Conscious Systems Design for a Better Life & Business
Your life is actually working perfectly.
And your business? It’s exactly where it’s supposed to be.
It’s not that you love all the results.
However, anything and everything occurring in your life has a system behind it. There’s cause and effect. You experience the effects… and you have more choice in the cause than you realize.
It’s true that there are some causes beyond your control, but you always have a choice of where you focus.
You can blame others for the bad effects in life -- other people, the economy, your upbringing, genetics, karma, or the stars -- but every time you do this, you give some of your power away.
I invite you to take on this idea:
"I am more in control of my life experience than I can imagine."
In other words, it is possible to engage with conscious systems design.
I believe that many of the results I’m getting are due to the systems I have allowed in my life.
Therefore, I actively redesign the systems and I often see different results.
Let's explore a few examples that are within our control.
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If you are always waking up late, then the system might go like this…
1. You cannot wake up and feel refreshed, unless you get enough sleep.
2. Because you sleep late, you have to wake up late.
3. You sleep late because you start your evening routine late.
Once you diagnose a cause you can control, then you can design a new system:
Even something as simple as sleeping on time is a “system” that affects many other systems in your life. The better you sleep, the more optimistic you feel, and the more you feel empowered to take action in other areas.
“Time management is really the management of routines…. The purpose of routines is not to turn you into some sort of automaton, but to free your consciousness to work at a higher level.” — Mark Forster
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Another example:
If your alarms/reminders aren’t helping you, here's the system…
This system can be changed. I wrote about it here:
Deliberate Practice and Joyful Productivity
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Another example:
You wish for less time at the computer.
The system behind it is that you get mesmerized or “stuck” at the computer for hours without taking a break.
I wrote about a better system called Rest Before Your Need To.
❦
Another example:
Your email inbox is continually giving you stress.
The system behind how you process email is broken. I've written about a better email processing routine.
❦
Final example:
You have projects you aren’t getting done. You keep procrastinating.
Your system for how you think about that project needs to change. I call it your motivational methods.
❦
So, what’s not working well in your life or business?
Write about a possible system that you can tweak, that may create a different result.
Sometimes, you will need to research how to modify a system. Look for routines, plans, processes, templates, structures, or habits that people like you are using to get better results.
Other times, you may want to work with a coach or therapist that specializes in that issue. The best ones help you design a system for your specific situation, then help you to form solid habits of applying the better system.
❦
It also helps if you study what is working well in your life. What are your systems that cause good results? This helps you better understand yourself and what systems are compatible for you.
In other words, the systems that you allow to continue in your life, are working just the way they’re supposed to. If the results are good, then it’s a good system for you. If the results are “bad”, then you need to re-design the system.
As you become increasingly conscious of your life’s systems, you’ll have more choice about changing them.
Step by step, you can transform any system in your life. You can gradually create a life that you absolutely love!
You can blame others for the bad effects in life -- other people, the economy, your upbringing, genetics, karma, or the stars -- but every time you do this, you give some of your power away.
I invite you to take on this idea:
"I am more in control of my life experience than I can imagine."
In other words, it is possible to engage with conscious systems design.
I believe that many of the results I’m getting are due to the systems I have allowed in my life.
Therefore, I actively redesign the systems and I often see different results.
Let's explore a few examples that are within our control.
❦
If you are always waking up late, then the system might go like this…
1. You cannot wake up and feel refreshed, unless you get enough sleep.
2. Because you sleep late, you have to wake up late.
3. You sleep late because you start your evening routine late.
Once you diagnose a cause you can control, then you can design a new system:
- You can plan a new evening routine that allows you to sleep earlier.
- You can set a reminder to start your evening routine at an earlier time.
Even something as simple as sleeping on time is a “system” that affects many other systems in your life. The better you sleep, the more optimistic you feel, and the more you feel empowered to take action in other areas.
“Time management is really the management of routines…. The purpose of routines is not to turn you into some sort of automaton, but to free your consciousness to work at a higher level.” — Mark Forster
❦
Another example:
If your alarms/reminders aren’t helping you, here's the system…
- The reminder/alarm goes off.
- You ignore it, and continue doing what you were doing.
- Therefore, you cannot follow a schedule that is healthy for you.
This system can be changed. I wrote about it here:
Deliberate Practice and Joyful Productivity
❦
Another example:
You wish for less time at the computer.
The system behind it is that you get mesmerized or “stuck” at the computer for hours without taking a break.
I wrote about a better system called Rest Before Your Need To.
❦
Another example:
Your email inbox is continually giving you stress.
The system behind how you process email is broken. I've written about a better email processing routine.
❦
Final example:
You have projects you aren’t getting done. You keep procrastinating.
Your system for how you think about that project needs to change. I call it your motivational methods.
❦
So, what’s not working well in your life or business?
Write about a possible system that you can tweak, that may create a different result.
Sometimes, you will need to research how to modify a system. Look for routines, plans, processes, templates, structures, or habits that people like you are using to get better results.
Other times, you may want to work with a coach or therapist that specializes in that issue. The best ones help you design a system for your specific situation, then help you to form solid habits of applying the better system.
❦
It also helps if you study what is working well in your life. What are your systems that cause good results? This helps you better understand yourself and what systems are compatible for you.
In other words, the systems that you allow to continue in your life, are working just the way they’re supposed to. If the results are good, then it’s a good system for you. If the results are “bad”, then you need to re-design the system.
As you become increasingly conscious of your life’s systems, you’ll have more choice about changing them.
Step by step, you can transform any system in your life. You can gradually create a life that you absolutely love!
