Are you the type of person that tends to go with the flow? How about your friends. Are they the result of a period of lonely desperation?
Take a break, step back, and ask yourself the following question.
Is your life in “fate’s” hands, or are you the captain of your ship?
Honestly.
How much of what has happened in your life is the result of your desire to have it happen? Are the people in your life providing a positive contribution to your growth? Do your actions align with who you are, and more importantly, who you want to be?
I can say with certainty that I was floating along for many years, not attracting positive outcomes that aligned with my spirit and inner being. It seemed no matter how hard I tried to make things work (relationships, goals, outcomes, dreams etc.), they never seemed to ‘stick’.
Now, as I am sooo much older (joke) and wiser, I can see what was missing all along.
I was missing the importance of selection.
Used positively, selection will give you the ability to reach new heights, and master your destiny.
This post is going to talk about the practice of selection – what it is to me, how I have used it, and the three areas which I see it can improve the outcome of your goals, dreams, desires, and help you find relationships you’ve dreamed of.
What is selection
Although this blog post will cover my spiritual and emotional views on selection, I find many similarities in the scientific definitions.
Take a look below. I’ve highlighted some interesting points.
In the context of evolution, selection refers to individuals with advantages or“adaptive” traits, who tend to be more successful than their peers reproductively—meaning they contribute more offspring to the succeeding generation than others do.
~Wikipedia
Natural selection is the gradual process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of the effect of inherited traits on the differential reproductive success of organisms interacting with their environment. It is a key mechanism of evolution.
~Wikipedia
The definition of selection
Using these evolutionary-based definitions, I present to you my definition of selection as:
Selection – a process applied by individuals in which desired traits are inherited by deliberate exposure to a chosen population and/or environment.
Selection is everywhere.
At a subconscious level, it drives us to pick certain people as partners, to desire certain objects, to behave certain ways.
Good news is, it can be controlled.
Selection can be a choice you make.
Not only is selection programmed into our being as evolution, I believe there are strong advantages that can be gained through adaptation of this concept into your thought process, and your action.
Yes, you can choose selection in your life.
Selection is a framework for you to act on your preferred choices.
Sure, it acts at a subconscious level constantly without us even knowing; but what if you could increase your awareness to the process? How could you use the process of selection to create positive outcomes in your life?
The first step is a commitment to action – to act upon your desire to change.
This is key.
No matter how much you dream, visualise, think about something, nothing eventuates without some form of action from you.
The next step is to choose which areas to act upon.
3 areas of your life that the use of selection will improve
It sounds selfish, but I’ve been gradually increasing my practice of selection since Anthony Robbins brought it to my attention through his audio programs in 2012.
That’s because selection requires you to choose and act upon options that are best for you.
So where can you apply selection and why would you bother?
Here are 3 areas of my life which have seen profound improvement by using the selection process.
1. Relationships
This is the single most important area for me, and chances are it is for you too.
Why? Consider the following quote:
You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
~Jim Rohn
I’m a social person – more of an extrovert than an introvert. Human interaction is one of my primary means of learning, and a topic of personal interest. This means that I find myself easily influenced by the people I choose as company.
The company I choose has a direct influence on the habits, skills, and mental health I learn and adopt.
I’ve met and bonded with some great people in my time, and I’m grateful to have them as friends today. On the other side of the spectrum, there are some people that who I’ve had limited choice over due to my environment at the time (see the next key area below).
I’m sure you will agree when I say that not all relationships are equal. It’s true that all people can provide you with value – be it company or knowledge – so long as the value aligns with your chosen goals, values, morals etc.
You have the ability to select those people you feel are contributing positively to your growth. Why not use it?
If someone doesn’t align with your aims, it isn’t right to outright ignore, discount, or in any way direct offence toward them. After all, how are they to know? Your choices are not their choices. Consider their offerings, and decline graciously if you decide they aren’t a good fit for you.
Be kind, respectful, and compassionate with your dealings. After all, it isn’t hard to practice the simple act of courtesy to those we meet.
Besides, the world could never run short of kindness and compassion.
2. Environment
This is the most obvious area of life that influences our future.
Choosing a place to live, getting that ideal job in the city, a holiday on the ocean listening to the waves…….
Our environment can play a huge part on how we feel, and thus how we are able to learn, grow, and interact.
Ever been put in an environment that made you feel anxious, overwhelmed, trapped etc.? Not an ideal space to harbour learning or personal growth, and an ideal place for negativity to flourish.
In some cases, your work, hobbies, or even where you live, all lead to an environment that can be toxic to your future. It will be unique for each person of course. There are no one-cause-fits-all answers, nor do there need to be. Based on this post, you already know the answer right….
Selection.
OK, so it may be difficult to have your cake and eat it too, so I’ll be more specific.
Select an environment that aligns with your goals, values, morals etc. that you can spend the majority of your time amongst.
Like the environment? Live near a park.
Love being outdoors? Have lunch outside.
Want to save the Koalas? Don’t work for a mining company (this is a personal one for me!).
Choose what environments nurture your positive growth and select them, committing to action.
3. Sources of Information
Today’s world revolves around information. You’re absorbing more right now. Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet, social media….. The list of influential information is extensive, and getting longer.
When was the last time you applied a filter to the information you’re exposed to?
Do you watch the evening news? The morning news? Read a newspaper?
Have a think about how often you remember seeing something positive. Something with substance. Something that actually had relevance to your life and your future.
Chances are, you won’t remember many.
Surprising isn’t it, considering how much time people spend exposing themselves to the overload of information out there.
Selection, selection, selection.
Timothy Ferriss talks about the concept of a ‘low information diet’ in his book, the Four Hour Workweek, to get you to see what it’s like to remove yourself from information overload. Essentially, you go without viewing/reading/listening to any form of informative or educational material for a week, and see if your life is really worse of for it.
After performing this selective information intake continuously for about 2 years now ( i don’t watch or read world news, and if I want to know then I ask someone instead), I can guarantee your life won’t stop. In fact, quite the opposite.
With less unnecessary information, there is space for meaningful information.
Watch an inspiring documentary, read that novel, start that long delayed project.
Practice selective information intake, and you’ll find many more hours in your day to put towards things that matter to you. Feel the need to find out what’s happening in the world? Ask someone else. They’ve spent the time absorbing it all so you don’t. Use them!
Less time spent on unnecessary information, means you’ll have more time to do what you want.
And you can start right now!
Select your relationships, environment, and the information you expose yourself to wisely.
Use my definition to empower yourself, and carve your destiny so that you get what you want in life.
You have a choice, and no matter how hard it seems, you have the ability to take action.
Selection is the actioning of your choice.
Get out there and start creating your future!
Are there any areas of your life other than those mentioned above that you feel contribute to the quality of your life, and the creation of your future? I’d love to hear about it! Tell me more in the comments below.
I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the links.
The more people I can inspire, the happier I’ll be.
Yours in inspiration,
Jason
