our relationships, our work, our community). You do not need a fancy title to grant you permission to lead. You are a leader. And as is the motto of this conference every year: Everyone wins when a leader gets better.

The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) is a two day event hosted outside of Chicago each year in early August. My wife and I have been attending since 2011. We have always attended through one of the hundreds of satellite locations that simulcast the event. However, this year we made the commitment to attend in person. It is two days of world class speakers presenting actionable content on how to grow your capacity as a leader. I’ve said it for years and it always proves to be true. It is one of the highlights of our year personally, professionally, spiritually, and relationally.

Here is a quick breakdown of the speakers and just a few of the main takeaways from each speaker.

Read more

Goals Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

Non-Zero Day

Zero Days.

We’ve all had them.

And if you’ve had enough Zero Days you know that they can lead to despair.

The solution is not the Hero Day.

The solution is the Non-Zero Day.

Dare to dream small.

Confidence Depression Goals Self-improvement Stress By Dave Barry, MFT

The Orbital Perspective

50 years ago we landed on the moon. It was an extraordinary accomplishment on many levels in achieving the goal set by President Kenedy “of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.“

Civic pride and scientific advancements were not the only outcomes of man’s exploration into space. One unexpected, but albeit, significant discovery was the change in perspective that comes from looking back and seeing planet Earth from space. This experience was felt first hand by the astronauts themselves and forever changed their minds. But anyone of us who looks at the photographs from space can’t help but be touched by a sense of awe as we see our home in all its glory, fragility, and wonder.  Read more

Anxiety Goals Self-improvement Wit & Wisdom By Dave Barry, MFT

Wit & Wisdom – John Gray

“The human mind is programmed for survival, not for truth.” – John Gray

The good news is we’re a resilient species. The bad news is our neurotic brains can keep us from fully living life.

Our brains do a pretty good job of perceiving threats and plotting a way to avoid danger. This comes in very handy when you are walking towards a busy city road with lots of cars and buses zipping around. Read more

Goals Self-improvement Stress By Dave Barry, MFT

Appetite for Change

Appetites can be fickle.

Consider the Wikipedia description of appetite: “Appetite is the desire to eat food, sometimes due to hunger. Appealing foods can stimulate appetite even when hunger is absent, although appetite can be greatly reduced by satiety.”

So appetites are an innate sensation that serves the greater good to keep us fed and alive.

Unless it becomes easily swayed by that sugary donut that we don’t need. But oh, does it look tasty!

Our desires for change in other areas of life are a lot like our appetites. Read more

Goals Self-improvement By Dave Barry, MFT

The First Day

First days get a lot of attention. New Years is a time for setting resolutions, fresh beginnings and orienting yourself to achieve goals. The first day of school is commonly marked by cute pictures of kids with their new backpacks on and their back to school clothes shining in the early morning light. Faces smiling expectantly of what is to come. Read more

Anxiety Goals Stress Wit & Wisdom By Dave Barry, MFT

Wit & Wisdom – Neil Gaiman

“Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving.” – Neil Gaiman

Is there anything more futile than perfectionism? Being perfect is simply not attainable. We all know this. The rational part of our brain agrees that we cannot be perfect. But yet something remains deep inside ourselves that drive us to perfectionism. If we can be perfect than we can also achieve acceptance, accomplishment, assurance. Read more

Confidence Goals By Dave Barry, MFT

Rethinking The Commencement Speech

I’ve often thought about what I would say if I ever had the chance to give a Commencement Speech at a graduation. The commencement speeches I’ve witnessed are often filled with encouragement and optimism (“Don’t be afraid to dream big dreams.” “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” “The future is what you make of it.”). It’s as if the main theme of many of these speeches can be summed up by saying: “Hey Graduates, you did it. You’ve accomplished this great goal. Now continue to ride this wave of achievement into the future and make the world a better place.” A sweet sentiment and a worthy charge to a class on the precipice of a major life transition. But I’ve often questioned the lasting relevancy of these messages.

Read more

Confidence Goals Self-improvement Wit & Wisdom By Dave Barry, MFT

Wit & Wisdom – William James

“The use of a life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” – William James

 

How to develop a legacy:

 

Spend your time and energy and resources on that which is meaningful.

Develop relationships.

Be vulnerable.

Create boldly.

Invest in others.

Always be learning.

Always be sharing.

Balance conviction and compassion.

Find ways to be kind to yourself and others.

Global Leadership Summit – 2023 – Day 2

As I mentioned in my previous post, the Global Leadership Summit is a two day event hosted outside of Chicago. It brings …

Global Leadership Summit – 2023 – Day 1

Am I a leader? If so, what and who am I leading? And how good of a job am I doing at leading? If I’m honest, these are …

Non-Zero Day

Zero Days. We’ve all had them. And if you’ve had enough Zero Days you know that they can lead to despair. The …