Tag Archives: #mindset

Spirituality, Uncategorized

Fear of Life

Some people can be so safety minded that they never take a chance on anything. They will miss out on the thrill of a rollercoaster, the excitement of whitewater rafting, traveling to exotic destinations and falling in love. Such a shame…

Do you know anyone who lives by the “what if” principle? What if this happens or what if that happens, they say. My mother was this way and it drove me crazy. One day I said, “so what if this happened?” I would figure it out. She didn’t like that too much because it took away her excuse making.

It’s good to exercise caution in life. Just don’t take it too far. And if you’re a fearful person, start small. Do something new to take you out of your comfort. Enjoy the thrill. Lean into it. You might like it!

Growth comes when we are willing to get uncomfortable…

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Spirituality

Allowances

When I was a kid a lot of my friends received an allowance every week. I didn’t. When I asked my parents about this, they told me I could ask for money anytime I needed it. “I didn’t need an allowance.” I never asked because I was afraid to.

God gives us the greatest allowance: free will. We are free to choose whatever path we want to take in life. But free will doesn’t mean we can escape the consequences of our decisions. There is cause and effect at play. Good decisions lead to good outcomes. You know the other side

Yet God gives us more. You see, everything good in our lives is a gift from God. Fresh air, sunshine, our minds, literally everything comes from God. And He gives generously to believers and nonbelievers alike.

Take nothing for granted. If you’re reading this, take a moment to thank God for another day. Then use today to make a difference in the world. Allow others to experience your kindness…

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Spirituality

The “Experts”

Social media has given a lot of people a voice. Opinions are readily shared, often without facts to support the narrative. Oh some “journalist” may be cited as proof, but these so-called journalists are typically spewing an opinion, too. Emotions run high and arguments ensue. No one wins.

When I was in public school, my grades reflected the first four letters of the alphabet: A’s, B’s, C’s and D’s. I never failed a class, but I got dangerously close several times. In college, my grades went up significantly. You see, college professors teach one subject, typically they have advanced degrees in the subject, and they made it interesting. The teachers in my public school didn’t know how to teach a kid like me. My insatiable curiosity and high energy level ruled the day for me.

Take the time to think. Question everything. Be open minded about learning. The world may not be as you see it. You might be wrong. I might be, too. There really is only one expert who knows everything.

The only truth comes from a higher source, a much higher source. God’s word is true. It isn’t stale or outdated, and it’s a reliable source for life. Everything from our health to our money is covered. Maybe start there instead of Facebook. And there’s an added benefit! Your stress level goes down. Guaranteed…

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Spirituality

When Crazy Isn’t Crazy

Have you ever come up with an idea others considered crazy? Technically, to be crazy means you are mentally deranged. Most of us crazy people aren’t deranged. We approach life with an enthusiasm not understood by others.

The Wright brothers were told their idea about flight would never “fly.” After all, what did they know about aerodynamics? The Wright brothers were simple bicycle repairmen. Their craziness led to the creation of an entire industry, employing millions of people worldwide.

Or Galileo. He came up with this crazy idea that the earth revolved around the sun, not the other way around as conventional wisdom dictated at the time. Now who were the crazy ones?

Be fearless in your pursuit of creative ideas, especially if they contribute to a better way of life. Pay no attention to the people who try to talk you out of your creativity. They can’t see what you see…

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Spirituality

Keep Trying

Did you set any resolutions at the beginning of the year? If so, how are you doing with them? Research shows that by February almost half of the population has thrown in the towel on their goals. By year end, only about 10% stayed with it.

The desire to give in to old, familiar patterns is strong. This is because the mind is where the battle is, and the mind is more powerful than any nuclear weapon ever invented. Seriously.

Perhaps now is a good time to revisit the goals you set earlier this year. Adjust them downward a little. Create scenarios where you achieve small victories. By doing this you will be setting the stage to win the fight with your mind.

It is true that you can accomplish anything you want to in this life. Get a specific goal in mind that you have a burning desire to achieve. Then get to work with the mindset that you will not quit no matter what happens. Then you become unstoppable, a true force…

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Spirituality

Choose Your Battles

If you’re on social media, you have probably observed that people like to fight. Something, anything happens and we must weigh in because, you know, our opinions are important! And when we state our case, the algorithm keeps feeding us similar posts to keep our righteous indignation alive.

Enough already! It’s time to change the game by altering our attention. For example, I cannot make a difference by commenting on the political arena. What happens in Washington is going to happen no matter what I say or believe. So I stay out of the conversation.

There are certain things all of us are effective at. By focusing our energy in those areas we can make an impact. Our efforts count for something. And here’s a universal truth: we want our lives to matter.

The time is right to make a choice. You may choose to stay involved in meaningless chatter, or get busy doing what you’re called to do.

Ask yourself a question: How do I want to be remembered? Once you come up with your answer to that relevant question, you get to choose whether to pursue your purpose or not.

It’s your choice. Choose wisely and then make your move into meaning and purpose. Ignore the battles that don’t get you where you’re going because they just don’t matter…

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Spirituality

Delayed, Not Denied

Do you ever get frustrated with God’s timing? Admittedly, I do. I’m an impatient person and just because it’s God and his perfect timing doesn’t change my impatience.

There has been one constant in my life who has never let me down. Of course I’m talking about God. He is responsible for me waking up this morning, my heartbeat, getting me to work safely. Everything good is a direct result of God’s provision.

Knowing that God will consistently come through is a good reminder to trust his timing. If I received everything I asked for immediately I would be a spoiled brat. Being delayed has a reason behind it. Perhaps I’m not ready and God has some work to do on me. That’s okay because he only wants what is best for me. And you!

Ask God for patience in the waiting. Learn to trust Him more and yourself less. Keep your focus on what you are grateful for. Everything will happen in its perfect time…

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Spirituality

Overstimulated

Our brains are really remarkable. It’s the greatest gift God gave us, and it’s a true marvel to study. Yet, it can go awry if we don’t protect it. Let me explain.

When I was a child, I lived in a constant state of fight-or-flight. My brain was on overdrive. It developed coping mechanisms which allowed me to survive. Those methods were meant to serve me well for only a short period, not all my life. Only through psychotherapy was I able to reroute my brain in a healthy way.

What we read, watch on television and YouTube shape our minds. We must ensure that what we allow in must be pure and good. It’s a huge responsibility to take care of our brains because there are negative stimuli everywhere. You almost can’t avoid it.

Be aware of everything you are exposing yourself to, whether it’s online or offline. It’s either good for us or bad for us.

Choose the good…

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Spirituality

Burned Out

When people tell me they are going through a period of burnout, most associate it with being overworked, overwhelmed and tired. Burnout is more than this. And it can be prevented.

People get burned out because the stressors of life are too much to handle in that moment. Work, obligations, unexpected challenges, the list of stressors never ends. This is just how life is, yet it’s manageable.

Setting healthy boundaries is the key to preventing burnout. Learn to say no. Take the time to take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be any good to anyone else. It starts with your mental health.

Prioritize sleep, eat good food, real food not processed crap, and have meaningful conversations with others. All of these impact your mental well-being. Neglecting one or more and your life becomes unbalanced. You have burned out.

The better you are, the better you can be for others. Take care…

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Spirituality

Friendliness

Are you a friendly person? Making acquaintances and getting to know people has always been easy for me. I’m insatiably curious about people and their life stories. God should take pity on my seat mate on an airplane. I’ll get their story before we land!

When I meet someone who is standoffish or quiet, I see them as shy. Being quiet doesn’t mean they are rude. They simply aren’t outgoing and that’s okay.

One of the reasons I podcast is to learn about successful people and how they kept going during the dark times. Everyone has pain and struggles. We find ourselves in the stories. And when you do see yourself you think, “if they made it through, maybe I can, too.”

Life is filled with ups and downs. Life is easy when things are going well. It’s during the downtimes, the darkness when you need people. Good people.

Do you want good friends? Solid friendships begin with us being a good friend first. Be willing to give of yourself and see how many good people you attract into your life, whether they are outwardly friendly or not…

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