There's a fun side-plot in Toy Story 4 where Buzz Lightyear, seeking advice about what to do next, pushes a button on his suit to listen to pre-recorded messages of his own voice:

“There's a secret mission in uncharted space!”

“No time to explain, attack!”

“The slingshot maneuver is all we got! Full speed ahead!"

With confidence about what to do next, Buzz responds: “Thanks, inner voice!”

If only tapping into your own inner voice was that simple – to get instantaneous guidance at the push of a button.

(Not a Toy Story fan? Think: Jiminy Cricket on Pinnochio’s shoulder)

And, no, I don’t mean asking Siri or ChatGPT, what they think.

I don’t even mean texting a friend you trust to give it to you straight.

Instead, I mean you, channeling the very best of yourself, in your toughest moments.

Are you confident in your ability to do that when the pressure is on?

This is a behavior, like any other, that can be built with practice.

Sure, you have to train yourself to pause and really listen. It’s something you cultivate with time. It takes a willingness to be still and wrestle with your own inner thoughts and feelings.

But, you can start by simply asking yourself one important question when things feel challenging:

“Who do I want to be in this moment?”

It’s an essential question in all situations:

…with your coworkers during a contentious brainstorm,

…with your spouse or partner as you make decisions about the future,

…with your kid during their temper tantrum – and before you have yours,

…with your neighbors as they make choices that impact your property,

…with the people around you on the airplane stuck on the tarmac,

…with yourself as you stress about something that hasn't happened yet,

…as you find yourself, for the ninth time today, mindlessly scrolling your phone.

Will you pause, even briefly, to choose an intentional response?

Reflection creates self-awareness and from awareness, you give yourself the opportunity for action – perhaps different actions than your initial circumstances seemed to provide.

You can shift your attention:

…from being caught up in the immediate, frustrating, or likely small thing in front of you…

…to viewing that situation in the context of a larger picture; to giving yourself the power of perspective; to channeling something much, much bigger: your best self, your goals, your values, a vision of the person you aspire to be.

Self-reflection is an essential tool for living.

It grants you the ability to quiet the noise of daily life and creates the space needed to think about what you really want from that life.

It’s the key that unlocks your inner voice, your intuition, your best self.

And you should not rest until that key is in your pocket.

Take a moment to pause & reflect. Think about your situation now – whatever you're facing, who do you want to be in this moment?

Actions, experiments, & things to try next. Consider a recent challenging situation. Were you the best version of yourself? What do you want to be true going forward? How might you direct your attention toward your best self in the future?

📫 If this sparked an idea, or if you’re feeling stuck, I’d love to hear from you. You can reply directly to this email to share what you’re working on, ask a question, or suggest topics you’d like me to cover in future newsletters. I read every response.

Until next time,

Michael

Michael Schefman | 321 Liftoff​

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