Many years ago in grade school, I was required to read an academic article on Carole Dweck’s research. I was immediately a fan and went on to write several papers and follow her work. Years later when Angela Duckworth’s book Grit came out, I felt both a twinge of age (what’s old is new again) and enthusiasm for how Dweck’s seminal work from three decades ago was now being leveraged in education.

Dweck’s work came to be a defining influence in my education. It instilled my belief that life is a series of lessons and when we're open to it, there are infinite possibilities to learning and grow. Every professional opportunity has taught me something about myself, the world, and the human experience. Every human I take the time to get to know teaches me something and often makes me a better person.

TBH, I am acutely aware that our circumstances and times that I have a fixed mindset. I have to own that if I am going to overcome it.

I call myself a serial learner, which sounds like a brag, but sometimes is indeed a slippery slope. I've been known to sign up for too many online classes at once or purchase far more books than I can possibly read in a month.

Last week I started my day around 5 am so that come 6 am, I was to lead a hearty bunch of learners in my Cultivating Calm Micro-class.

Yay! Early mornings the darkest week of the season so far! LOL. It's actually not that bad - especially given this bunch of super-heroes!

Recently someone asked me “why the heck” I still get up so early” despite working from home.  My response was threefold.  

First, my work is flexible, not negotiable.   I still  have a full plate work and life’s obligations and fun. 

Second, it’s a habit that get me up and moving into the day.  

Third, I find something very gratifying in getting up before the sun and have a bit of quiet and one of my core self-care practices of mindfulness.

Despite being clear on “why” my day starts like this, it’s sticky.  Sleep gets interrupted. Bedtime is delayed when I strive to do “one more thing” or get sucked into Netflix or a good book.  It’s simply too easy to get sidetracked with other stuff before I even get dressed.  I have to continually be aware of how I feel and act in my morning routine to see (and avoid!)  the roadblocks to doing what matters.

When I am tempted to listen to the news, check social media, clean up my desk or empty the dishwasher, I stop to think of how I will feel when my day unravels. It’s so easy to feel agitated when I break promises to myself.  That little Heckler in my head starts to criticize. I feel like I did so often as a young mom,  taking on too much not completing anything the way I thought I was supposed to.

Or worse, like a schoolgirl who gets report card comments like this: 

Lisa has the ability to be a good student. At present, she needs help in establishing good work habits, especially those involved with listening and following through on the task at hand…..

A year or so later: 

Lisa is a talented girl who has decided to listen more and slow herself down. This has greatly increased the quality of her work.