Are you stronger today than you were a year ago?

A month ago?

Yesterday?

It’s not even the end of March, and already 2009 has been a year of significant challenges. It seems that everyone I know is facing a sizable “test” of some sort – physical, emotional, or economic threats. These trials can certainly shake our foundations, ignite our fears, and inflict pain and hardship on our daily lives.

Yet there is a “Gift to the Grind,” if we are willing to allow and recognize it. Individually and together, we are becoming stronger.

Getting Stronger

Increasing your strength – physically, mentally, emotionally, morally, or spiritually – is a predictable process. Sure, the “tests” will be different for all of us, and may arise unexpected (or even unwelcomed). But, we can count on the fact that we will always face struggles, experience set backs, be humbled, recover, and be strengthened as a result.

“Getting stronger” is about growth. Over time and through deliberate effort, we develop the ability to withstand greater demands and handle them with more certainty and ease.

How do you build muscles? It’s a simple, two step process. You must first use the muscle beyond its current capacity. Then, give it some time to recover. Both steps, training and recovery, are essential to growth. In fact, it is a fool proof plan. Once the muscle is pushed beyond its current limits and given the opportunity to recover, it will regain its previous capacity … and then some. It will be better, stronger, and more resilient than it was before the work out.

This phenomenon is called supercompensation. Not only will the muscle compensate for the increased workload, but it will supercompensate, going beyond the previous mark. The reason for this is that your body, in order to protect itself, is anticipating the likelihood of another test. It wants to be ready for that challenge, so it recovers beyond the previous level of capability.

This approach to training works to increase not only your physical strength, but also your mental, emotional, and spiritual capabilities. In order to grow in any of these areas you must deliberately expend a taxing, beyond-the-limit effort. You must be off balance in a direction you choose and exert yourself fully – often to the point of failure. Then, once you have “broken down” your muscle (or your belief of what is possible), you need to experience a “recovery period” to rest, rebuild strength, and allow new patterns of thinking and action to take hold.

Training (fatigue), Recovery,  and Supercompensation –

All three phases are necessary.

Adding resistance

As I look at the snapshot of today’s circumstances, I see a lot of fatigue and considerable pain. Many of our systems are broken – physical systems, environmental systems, economic systems, and cognitive systems (systems of thought). These personal and universal systemic challenges require a new commitment to understand them and transform our approach so that we can handle them successfully.

By consistently taxing our physical or mental powers to the point of failure, we tell the body (or the mind) that there is a requirement for more resources – strength, stamina, or capability. Then, through the required period of recovery, we experience growth beyond our former ability. We will become better, day by day, if we accept the challenges, apply ourselves, and grow.

If you feel as though you have reached a “plateau” in your ability, and that you are not getting stronger, you need to add some resistance. Try something harder. Tackle more difficult challenges – or more complicated concepts. Stretch your thinking. Stretch you body. Stretch your talents to their breaking point.

Then, allow the time to recover and grow.

We’ve become a “quick fix” culture, so I realize the approach I am advocating may be unpopular. Many of us want instant gratification and the postponement of discipline, hardship, and pain. But the approach that has proven most successful (and will ultimately allow us to transcend these circumstances) is one of daily discipline. Ultimately, gratification results from consistent and persistent effort.

Into Action

Make the tough choices. Apply yourself to the challenges by giving all your physical and mental effort. It is only when those resources are exhausted, and you take the time to rest and recover, that you will become stronger, smarter, and more capable. And that’s a true satisfaction that is far superior to the false promise of a quick fix.

What is the thing that you desperately need to do? Do it now. Do it with all your strength. Spend yourself completely, and prepare to be supercompensated.

Wishing you strength,

Dan

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

I have an urgent message for you to read and absorb before you complete your work week and take off to enjoy the holidays. It’s all about your personal portfolio – the stocks and bonds which are absolutely critical for your long term prosperity, security, and joy.

Let’s face it. The value of stocks and bonds has been clobbered, sending many people into a spiraling funk as they gasp at their dwindling account balances. If you are experiencing a pain in your assets, a case of dividend desperation, or even a full blown episode of portfolio panic, then you need this information. Trust me.

Dan’s Sure Fire Stock Picks

Stock, as you probably know, is nothing more than an ownership position – a tiny piece of equity – an investment of resources which you secure, hold, and (hopefully) benefit from as it’s value appreciates. The ownership I am advocating, however, is the ownership of ideas that will sustain and uplift you.

In these turbulent economic times, I enthusiastically recommend that you increase your position when it comes to gratitude, love, and an expectation for a positive and hopeful future.

BUY – The idea that we are in a time of transition and the ultimate result will be a world that is wiser, more efficient, and more accountable for providing real value. Buy the notion that you are a part of this transition. Your thoughts, words, and actions matter. In fact, they are a critical part of the solution.

SELL – Negative assumptions, projections, and blame-based conversations. They serve no positive purpose and only agitate others and foster resentment and anger. Liquidate your holdings of fear. Check your balances – the balance of positive versus negative thoughts. When a negative notion enters your mind, ask yourself if it provides real value. If not (as is usually the case), let it go. Sell it immediately. Also, get rid of your need to have everything, and get back to the basics that help you build a positive future.

DONT SELL – Yourself short. Perhaps we should suspend “short selling” altogether! Don’t sell others short. Don’t lower your expectations or standards. Don’t compromise your beliefs or goals. Don’t short sell your heartfelt purpose, regardless of what naysayers and skeptics may say.

HOLD – The ones you love, even closer than before.

Taking Stock

Take stock in what truly matters in your life. This is, after all, the season of Thanksgiving. Take stock in what you have, what you treasure, and what you are able to give away to others.

Strengthening Bonds

Strengthen the bonds with family and friends, and partners. Have a conversation that goes beyond the typical “face work” of interaction and penetrates to a genuine, person-to-person connection. Listen, and learn things about the people in your life. We build stronger bonds by listening than we do by talking. 

Strengthen your bonds by being generous with your “stock,” or your supplies. Share what you have with those less fortunate. Because, even when you are low on stock, there are others who are out of stock. Take stock, and give.

I believe that strong bonds stem from bold and real connections. When you enter into a conversation, resist the temptation to steer toward fears, gossip, or other negative conversation topics. Rise above that easy choice and, instead, share kind comments, hopeful sentiments, and positive fuel for thought.

Into Action

Now, go stock up on laughter, bond with family and friends and have a prosperous and loving Thanksgiving holiday.

Dan