• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Sources of Insight

Better Insights, Better Results

  • ABOUT
  • ARTICLES
    • Latest
    • Personal Development
    • Leadership Skills
    • Productivity Skills
    • Career Development
    • Relationships
    • Mental Health
    • All Topics
  • BOOKS
  • ARTICLES
  • COURSES
  • RESOURCES
    • Book Summaries
    • Books I Recommend
    • Great Lessons
    • Great Quotes
    • All Resources
  • CONTACT

Life’s an Experiment

by JD
LifesAnExperiment

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s amazing how much the metaphors we use can be enabling or disabling. 

For example, I used to think "in life there are no second chances" or "you never get a second chance at first impressions." 

Once I adopted, "life’s an experiment", it was much more enabling. 

It means, changing from getting everything right up front to boxing my risks, trying more, and learning and adapting as I go.

Test Your Results

My manager is very much into experiments around impact and improvement. 

He’s got a research background, but he’s into applied research. 

That works great for me because I’m a fan of learning what works over theorizing endless possibilities. 

It’s about testing your assumptions.  It’s about testing your results.

Test Your Metaphors

For me, the keys to metaphors are knowing which ones I use, and which ones are limiting. 

I always need to ask, what’s the most enabling metaphor for the situation I’m in. 

What will make me more resourceful? 

For example, in a group like patterns & practices, experimenting and continuous improvement come with the job.

Find Your Best Metaphors

I’ll have more to say on metaphors another day, but in the meantime, I’ll leave you with this:

… do you know your 3 most enabling metaphors?

… do you know your 3 most limiting? 

Hint – limits and opportunities are in the eye of the beholder. 

Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.

You Might Also Like

Lessons from Per

It’s Between Your Ears

How Might That Be True?

Photo by hashmil

Category: Effectiveness, Personal Effectiveness, SuccessTag: Effectiveness

About JD

Previous Post:3 Keys for a Successful Innovation
Next Post:How To Increase Your Energy by Knowing Your Catalysts and Drains

Sidebar

About the Author

JD
I'm J.D. Meier.
Microsoft 25 years.
Join me on a quest for the world's best insight and action for work and life.
Learn more...

My Best-Selling Book

This is the book that changes lives ...

Become the greatest version of yourself!

Unleash your greatest potential! Better insights, better results! Learn proven practices for mind, body, emotions, career, finance, relationships, spirituality, and fun.

Growth. Resilience. Strength.

Growth is the art of embracing change, constantly refining our skills, and expanding our potential in a world of endless possibilities. Resilience is our ability to bounce back, turning adversities into opportunities, and leveraging setbacks as powerful lessons. Strength is the foundation, rooted in our values and beliefs, that empowers us to navigate challenges and shape our unique path forward.

Stand on the Shoulders of Giants!

Stand on the shoulders of giants and awaken your greatness. Leverage wisdom of the ages and modern sages to explore and expand what you’re capable of. Draw from great books, great people, and great quotes to be more and achieve more.

Topics

  • All Topics
  • Personal Development
  • Future Self
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Leadership
  • Personal Effectiveness
  • Productivity
  • Mental Health

Features

  • Featured Guests
  • Book Summaries
  • Books I Recommend
  • Great Lessons
  • Great Quotes
  • How Tos
  • Lists
  • Products I Recommend
  • All Resources

My Other Sites

  • JD Meier.com
  • Getting Results.com

Copyright © 2023 · Sources of Insight · All Rights Reserved