thinkPhD

We often talk about setting goals, but forget the importance of motivation. Setting a deadline helps keep focus on goals by organizing thoughts or ideas. This stimulates action because you are working to meet the deadline. Sometimes a public deadline is more effective than a private one…most of us tend to cheat on personal deadlines!  Things will always get in the way and something will go invariably go wrong. We must build focus toward our goals. Most of us are personally disorganized and blame everything on procrastination. However, procrastination is a choice, albeit the easiest choice. If we put things off and satisfy the “lazy side” in us, the momentum behind our goals slips away. Personal disorganization leads to procrastination and limits effectiveness. I struggle with disorganization and blame it all on how busy I am. Nevertheless, this is not an excuse. It is difficult to stay focused when I have so much on my plate! Dividing my time between work, school and personal life gets very complicated. It takes a lot to stay focused, and I have to admit, I fail many times. So now I am taking another look at my goals and refocusing my motivation. The last two months have been very difficult, but I have the support and encouragement of my family and I will continue this path!

…… we learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey

I found this quote today and it really speaks to me. We can experience all kinds of things, but unless we use that experience to grow and develop, it does us no good at all. Perhaps this is why some people seem to have “horse sense” and others do not. Some can remember and use the learning to apply to future situations, and others simply move through life making the same mistakes over and over. Of course all of us have to be kicked and reminded about some things over and over, such as putting the car keys in the purse as soon as we walk in the door (so we don’t have to panic when we can’t find them). I am pretty knuckle-headed sometimes and so life does make the learn the same lessons over and over, but generally, I try to “pay attention” so that I don’t make the same mistake twice.

Sometimes I am pretty hard on myself, such as if I blew a big presentation or said something the wrong way, but perhaps I need that to remember not to do the same thing again.  I am going to make a conscious effort this week to reflect on experiences so that I can move onto the next. I want to learn and move ahead, both in my career and personal life. I am going to think about Dewey’s quote and see if I can avoid life giving a second reprimand because I didn’t learn something the first time.