Your sine curve is your journey – any journey that you’re on. The Oxford Dictionary defines a journey as an act of traveling from one place to another. You will have a much stronger sense of purpose in your life if you know where you want to go: a plan, goal or vision.
Wondering what a sine curve is? Start here >
How do you know where you are on your sine curve?
The answer to this question may sound obvious, but in my experience most of us do not dedicate enough time and thought to understanding precisely where we are on life’s journey. Often we are busy people, tending to work, family and personal commitments and navigating our way through life from fire fight to fire fight, or we simply drift along dealing with life’s challenges as they occur.
Life is a Sine Curve is a well-tested philosophy which drastically reduces your need to continually react to events around you by helping you to understand where you are. It will help you to figure out why you are feeling the way you are, and help you to better influence your future through good planning, preparation and action. So here is a quick and easy guide to knowing where you are in your sine curve.
Remember, the sine curve is a continuum so you do not simply step from one season to the next, so sometimes you will find yourself in a transitionary period. Remember, the name of the season is simply a metaphor for the type of phase of life you’re in.
If you are a business leader, set up a workshop with your team and challenge yourselves to figure out where your business is on its sine curve. Alternatively, for your personal sine curve follow these steps yourself or have a discussion with your partner or a friend. If you are a sportsperson, ask your coach to spend some time with you working through these simple steps.
Are you achieving your goals and delivering your best?
Do you have a buzz and air of success about you?
If you answer yes to one or both of these questions then you are probably enjoying the fruits of your summer success. Ask yourself: what got you to where you are today? Try and replicate, reinforce and adapt your actions to extend this period of success – in essence, to extend your summer.
If you don’t really know what got you in to this good position and attribute your current success to luck or good fortune, then you should plan for autumn – you need to be prepared for when this good fortune comes to an end! Try and figure out how you can influence your environment through action to extend this summer period. What are you doing right that is generating this success?
If you answered no to the first two questions then read on…
Do you feel any of the following: lost? Insecure? Out of control? Failing to achieve?
This is winter. You may have been well-prepared, been catapulted into winter unexpectedly, or simply drifted through the past months, but you’ve still found yourself in winter. Take comfort from winter: it is often a time of regeneration when Mother Nature kills off bugs and prepares the world for a terrific spring. Create some protection around yourself and embrace where you are.
Also remember that winter is the time for hard work. It is a time when you put in place the foundation blocks which will lead you to your next summer success. So be ready and willing to feel uncomfortable and to endure some toil. It will be worth the investment of your time and energy.
Have you achieved some success and are feeling flat now that you have achieved your goal?
Do you know what your next goal will be?
If you answered yes to either or both of these questions then you are in the autumn of your sine curve. Autumn is a beautiful time of great colour with a fresh edge of coolness to the early morning air. Consider the notion that knowledge is power. Think of how squirrels forage for food and prepare for the winter ahead. You have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy your surroundings and plan for your winter in the same way as the squirrel! You know that tough times are ahead so plan to put some protection around yourself – be that emotional support from a friend or loved one or whatever is required for you not to feel vulnerable and exposed. If you are a business, consider adopting a more conservative scenario for the coming period.
Do you feel optimistic about the future?
Do you have a good idea what you are going to achieve every day?
If you can answer positively to one or both of these questions, then you are in your spring! You have a clear plan and vision for yourself, your business, your sporting goals, and you know what you need to do. If you feel strong and confident in achieving your goals, then you have worked hard developing your actions and training to put these plans in to action. If this is the case then well done! Continue on your sine curve journey with strength, fortitude and success.
If you are optimistic but lack a bit of confidence to deliver the actions you have identified, then you are probably at the start of your spring. Use this time to stress test your plan and actions, and ask yourself: ‘what could I do better to eliminate risk from my plan?’ Ask yourself whether you are really best prepared for the exciting journey which lies ahead. Could you work harder to prepare yourself? By investing a bit more effort here you will be so much better prepared to flourish in your coming spring…
Now you know where you are on your sine curve, this in itself is powerful and puts you so much more in control of your future. Your next step now should be to plan to maximise your success and to get the most out of your journey.
Life is a Sine Curve 