Rising To The Top: Power Of Upward Spirals
Take control of your well-being and success by creating Upward Spirals in life.
Last week, I started running. The goal was to complete a 5K run before 2023 hits. As I began running regularly, I experienced changes in energy and self-confidence. They started occurring in spirals.
This led me to set additional goals, such as increasing my running distance or training for my marathon in the gym and as I continued to complete these milestones, further improvements in their physical health and overall well-being came, creating an upward spiral.
What’s my spiral?
Running > More Stamina/More Energy > More Work Finished > More Confidence + More Free Time > More Running > More Stamina/More Energy > More Work Finished & so on …
This is just one of the spirals I have, for everything in my life I seek positive upwards spirals. Infact, regular writing is also outcome of one of these downstream effects of more time converted to writing.
Do Less To Do More
As your experience increases, so will your ability to spot opportunity, and combine the breadth of your experience into something entirely unique.
Spirals, both downward and upward, refer to patterns of behavior that can either lead to a decline or improvement in well-being, respectively. The concept of spirals was first coined by psychiatrist Victor Frankl, who proposed the idea of "the spiralling effect of good or evil" in his book "Man's Search for Meaning." This idea was later developed by other schools of thought, such as positive psychology and behavioural therapy, which focus on the ways in which an individual's thoughts and behaviors can influence their well-being.
Why Do You Spiral?
So, why do these spirals occur? There are many factors that can contribute to the development of a downward or upward spiral. These factors can be internal, such as one's thoughts and beliefs, or external, such as one's environment or relationships.
For example, an individual who has a negative mindset may be more likely to engage in behaviors that lead to a downward spiral. On the other hand, an individual who has a positive mindset may be more likely to engage in behaviors that lead to an upward spiral. Similarly, an individual who is surrounded by supportive and encouraging relationships may be more likely to engage in behaviors that lead to an upward spiral, while an individual who is surrounded by toxic or negative relationships may be more likely to engage in behaviors that lead to a downward spiral.
Let’s Say You Want To Crack The best MBA programme, How do you create an upward spiral?
Using the Upward Spiral Theory, an individual who sets a goal to get into a top MBA program may experience an upward spiral in their career success. For example, if they set a goal to study for the GMAT each day, they may find that their scores improve over time. This improvement may lead them to set additional goals, such as networking with alumni from their target MBA program or seeking out additional academic resources. As they continue to take small, positive actions towards their goal, they may experience a sense of accomplishment and confidence that can lead to even more significant achievements, such as getting accepted into their dream MBA program. This cycle of setting and achieving goals, feeling good about oneself, and setting additional goals can create an upward spiral that leads to significant improvements in career success.
The Upward Spiral Theory proposes that small positive actions can lead to larger and more significant positive changes over time. This theory suggests that by engaging in behaviors that lead to an upward spiral, such as setting and achieving goals, engaging in self-care, and seeking out social support, an individual can create a loop of successful cycles in their life.
Slow Down To Create Spirals
So, how can one get started with incorporating upward spirals into their life? One practical step is to identify areas in which you would like to make positive changes and set specific, achievable goals in those areas. It can also be helpful to seek out social support and engage in self-care activities that can help you to stay motivated and on track. By consistently working towards creating upward spirals in your life, you can set yourself up for long-term success and well-being.
Almost everyone wants to make as much progress as they can in the shortest time possible.
This desire is the underlying reason we are so attracted to shortcuts.
If only I could get x without doing y.
Zero multiplied by anything is zero.
Slow down.
To create successful spirals you must slow down.
The upward spiral theory can also be applied to other areas of an individual's life, such as their personal relationships, physical health, and financial well-being. For instance, setting and achieving a goal to save money may lead to increased financial stability, which can then allow an individual to pursue other goals, such as traveling or starting a family.
The strength of upward spirals lies in their ability to create positive changes that can have a ripple effect on other areas of an individual's life. By focusing on small, positive actions, an individual can create a loop of success that can lead to significant improvements in their overall well-being and career success.