Close your eyes and think back to middle school. Remember when you first learned algebra (i.e. solve for “y”)? Although you may have known the answer to “8 + y =12 “at first glance, your math teacher insisted that you “show your work” to demonstrate the process by which you came to your answer. Looking back, how many times were points taken off your math quizzes because you forgot to do so? For me, the times were countless because I thought my quiz grade depended on correct answers alone. What I had failed to realize then was that the key to solving the problems wasn’t in the answer but it was in the process by which I came to that answer.
In math, we followed a problem-solving process called Standard Order of Operations. This process determined which steps (multiply, divide, add or subtract) to perform first in order to obtain a correct answer. By using the Standard Order of Operations process, the steps you would use for solving “y” in one equation can equally apply when solving for “y” in another.
Life is not unlike solving algebraic equations. There are some issues in our lives that are easy to identify at first glance and seemingly easy to solve. Other issues are not so simple. We tend to spend too much time worrying about life’s “solve for y” that we overlook the very things that can give us the answers we seek. In math, one missed symbol or a dropped number can result in an incorrect answer. Working through the Standard Order of Operations process allows one to quickly identify an error, immediately correct it and change the outcome. In life, an overlooked opportunity or missed lesson can result in a path less traveled. If we apply the Standard Order of Operations process to our own lives, we can quickly identify areas that need more attention, immediately take steps to improve in those areas and change our outcomes and outlook.
STEP 1: Simplify
Clutter can be overpowering. Learn to simplify your life. Regularly de-clutter your home, work, mind, spirit, relationships, etc. and let go of those things that are binding and burdensome.
STEP 2: Multiply
Seek out those things that add value to you specifically and your life overall. Whether it is an educational, spiritual or romantic pursuit, fully embrace things that make you exponentially better.
STEP 3: Divide
It is so hard to say “no” to those you care about. However, after every encounter with them, you walk away overwhelmed and exhausted. You seem to leave pieces of you with them each time. Know that it’s okay to care from a distance. Learn to separate yourself from those (including friends, family and coworkers) who constantly and consistently draw on your resources and give nothing in return. Stop writing blank checks for your time and attention; limit their 24/7 access to you.
STEP 4: Add
Little things count. Find bliss in small, but significant ways…daily. Don’t always look to others for your personal joy. By offering happiness to others (a smile, a kind word, a nice gesture), you will find happiness as well.
STEP 5: Subtract
We all have habits and vices but those that prevent us from reaching our fullest potentials should be eliminated. Holding on to things we “always do” limits our creativity and spontaneity and it minimizes our willingness to embrace new adventures and opportunities.
STEP 6: Check Your Work
We are all “work in progress”. Frequently, take an introspective look at yourself and your processes to ensure that you haven’t missed or overlooked anything. Sometimes our greatest blessings are hidden in plain sight.
FINAL THOUGHT
If we think of life as a journey and consider it to be the opportunity for getting from where we are to where we want to be, we will have a working rule that provides us with both a purpose and expanding possibilities for our lives. ~ Fred P. Corson
