How the Cookie Crumbles and My Upper Limit

Late last Friday evening, I stood in my kitchen desperately trying to recall when and how I had consumed an entire plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Fragments of the evening were all that was left. Only ghostly recollections remain of snapping up two or three cookies at a time remained. I recall the occasional trip into the kitchen to clean up after dinner, brew some tea, or start the dishwasher, but the rest is a blur. 

Deep in the pit of my stomach, I knew I’d been in and out of the kitchen a dozen or more times throughout the evening.

You do the math.

It is hard to say which emotion flew highest on the flagpole of my life at that moment, shame or confusion.

After two weeks of smart eating (my reframing of the “Diet” concept), which I’d committed to and was enthusiastic about, alongside regular sessions of Yoga and walking (a favorite), I was down 4 lbs.

I felt good and was deep in my visualization of hitting the goal of dropping my Covid-20 lbs. at a healthy rate of 2 lbs. per week.

This was happening, and I thought I was all in for the ride.

But on a chilly spring night, I was left counting crumbs on an empty plate at ten in the evening. Pissed at myself, and I could feel the shame rising quickly from simmering (it’s a typical state on the backburner of my mind) to a full boil.

Before my stockpot of shame boiled over, somewhere in the corner of my mind, a solitary memory cell shot up a flair, illuminating the night sky and reminding me (I need more of these little buggers) of a book I recently completed and which I’d put together a draft review.

Narrowly avoiding a full-on kitchen meltdown, I went to my desk and found what I was looking for, a dogeared copy of Gay Hendricks’s book, “The Big Leap.” Then to the laptop for a copy of the review.

Here’s what I wrote.

It helped me. I hope it helps you.

As human beings, we want to succeed in life. Whether it’s personal Relationships, careers, or hobbies, success is a goal we constantly strive towards. However, despite our best efforts, many fall short of our aspirations. (yep) We may have a nagging feeling that we can achieve more, but we’re unsure how to get there.

That’s where Gay Hendricks’ book, “The Big Leap,” comes in. In this powerful guidebook, Hendricks explores the concept of the upper limit problem, a self-imposed ceiling on how much success, happiness, and love we allow ourselves to experience. He argues that we all have a zone of genius where we are most creative, productive, and fulfilled. However, our limiting beliefs often keep us from reaching this zone (cut to me, devouring cookies).

The first step in breaking through your upper limit is recognizing and confronting your limiting beliefs. These beliefs tell you that you’re not good enough, that success is too difficult to achieve, or that you don’t deserve happiness. Once you identify these beliefs, you can challenge them and replace them with more empowering thoughts.

One of my key takeaways from “The Big Leap” is that we can take full responsibility for our lives and emotions. We are not victims of circumstance but rather co-creators of our reality. This means that we have the power to choose how we respond to challenges and setbacks. We can see them as opportunities for Growth and learning rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Another concept in “The Big Leap” is operating in our zone of genius. We use four key zones. In the zone of incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius. The zone of incompetence is where we struggle and make mistakes, while the zone of competence is where we feel comfortable but not necessarily fulfilled. The zone of excellence is where we excel and receive recognition, but it’s not necessarily where we’re most creative and fulfilled.

The zone of genius, on the other hand, is where we are most in tune with our natural talents and abilities. It’s the place where we feel alive and fulfilled. The challenge is to identify our zone of genius and find ways to spend more time there. This may require stepping outside our comfort zone (see the announcement below about my new website and business focus) and taking risks, but the rewards can be immense.

Breaking through our upper limit and operating in our zone of genius can help us achieve success in all areas of our lives. It requires a willingness to confront our limiting beliefs, take responsibility for our lives, and step outside our comfort zones. But the benefits of doing so are immense. Operating in our zone of genius makes us feel more creative, productive, and fulfilled. We achieve greater levels of success and happiness, and we inspire others to do the same.

How’s that for a reminder?

I self-sabotaged my Healthy Eating efforts. I hit my upper limit (I’ll share more on this in a future post) and torpedoed my attempt to achieve a personal goal.

“The Big Leap” came to me at just the right time.

It turns out it’s a must-read (re-read) book.

It offered me some practical advice and powerful insights into overcoming my lingering limiting beliefs and tapping into my goals and, by extension, my zone of genius.

And speaking of my zone of genius, please check out my new, business-focused website and, by extension, an evolved focus of my Coaching practice.

And yes, we got the kinks with the site worked out. The developer and Google did their mysterious dance, and on Thursday afternoon (I felt like I’d lost almost a whole week), Google allowed the site to be accessed. #gratitude

If you are a business owner (or know one) who wants to expand your revenue and profits….check out some fantastic tools available here.

And, yes. I’m back to healthy eating and exercising. It’s raining this morning, so yoga rather than a walk. If the rain stops this afternoon, I’ve identified time for once around the neighborhood. 

The post How the Cookie Crumbles and My Upper Limit first appeared on James Swan Coaching.

James Swan Certified Professional Coach

With over 20 years as a small business owner, entrepreneur, award-winning author, and marketing consultant Jim brings his experience as a survivor of success and failure to the world of business coaching and consulting.

As a Certified Professional Coach, he turned years of business experiences, personal values, and a belief in the power of transformative energy into a laser-focused professional objective; to support small and medium-sized business owners as they expand into their highest and best selves.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology and music from Southwestern University and studies in Arizona State University's Architecture and Design master's degree program, he now includes Certified Coach in his educational accomplishments.

He is a past member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, serving on its Executive Board of Directors. Other commitments include PAWS/LA, which assists with the care of pets for people living with disabilities, and KidSmart, an art education foundation for inner-city youth. Currently, he lives and works from his home on the Maine coast.