In summary, this book shifts our perspective on our journey toward a goal. We have two choices.
- We can measure, in terms of how much distance we have left to cover
- Or, we can measure how far we have come.
This book advocates choosing to measure “The Gain.”
Here are five of my main takeaways -
- Goals as Horizon
- Happiness is where you finish
- Self-determination of what is a gain
- Journal 3 wins
- Psychological flexibility helps you see gains
Goals as Horizon
Start by treating the goal as a horizon. You will never reach the horizon, just as you will never reach your goal, because goals often change with life. The horizon serves as a marker and illuminates the direction you need to go.
Happiness is where you finish.
Happiness is not where you start but where you finish.
When you stop needing what you want, you can achieve what you want
Confidence comes from prior success. However, having gratitude and starting from happiness for your past achievements will make you let go of your need to be validated.
Self-determination of what is a gain
You choose the internal factors that matter to you and are not primarily influenced by external factors. The book gives an example of Tom Brady, who was willing to sacrifice 40 percent of his salary so that his team could recruit strong substitute players. His definition of success was based on his internal factors and not influenced by market payment standards. In the era of social media, it is too easy to compare yourself to others and focus on external factors.
Journal 3 wins
Journal 3 wins every evening
Remember to create a to-do list of wins for the next day. Limit your list to three essential tasks to stay productive and avoid becoming too busy. Journaling a to-do gain list will give you a clear sense of purpose when you wake up the next day instead of lingering in bed.
Psychological flexibility helps you see gains.
When you are in the gain you become more psychologically flexible
Psychologically flexible individuals can quickly adapt to challenging situations. This adaptability allows us to reinterpret past experiences, extracting value from them repeatedly.
The past is nothing but the meaning you ascribe to it