Tag Archives: #mindset

Spirituality

The Blitz

In football, the blitz is used as a defensive move to create confusion for the opposing team. A zone blitz is when a defensive player who normally rushes the quarterback is dropped into coverage, thereby creating chaos for the quarterback. Blitzing is risky, but can produce turnovers and sacks which can change the momentum of the game.

Life can sometimes make us feel like we are getting blitzed. We like to think we can predict what will happen today, but as you know our best plans can go awry. Traffic throws us behind schedule, a child gets sick, or we have one of those days where nothing falls into place. We can bitch and moan, or we can adapt and move forward. Griping accomplishes nothing while adapting to the unexpected keeps us moving in the right direction.

The only thing we can control is our attitude. By maintaining an optimistic outlook while progressing toward our goals, we give ourselves an advantage.

Keep in mind that things always turn out the way they are supposed to. Even the biggest challenges won’t stop you if you refuse to give in to anger and quit. Just keep going…

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Spirituality

Neurodivergence

Neurodivergence is a term that was coined in the 1990’s by sociologist Judy Singer. Singer was a neurodivergent person herself. Neurodivergence refers to differences in the way people’s brains work, process information, and behave.

All of us are neurodivergent in a way. We think differently, we believe different things and we don’t always behave. Even when our brains aren’t compromised, we remain uniquely different.

The longer we live, the more we learn about how the brain works. Neuroplasticity taught us that brain cells regenerate. We can create new, better ways of processing information. This includes how we interact with other people, too. We learn that not everyone deserves a response.

I encourage you to read about this fascinating subject. You might see the world differently…

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Spirituality

Interesting Interactions

Yesterday I flew from Austin to New Orleans, Louisiana on Southwest Airlines. I don’t like to fly Southwest for a variety of reasons. The airline has open seating, the planes are packed, and the fleet is old. However, yesterday was a pleasant surprise!

The first surprise was that the plane wasn’t full. Second, the jet was new. Finally, I struck up a conversation with a fascinating young woman and it made the flight very interesting. She is a writer who has created a great story for film which I got her to share with me.

I listened, fascinated by her ability to make me see the story come to life in my mind. Her characters had depth and her storytelling was well thought out. Making a film is challenging. My hope is that her film gets produced. Hollywood needs new, exciting creative ideas!

The final surprise was my own reflection on myself. When I arrived at the airport I was counting the minutes until the flight would be over. My attitude needed work. Had I kept the same mindset I would have missed this wonderful conversation.

You never know who you might meet. Be ready!

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Before You Begin

New week, new you, right? People begin changing their lives at the beginning of the week. A large percentage will abandon their goals before they have accomplished what they set out to do. There is a way to place yourself in the minority who succeed.

Before you begin, you must recognize that the battle is in your mind. It doesn’t require physical willpower to effect change. The change you desire can be made when you win the fight over your old ways of thinking.

Your mind is powerful. Really powerful. How we think will determine our outcomes. If you want better health, become health conscious. Keep your thoughts focused on the healthiest version of yourself and put blinders on to anything else. This works with time management, finances, even spiritual growth.

After a while your mind will take over. If you start thinking about going back to old, bad habits, your mind will stop you. When this happens you know you have retrained your brain. Victory!

The fight for the life you want is fought between your ears, not in the physical world. Change your thoughts and change your life…

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Spirituality

Trading Places

Do you ever look at someone else’s life and wish that was you? Maybe you would love to trade places with them if even for just one day. That might not be a bad idea.

People are great actors yet they don’t receive awards for the parts they play in real life. They might be falling apart inside but you would never know it. The great comedian Robin Williams took his own life and he had everything so many want. His brilliant comedy masked the pain he was carrying inside, a pain that never goes away.

If you were able to trade places with someone who you believe has it all together, you would see that they don’t. Everyone has challenges. Others are dealing with different problems than you, but they still have them.

God gave you the life you have. He has equipped you with everything you need to thrive, to find fulfillment. God never said it would be easy, nor did he say this side of eternity would be perfect. He did say our faith would be shaken. Mine has been. Yours probably has been, too.

Keep your mind focused on your purpose. Everyone has one. Find yours and give it everything in you…

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Spirituality

Second Chances

There is a song by the group Shinedown that I really like. The song is called “Second Chance.” In the song is a lyric: “Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.” Perhaps there is something, or even someone in your life that it’s time to say goodbye to.

Everyone has a bad habit or two. They know it so you don’t need to point it out to them. They will break free when they are ready and not one second before. They will be doing it for themselves and not because of your nagging.

Sometimes there are people in your life who need to go. It might be a member of your family. It’s okay to say goodbye to them if they aren’t good for you. Maybe they constantly criticize you or cut you down. There’s a difference between constructive criticism which is done in private and criticism that’s designed to hurt you or embarrass you.

Do what you need to do to protect your mental and physical health. It’s your life. Make choices that bring out the best in you.

If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be any good to anyone else…

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Spirituality

Chores

Today is trash day! It seems like life is a never ending to-do list of stuff to cross off the list: laundry, empty the dishwasher, pay bills, and, of course, take the trash out. But here’s a different perspective on chores.

There are people who would love to be physically able to do the mundane stuff we complain about. Either they haven’t taken good enough care of themselves or they are disabled, but whatever the reason they just can’t make it through. What we take for granted, they cherish.

My encouragement to you is to look forward to taking out the trash. Or emptying the dishwasher. Or doing laundry. Or walking to the mailbox. Turn the things you dread into celebrations. Yes, I said it. Look forward to the boring, mundane but necessary to-do list. Focus on how good you feel after crossing something off your list.

It’s all attitude…

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Spirituality

It All Started With A Mouse

Walt Disney is a name that is recognized all over the world. Disney was born in 1901 and raised in an abusive home. It was so bad that two of Disneys older brothers ran away from home before finishing high school. Walt tried to escape by enlisting in the military to fight in World War I, but was rejected, being only 15 years old at the time.

When he was in his 20’s, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded Disney Brothers Studio in 1923. His first animated character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Through a series of underhanded moves by a competitor, Oswald was stolen from Disney. Oswald never made it big but Walt’s next character did. You know him as Mickey Mouse.

Mickey Mouse first appeared in “Steamboat Willie” in 1928. The cartoon was the first to synchronize sound with animation. In 1937, Walt Disney mortgaged his home to produce “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” It was the first full-length animated film and to the surprise of his many critics, it was a blockbuster hit! So much for the self-proclaimed experts.

Walt Disney died shortly after his 65th birthday. By the time of his death he had won 22 Academy Awards, still a record for an individual. It’s fair to say that Walt Disney changed the world of entertainment for children and adults.

One of Disney’s favorite sayings was, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Walt Disney had an impossible dream, starting with a drawing of a mouse. What’s your dream?

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Spirituality

Childlike Curiosity

We can learn a lot from toddlers. Yes, they ask a ton of questions, but they are just trying to learn. Everything catches their attention. You can almost see the neurons in their developing brains exploding.

Have you ever met someone who thinks they know everything? These so-called “experts” are draining to be around. They must weigh in on every discussion, letting us know how bright they are. These types of people rarely learn anything because they think they know it all already. Considering another point of view is foreign to them. Let them speak long enough and they will show you how little they actually know.

My encouragement to you is to approach life with the openness and curiosity of a child. Ask questions about everything. Children ask because they want to learn. Toddlers aren’t trying to show off how smart they are. They learn that behavior later.

Little children are pure and sweet, too. They are always watching, always learning, always curious…

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Spirituality

From Those Who Came Before Us

When you are young, you tend to be full of yourself. No one can tell you anything because you know what’s best. And typically you aren’t shy about offering others your “wisdom” and advice, whether people want it or not.

With age comes experience and some wisdom. Years of living and learning have taught you to be open minded about much of life’s experiences. Life is a great teacher. Sometimes the lessons are hard, even harsh. But you learn that you will get through your darkest days if you don’t give up.

I encourage you to seek out the life stories of older, probably much wiser men and women. You can learn a lot from them. Their experiences will help shape your best thinking.

Don’t brush off the old people. You will be one yourself one day…

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