#inspiration

Compromise

Compromise is a dirty word. It makes people think you gave up, you didn’t stand your ground. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Compromise is essential if we want to get along in this world. You can stand by your principles without giving up, while recognizing the principles of your counter party. It should not be all or none.

Our culture needs more compromise and communication. Without it we will separate even more…

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#inspiration

Second Class

Airlines have a class system. So do societies. And we have people who think they are better than others because of their influence, money, talent or education.

Some people will always be better off than others, financially or otherwise. The parity some wish for isn’t possible, and I’m glad we have it the way it is. The desire to better ourselves is built into us. We strive to learn because we want to advance. If this is removed because we are all a bunch of identical robots, we will drift aimlessly through life.

And I want you to remember that in Gods eyes, we are all first class. Always give your best, no matter where you are in life…

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#inspiration

Fathers

Today is Fathers Day in the United States. People celebrate their dads and their great memories with them.

Fatherless homes are one of the fastest growing family demographics of today’s culture. Over 90% of homeless people come from fatherless homes, as well as 75% of rapists and 69% of youth suicides. If you ever think that good fathers aren’t necessary, just consider those alarming statistics.

To all the solid men who are dedicated dads, enjoy your day…

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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

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

Lean In

Some of our greatest achievements were born in the darkest of times. If we press on and refuse to give up, we will emerge on the other side of the battle. It will not be easy, and it may feel like this period will never end, but your confidence and resilience will grow exponentially.

Lean into whatever makes you uncomfortable. Face the darkness in your life. Stare the devil down and let him know you serve a greater master. State your victory out loud and declare it in the name above all names- Jesus Christ. His name will make the demons shudder…

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#inspiration

Relationship v. Religion

What’s the difference between relationship and religion? Relationships are intimate, they are turned on, and they are a safety zone. Religion, even the word turns people away. Let’s examine this just a little further.

Think of your closest relationships. They are built on a foundation of trust. Trust takes time to build. You feel like you can be yourself around your closest friends and family. There’s no need to pretend to be someone you’re not.

Religion evokes guilt, shame and judgment. This is because many religions use these as tools to get your attendance and your money. That’s not what God wants. He wants a personal relationship with us, even when we are at our worst. Yes, you read that correctly. God isn’t looking down on us with His arms crossed condemning us. No. God created us and He hasn’t forgotten about us. We are always on His mind.

I encourage you, and myself, to pursue a deeper relationship with God. Study the life of Jesus. Jesus was a rebel and he was a badass. He took away guilt, shame and judgment while calling out the hypocrisy of some of the religious leaders of the day. He is here for us, even though we don’t see him…

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#inspiration

Hurried

It seems like I’m always in a hurry. I’m not sure if it’s because I have a tremendous energy level and want to get as much life in as possible. Perhaps it’s due to my short attention span. Maybe it’s a combination of both.

Coach John Wooden famously told his players, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” Being hurried can create unnecessary mistakes. Those are detrimental in life as well as basketball.

Let’s slow down, even just a little. You can be quick and get a lot accomplished. Leave the hurried behavior behind…

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Expectations

What are your expectations when you meet someone new? Honesty, integrity and responsibility come to mind. I believe it is important to give people a chance to show us who they are and what they are like.

By the same token, what are your expectations of yourself? At least the three I mentioned above, along with transparency and accountability. We expect the best so we give our best.

It’s a good personal policy to under promise and overdeliver. You build trust in this way…

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