Perfection, Imperfection,Goal Setting, and Self Esteem

Since no one is perfect, it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of imperfection. Yet they were accomplished, somehow, all the same."– Lois McMaster Bujold

My good friend, Dr. Wayne Fiske created a game called “I am perfect.”  Wayne has a different point of view than Lois.  Wayne’s quote would be something to the effect “We are all perfect, and it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of perfection.  And that is why they are accomplished.”  Take your pick as to the quote that is more meaningful to you.  In any event, it is important to complete your goals.  Finishing and completing relates to self-esteem.  Complete your goals and improve your self-esteem.

Thinking back of the last two years, I have spent considerable energy writing  my book.  It was important for me to complete this project.  In order to complete the project, I had to learn about using Microsoft Word, Dragon Naturally Speaking, Dell Computer, etc. I also figured out whom to interview, develop a questionnaire to guide the interview, and put my story in some logical sequence.

The editing was burdensome, and luckily I got good feedback from Kate Reardon, my wife Linda, my daughter Lori, and my sister Beverly.  They were all very helpful and appreciated.  Beverly provided me with two good resources.  Mike Barlow, for one .was extremely helpful in assisting the formulation of how to write a professional book proposal.  His expertise and counsel was invaluable.  On the electronic side, Tony Brickel’s knowledge, support, dedication, and hard work  facilitated and allowed me to work with my editor, to work with the Internet, to work with the blog, to work with You Tube , and to put together the book  trailer.  I am not forgetting our trail runs, and running events this past year.  He was a good listener and provided feedback about this project.

For me, Lois quote fits, because I was imperfect when it came to accomplishing this project.  However, I have the support and expertise of so many.  I could not have completed this project by myself and that is perfectly clear. Thank you all as I cannot thank you enough.

I am also appreciative of Julie Suhr for graciously writing a book review for It Has Nothing to Do With Age:  “Dr. Lieberman’s enthusiasm for self accomplishment, through dedication and the help of others, shows almost nothing is impossible.  His personal story, and those of others who have inspired him, will interest all, who also strive to reach goals once thought beyond reach.”

 The book and e- book can be purchased through barnesandnoble.com.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/it-has-nothing-to-do-with-age-frank-lieberman/1033870212?ean=9780983676409&itm=1&usri=it%2bhas%2bnothing%2bto%2bdo%2bwith%2bage

Alfred Adler,Goal Setting,Expectations and Felix Zandman

Although Alfred Adler was one of the charter members of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society and later its president, he separated from Sigmund Freud and developed his own theory of personality. For one, he developed a philosophical doctrine that was based more on idealistic positivism. He believed in the idea that man is motivated more by his expectations of the future than he is by the experiences of the past. This means that man employs expectations or levels of aspiration that guide and influence his behavior. In other words, he sets goals that are based upon expectancies. The more realistic the goals are results in more accomplishment. So it is important not to set one’s goals either too low or too high.  If the goal is set to low, it does little for your self esteem. If the goal is set too high, the chance of failure increases which is also negative for self-esteem. Goal setting and expectancies go hand-in-hand.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal on June 7, 2011 pertains to Felix Zandman. Felix was born in 1928 and died last week. His story is remarkable as he survived the Holocaust as a teenager. Apparently, as a teenager, he was crammed into a tiny underground chamber beneath a Polish peasant’s cottage. The article indicated that he was one of the few Jews in Grodno, a Polish city during World War II, which is now part of the Belarus, who survived the war. The story went on to indicate that his uncle taught him trigonometry and higher math by rote while underground.

Eventually Felix immigrated to the United States and founded a company that manufactured electronic resistors that he sold to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the military, and later to the computer industry. Clearly, this man focused on his future and obviously set goals and realistic expectations.

What does this have to do with exercise? In my book, “It Has Nothing to Do with Age” prescription number 7. Become inspired and motivated by reading the illuminating profiles of eight remarkable senior athletes found within this book. In reading about these athletes you will learn how the thinking process affects achievement and performance. One can learn about training, levels of aspiration, expectancies, and goal setting. The key is to focus on self talk and thinking positively. A downfall is listening to irrational held beliefs and self-defeating thoughts.

Pay attention to the dialogue that takes place between Tony and me related to our competitiveness.  Pay specific attention to our goals and how we talk about them. I like Alfred Adler’s philosophy and what he had to say about looking to the future.