#inspiration

One And Only One

If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?

I would wear athletic gear if I was required to wear one outfit for the rest of my life. Living in Texas, I could get away with it. We have mild winters here.

Wearing the same clothes every day won’t stop other changes from happening. Personally, I will continue to grow and stretch myself. I’m writing a second book, and the computer doesn’t care what I have on. I do volunteer public speaking in Texas prisons. The inmates are just glad to see me.

I encourage you to look beyond what you see on the outside. The inside is still changing…

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#inspiration

Vacations

Summer is here in the Northern Hemisphere! That means it’s time for a vacation, right? But what is the purpose of a vacation?

Taking time away from our daily routines is good. We create memories with our loved ones, and we have an opportunity to unwind from the stresses of life. Experiencing new things also stimulates our minds. Our brains sorta reboot, if you will.

Take a trip this summer, even if it’s a short one. Life’s routines will be waiting for you…

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#inspiration

Taking Control

I saw someone post a link to a book titled, “The Six Steps to Taking Control of Your Life.” Guess what? You already possess the six steps, whatever they are.

We are in control of one thing: our attitude. It’s our attitude that determines the decisions we make in our lives, which determines our outcomes. If our attitude says, “by working hard I will achieve everything I want to achieve,” then we go to work! But if our attitude makes us think we deserve things just for showing up, we are liable to be disappointed.

You control everything, and everything begins with your mindset. If you want more from life than you are receiving, shift your mindset…

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#inspiration

History

In the United States it appears we are trying to rewrite history. Statues of historical figures from Robert E. Lee to Abraham Lincoln have been removed in the name of “curing racism.” Yes, even “Honest Abe” has been removed.

History is a great tool to learn from. In the United States we have made plenty of mistakes in the evolution of our country. But we have done far more good than bad. When disaster strikes anywhere in the world, we are the first ones to respond. And we should be.

History is fascinating. Let’s remove political correctness (which started with the communists) and learn from the past. Our growth potential is unlimited…

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#inspiration

I Don’t Know

I cannot count the number of times I’ve made assumptions without knowing the facts. As I have gotten older and, hopefully wiser, my assumptions have become less frequent.

Those three words, “I don’t know,” are powerful. They give you freedom from believing you should know everything. Further, those three words open up a world of curiosity. You make yourself available to learn. Learning about things keeps our minds alive with wonder and awe.

Try it! Admit when you don’t know something, and then go learn about it. Curiosity reigns…

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#inspiration

Activity

Our culture has become addicted to their screens. We constantly have our heads buried in a phone or a laptop. I’m not just talking about adults, either. Kids are doing it, too.

Our minds and bodies aren’t meant to be totally absorbed in information. We need interactions with other people, and we need physical activity.

Technology is a necessary component of our lives. Yet it should not dominate our time. I encourage you to get outside, enjoy some sunshine every day and get physically active. Pay attention to how different you feel afterwards. Try it for 21 days and let me know what happens…

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#inspiration

Numbing The Pain

People are carrying trauma, hurt and pain in them. Facing those things requires a lot, and sometimes people aren’t ready. That’s okay.

Unresolved issues can manifest unhealthy behavior such as alcoholism, drugs, pornography etc. These outward manifestations are simply representations of the underlying pain. They are what we see, yet to the one holding onto the pain these are their coping mechanisms.

If any unhealthy behaviors are present in your life, I encourage you to seek help with them from a psychotherapist. Bring the inner darkness into the light where it will lose its power over you. You will be uncomfortable in the short term, but your inner light will no longer be dimmed…

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#inspiration

Perfection

Perfectionists drive themselves crazy with any little imperfection they find. And imperfections are everywhere!

Why do we strive for perfection? Can we actually measure it since we, no matter how great we do, will never reach perfection? I say you gotta strive for something, so let’s strive for doing our dead-level best.

There’s nothing like the satisfaction you feel when you have done a good job. The sense of pride is not permanent, but we want to feel it again. As a writer, I know when to stop. Artists know when their painting is complete.

Always give your best, whether it’s in your work or in conversations. Engage fully and eliminate distractions. It is possible to experience that sense of pride every day, even without reaching perfection…

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#inspiration

Time Alone

We are always with ourselves, whether we are in a crowd or home alone. And we spend every moment of every day inside our heads.

Spending some alone time is a good practice. Being alone makes some people uncomfortable. These are the people who must be in a relationship or out on the town. Yet our time we spend by ourselves, without distractions is valuable. We can gather our thoughts while taking into consideration the important areas of our lives we need to work on.

I encourage you to get comfortable being by yourself. The discomfort will pass if you just sit with it and refuse to run from it. Then clarity appears…

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