Evolutionary Defining Moments

"If you want to know your past - look into your present conditions. If you want to know your future - look into your present actions."

- Chinese Proverb

The definition of a Defining Moment is stated as "a point at which the essential nature or character of a person, group, etc., is revealed or identified."

I don't consider myself someone who has achieved anything extraordinary compared to those who are more well known for great achievements in their given fields of expertise. However, I do not belittle my life or my journey, nor think myself any lesser a person. How can you say that your life is no less ordinary than anothers', or that it is worth any less or any more? Especially when you look beyond the physical being of a person and look into their hearts. It is what it is...different.

I do however strive to create more evolutionary defining moments in my life. Meaning...creating defining moments which signify a continual, and progressive change toward not only a better life, but a life for us which typifies our own unique genius. And in doing so, I hope to achieve a life that embodies what it means for me to be extraordinary (a better version of myself).

Defining moments can either hinder or help your progress, and we all experience both of these types of moments. If we look closely enough, and are honest with ourselves, I'm sure we can say which moments we tend to focus on more readily. However, which ones we focus on currently, we can probably assume are a reflection of our current state of mind and reality.

Personally...and this is just my opinion...defining moments to me, signify that a single action, or collection of actions has taken place. It's at this particular point, that we determine whether an action (or non-action, which is still a type of action) will be one which 'hinders' our evolution or puts us on the path of progress. If we continually create actions which hinder our evolution, then that creates defining moments that over the medium to long-term, will result in lives that continually disappoint. On the other hand - if we continually create actions which are progressive in nature, then we should see the quality of our lives improve, and our ability to exponentially create extraordinary lives (whatever that means to us).

Now remember, it's okay to create defining moments that hinder our evolution every so often. That's part of the process of making mistakes and experiencing failures. It's only when we continually create actions that hinder over an indefinite period of time, that it then robs us of our true potential and our ability to create evolutionary defining moments, and hence, our ability to lead extraordinary lives.

Lastly, to finish off what I am trying to convey...in relation to actions, this is where alot of us can fall down. It's the notion of 'never giving up' that to me, really determines whether an action or collection of actions will create the success you seek.

To best describe what I mean, I will give you an example in relation to training, which is the best way I know how.

When you set goals, it's important to look at the bigger goals or the bigger picture to keep you focused on the why. To achieve your goals, it's not only in the planning, but in the executing. The execution of your plan is where all the actions are, and it's where you create your defining moments. The quality of your action at that point in time, i.e. hindering or progressive, will determine the type and quality of your defining moment. And over time, the better the quality, the better the result. The more progressive, the more you will contribute to your evolution, and the more likely your life to be one which is extraordinary.

In that one action, that one defining moment...that one that you're in right now (relative to training/exercise, though it can relate to anything), whether you give up or not, will determine, over time, whether you will create the life you have always wanted and dreamt of...or not. Nothing more...nothing less.

However, in saying that, for those people whose many defining moments have been negatively influenced and outside of their control, and who have suffered physically and/or emotionally as a result, I cannot speak for and do not purport to know the answer. The only thing that I can surmise is that regardless of actions forced upon that person, the defining moment is in their ability to determine whether that or those moments control their present and future actions, and their ability to create their own evolutionary defining moments, as to whether they can still lead a happy and deeply meaningful life.

Now back to the training scenario...If you're on that treadmill, for example, and you have set your goal to run for 30 minutes at a speed of 9, and you know it's a realistic goal to go for, but you find that you've hit 25 minutes and you're struggling - it's at this point, this defining moment which will determine what your future is going to look like.

You see, it's what you do at this moment which defines who you are.

Sorry...it's a pretty tough call, but let me finish. You can do one of two things. You can:

1) Stop...give up right now, because it's too hard, or...


2) You can still complete your goal, but change the parameters to ensure that you abide by your rule of 'never giving up'. An example would be, to decrease your speed for the last 5 minutes.

You see, by changing the parameters, you're still going to hit your goal. Maybe not today. But if you increase the length of time you run at the speed of 9, by 30 seconds or 1 minute, every time you hop on that treadmill - over time you will achieve your complete goal of running at the speed of 9 for 30 minutes. When you hit that goal, does it really matter how long it took you to get there? The point is...you've arrived. You can then keep changing the goal posts and making progress. Maybe next time, you can then increase the speed or incline, and then increase the time until you hit the 30 minute mark again, or you can just increase the time. It's all up to you!

The most important action or defining moment is in the never giving up. The most important action is completing your task in that given moment, even if it means changing the parameters a little (as long as you're being honest and not short-changing yourself, i.e. you're honouring yourself).

Because, if you create more and more of these types of actions...these defining moments, that mindset of never giving up and giving it your all...that there is how to create extraordinary. That there is your "essential nature or character", and what you will be known for...it's part of your character-building and reputation.

We have all done this. Pushed ourselves when we thought we had nothing left. And when we did it, we felt liberated and empowered! We then believed that whatever it was that we were striving toward was possible. It fuelled our confidence, our belief in ourselves and our motivation.

Create enough of these defining moments and our lives can be transformed.

So remember...break it up into chunks of action, and never give up on that action...right now. Because that action in that very moment is all that counts. And it's your mindset of always finishing and finishing strong that will set you up for a life of extraordinary, aka a better version of you!