Reframing Your Memories by Jim Stovall

Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash

Most people in the professional development or personal achievement fields would agree that we can control our present thoughts and impact our future success. The idea that we can change our circumstances now and in the future has become universally accepted, but very few people consider the possibility of altering our memories. While we can’t change the past, we can reframe, reconsider, and reevaluate the way we look at it. Very few things in life are either all good or all bad. Even in the worst of times and during the most difficult of circumstances, there are lessons to be learned that can impact who we are and what we do for the rest of our lives. 

While we can’t change the past, we can reframe, reconsider, and reevaluate the way we look at it. 

One of my earliest memories as a child was on a Sunday night in 1964 when my parents let me stay up late to watch the Ed Sullivan Show with them. I don’t know that anyone in our family was interested in that show, but on that particular night, The Beatles were performing for the first time on national television in America. My parents were not big Beatles fans, but they understood the power of that moment in our culture, and they shared it with me. Throughout the ensuing years, I became a huge fan of The Beatles and their music. Their impact cannot be fully understood unless you consider how revolutionary they were during that point in time. 

Recently, hundreds of hours of film rediscovered in The Beatles archives. This film was shot over many days while The Beatles recorded one of their last albums. Rumors of the band’s imminent breakup abounded during that time, and it was considered to be a difficult period for these four young men who had grown up together and changed the world. Over the years, the four Beatles and the other people in the studio for those sessions have recalled how uncomfortable and turbulent those recording sessions became. 

However, when the voluminous amount of film was meticulously reviewed to create a new documentary, it was revealed that, for the most part, those sessions were very positive and upbeat. There were a few brief conflicts, but they had to do more with the creative process than any personality conflicts. The two living Beatles were surprised to discover that the film evidence of those sessions did not match up with their own memories. 

You and I have the opportunity to look at our past and rediscover a new reality. Failure is fertilizer for future success. 

Failure is fertilizer for future success. 

As you go through your day today, reconsider your past as you plan for your future. 

Today’s the day! 

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. Follow him on Twitter (@stovallauthor) or Facebook (@jimstovallauthor). His latest book, coauthored with Greg S. Reid, is Passport to Success: Experience Next Level Living, which you can preorder wherever books are sold.

Vision: Do You Know Where You’re Goin’ To? by Phillip Van Hooser

Photo by Lili Popper on Unsplash

Forgive the incorrect grammar, but superstar singer Diana Ross made famous the following lyrics: 

Do you know where you’re goin’ to? 
Do you like the things that life is showin’ you? 
Where are you goin’ to? 
Do you know? 

You see, being crystal clear about your destination is absolutely critical for long-term success in any venture. If we lack a clear vision, we’re easily distracted and have no ultimate destination. 

So I ask you—do you know? 

Have you firmly set your sights on where you’re ‘goin’ to’? 

If you have, you’re better prepared to choose the right road to get you there. If you haven’t, choosing just any road will get you nowhere. 

In later lines from the song, Ross reminds us of the reality of not knowing: 

Now looking back at all we’ve planned 
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands 
Why must we wait so long before we see 
How sad the answers to those questions can be 

I encourage you to spend some time deciding where you’re going. When you crystallize your dreams into destinations and maintain a strong desire to exceed, I think you’ll soon find yourself on the road to where you want to be! 

Phillip Van Hooser, CSP, CPAE, is committed to helping organizations transform their business outcomes by building engaged employee relationships. He is an award-winning keynote speaker and author on engaged leadership and communication. His most recent book, 30-Day Journey to Accelerate Your Success, co-authored with leadership expert Alyson Van Hooser, is available to order from Sound Wisdom.