In partnership with
Hey there, it’s Dennis.
In today’s issue:
What Groundhog Day taught me about presence
Why living in the past and future keeps us stuck
The decision that changes everything
A simple reflection exercise for today
Become An AI Expert In Just 5 Minutes
If you’re a decision maker at your company, you need to be on the bleeding edge of, well, everything. But before you go signing up for seminars, conferences, lunch ‘n learns, and all that jazz, just know there’s a far better (and simpler) way: Subscribing to The Deep View.
This daily newsletter condenses everything you need to know about the latest and greatest AI developments into a 5-minute read. Squeeze it into your morning coffee break and before you know it, you’ll be an expert too.
Subscribe right here. It’s totally free, wildly informative, and trusted by 600,000+ readers at Google, Meta, Microsoft, and beyond.
There Is a Moment When You Decide
This past week I spent a couple of nights watching some older movies at home; reconnecting with the memories from when I was much younger and things were much simpler.
One movie which jumped to the front of my mind right now is “Groundhog Day” from 1993. The fictional character played by Bill Murray is forced to relive the same day over and over again; altering his decisions as he learns to break free and to live in the moment.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get the change to have a repeated “Re-do” until we get it right, or rather wouldn’t it be extremely painful to get a repeated “Re-do” until we get it right?
From an early age we are advised, guided and taught to look to the future, to do good in school, to pick a career, to work hard, buy a house, etc. etc. etc. With it comes a series of regrets about times we failed to continue moving forward down the societally defined path for our life.
The end result is that we live in a constant cycle of striving for a future that is not promised while thinking about regrets from a past that cannot be changed.
Rarely, are we wholly grounded and focused on the present, that point in time when we do have the control to make a decision that moves us down a path of our choosing.
As a result, life rushes by, day after day after day; as we sit quietly like a passenger on a plane while the Tiger is the pilot.
My favorite quote to evoke the key message from “Groundhog Day” (at least based on my perspective) is one by Eleanor Roosevelt:
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift.”
Pause for a moment now and really consider the depth of the message behind that quote. What comes to mind for you?
When I consider Eleanor Roosevelt’s words there is an immediate jolt to focus on what is happening right now!
To answer the question “Am I grounded and present, actively engaged with this moment in my life?”
That is the key lesson that Bill Murray’s character ultimately learns in the movie, to be wholly grounded and present in the moment. To actively live in a positive and engaging manner with the world around him. Only once he has learned and embedded this key lesson does he finally wake up the day after Groundhog day.
Can you identify the scene in the movie when his character made the decision to be wholly present in the moment?
I am not advocating for ignoring the past nor for abandoning any thought about the future. Instead, I am asking you to put them in the proper context and to leverage them to ensure that in the present you are making decisions that move you forward on the path of your choosing.
For that the past should be considered a teacher, whom we have learned many lessons from about what to do and more often what not to do.
The Future then becomes the compass, our dream providing us with directions that enable us to follow the path of our choosing. Guiding us so that each decision we make can be evaluated against whether or not it moves us toward or chosen destination.
The simple action that I ask of each of you today is to write down Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote at the top of a page in your journal, the top of a piece of paper or to type it at the top of a document in your computer.
Then devote the time to examining the past 30 days of your life by writing down what you can recall and whether it falls in the Past, Present or Future bucket.
What bucket are you spending your time in the most?
How is that helping you to live your dream?
During this reflective process the Tiger will whisper subtly about “What if…” about the potential for failure, about all of the imagined negative impacts of any decision. When that doesn’t sway you, the Tiger will roar loudly about how you are making a mistake and it’s not too late to change your mind.
As you hear these things come into your thoughts, write them down so that you can learn more about how your Tiger works to subvert your decision.
We are all on life’s journey and while some of us are further along the path than others, the opportunity for growth and fulfillment remains the same for each of us in the present.
Of course nothing changes until a decision becomes embodied and a decision does not become embodied until you take action! With that in mind, take a decision today to break from the mundane routine and be wholly present.
Take a walk in a park, turn your phone off for one hour, see what shapes you can see in the clouds.
Awaken and free yourself from the loop of Past and Future that simply circles the present.
Until next time,
The Tiger Is Inside You.
Quote of The Week:
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” — Eckhart Tolle
Have you ever noticed that voice that reverberates in your head the minute you consider a new experience or an action to make your dreams a reality? The one that seems to whisper “You’re not ready” or shouts “What if you fail?”
That is the Tiger that I refer to and the idea of creating the metaphor for the Tiger came from Jim Lawless in his book, Taming Tigers.
It’s fear and self-doubt dressed up as protection, convincing us to stay safe instead of stepping forward and growing. The Tiger is loud, convincing and relentless, but here’s the truth: it only has the power we give it.
Every time you step forward in spite of that roar, you weaken its grip and strengthen your own. That is what Tiger Letters are all about, sharing knowledge, experience, fears and inner strength to make your dreams a reality.
So, the next time your Tiger ROARS, smile at it, step forward reclaiming your power and break through the fear barrier into your growth zone.
Before you go, here is ONE way you can work with me.
Book your FREE Kickstart Call with me - 1:1 performance coaching to help you break through fear, self-doubt, and procrastination—so you can finally move forward with clarity, confidence, and courage.