On Refinement and Reflection.

Welcome to the November edition of 8 on the 8th, where I share eight things designed to help you think, reflect, and grow based on my self-leadership journey.

—SRS

And with that, let's dive in:

WORD I AM FOCUSED ON— ?

REFINE (verb): improve (something) by making small changes, in particular, make (an idea, theory, or method) more subtle and accurate.

Refining rather than adding more often leads to a clarity of purpose and focus, leading to more impactful living, which is my aim.

We live in a noisy world, and it has become easier to take in the noise and, in doing so, take on things that, while seemingly exciting and neat, fall outside the areas we have committed to focusing on. As this year draws to its close, I am focusing on further refining my life.

WHAT I AM PONDERING—

What happens when we are confronted with ourselves. I have had many conversations in the past few days about the state of the world - particularly in the United States of America. There are clear and genuine concerns about the outcome of the election. I believe people are also grappling with an internal dialogue that is forcing us all to take a look at what we really believe (not what we say we believe) and what we are willing to say, do, and sacrifice to create an environment that considers all the shades of grey without compromising decency.

It's a challenging task.

WHAT I AM LOVING—

The reminder I was given Monday night at the Jung Center Houston's Fall Benefit titled The Light We Give: Looking for the Good and Forging a Life of Connection. Simran Jeet Singh was the speaker, and he shared his daily practice of watching people and simply observing the kindness of humans - from holding doors open, to letting someone cut in while driving (willingly!) to sharing a smile with a stranger.

There is kindness all around us—yes, even in dark and uncertain times. This week, I have been hyper-focused on looking for kindness, and I have found that it is not as random as it seems.

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WHERE I AM SHARING MY THOUGHTS —

I recently wrote an article about Imposter Syndrome. You can find the article here. My ideas on the topic might surprise you. If you check out the article, let me know – I would love your feedback.

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WHAT I AM READING—

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yari Noah Harari

★ Harari explores humanity's voyage into the information age, considers how the flow of information has made and unmade our world, and provides an essential background to understanding the threats and promises of today's AI.

?Build the Life You Want by Arthur C Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

★ Brooks and Winfrey have written this book to help readers unlock the secrets to emotional self-management using neuroscience and social science research from the most respected universities in the world.

?WHO I AM QUOTING—

Yari Noah Harari ?

"Power does not equal wisdom."

Stephen Covey ?

"Live life in crescendo…always live as if the best work, your best contribution is in front of you, because it is, or it can be."

Learning and Development Professional (in 2014) ?

"Shavonnah, sometimes you have to let things completely break before people realize they have long-needed repair..."

WHAT I AM RECOMMENDING—

If you don't do it already, start journaling. Journaling is one of the "secrets" to mental stability hiding in plain sight. Journaling is scientifically proven to lead to the following:

★ Improved Mental Health: Journaling our thoughts and feelings can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and provide a safe space to process emotions and gain clarity.

★ Enhanced Self-Awareness: Journaling encourages self-reflection, which can lead to personal growth and better decision-making.

★ Boosted Creativity: Journaling can spark creativity by allowing us to explore ideas freely without judgment.

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WHAT I AM SUGGESTING YOU REFLECT ON—

Ask yourself: Are there any emotions I have experienced over the past week that I could process more fully if I spent 5 minutes journaling about them?

★ Final thought—

This week will surely go down in the history books. What might not be written in those historical accounts is the acute emotional toll the 2024 US Presidential election took on the humans living it. But I know the week's weight is heavy, and I pray that we all use the weekend ahead to take a collective deep breath - to rest and restore ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I'm confident that whatever lies ahead will be best dealt with from a calm, focused, and resolute posture.