Tag Archives: #mindset

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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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Not Promised

Every day is a gift. We take too much for granted when we should view the world in terms of miraculous. Take a moment to consider what would happen if gravity quit working. I believe gravity qualifies as a miracle.

Tomorrow is not promised. We must make each day count. Live like it’s your last day on this side of eternity because it might be. I hope today isn’t my last. There are a lot of things I want to do!

Keep your mind open to new opportunities. Make a list of the people you want to have dinner with. Get outside. Enjoy every moment you have. And make a difference…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Forced

Many years ago there was a comedian named Flip Wilson. He had a character he portrayed in his comedy show named “Geraldine Jones.” In the setup, Flip, as Geraldine would get caught in some bad behavior and “she” would say, “the devil made me do it!” Although Wilson died in 1998, you can find his comedy on YouTube.

We are given the gift of free will. God doesn’t force us to do anything, and that includes loving Him. We can take care of our bodies, or we can live a sedentary lifestyle and have poor health. We can be a jerk and act like the world revolves around us, thereby alienating others. Or, we can be focused on the needs of others and end up with all the friends in the world. Remember George Bailey from the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

(There are children who are forced into forced labor and sex slavery. Always be on the lookout for them. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement).

You have a choice today, right now. Will you live today like it’s your last, or will you just let it pass you by? It really is up to you…

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Uncategorized

An Educated Guess

Our education system is in need of a makeover. Currently, 54% of people between the ages of 16 and 74 read at a 7th grade level. This is abysmal, but it’s not beyond repair.

When Horace Mann developed school curriculum he had teachers teaching the head, the hands and the heart. Kids learned how to absorb information, think and apply what they learned. And they were also taught about their emotions. As a result, in 1950 the illiteracy rate in the United States was around 2%. Today it hovers around 23%. Abysmal, yet fixable.

Children will learn at an incredible pace when you give them the opportunity to. Education has been dumbed down in the name of no child being left behind. We are failing our children.

If you have kids, take the time to read with them. Make it interesting by reading a wide variety of subjects ranging from history to science fiction. You will learn some things, too!

It’s not too late to right the ship. Let’s begin!

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Spirituality

Going It Alone

All of us have changes to make in our lives. Perhaps we want to get up earlier, lose some weight, eliminate judgment or start reading more. What stops us? We stop ourselves.

Will power alone won’t do the trick. We need something more. Or perhaps we need someone to help us. God can and will help us. All we have to do is ask and believe. Pretty simple, huh? So why do we make it more difficult than it has to be?

Pride stands in the way. We have this warped belief that if we can’t change ourselves without outside intervention, we must be weak. Here’s some truth: when it comes to changing a habit that stops us from fulfilling our purpose, we are weak. We are battling an invisible enemy who is much more powerful than us. We need God’s intervention to win this fight.

Accept the things you can’t change by yourself. Ask for help. He will answer. That’s not my promise. That’s God’s promise…

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Spirituality

Awaken

Let’s admit it, life can be routine and boring. We go through a lot of the same motions every day. Where is the adventure?

It’s up to us to create our own excitement. Sitting around waiting for something to happen is a waste of time. Life is meant to be lived, not merely existed through.

Awaken your senses. Make the neurons in your brain come alive. You can do this by creating new experiences for your mind to behold. Take deep breaths. Inhale every good smell with intention. It’s time to feel alive again.

Turn the television off and go enjoy your life. Start now…

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Spirituality

A Little Extra

During the time of Jesus, a Roman soldier could order a Jew to carry his equipment one mile. The law said one mile was required, not one step further. So can you imagine the surprise, shock, and possibly anger the Jewish audience felt when Jesus said, “If anyone forces you to go one mile with him, go two.”

Giving more than is required is the key to a successful life. This applies to your work as well as your home life. Extra effort is one of the ways you separate yourself from the mediocre.

Some people have the mindset that they are cheating themselves if they give more than they are paid for. They are cheating themselves out of the benefits they receive from giving others more of their efforts. The benefits are not always immediate, but you cannot stop the pendulum from swinging back your way.

Give more to get more. See what happens…

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Spirituality

Creation

Everything you see around you, from the building you work in to the chair you are sitting in right now were an idea in someone’s mind. All creations began with a thought.

The greatest honor of my lifetime has been to be a father to two sons. It was a role I never saw coming in the way it turned out. I finally knew what unconditional love was. It’s indescribable. It’s something you can only feel by experience.

This is how God feels about us, His creation. In many ways my relationship with my children resembles my relationship with God. I don’t always listen or obey, but nothing I can do will stop God from loving me. Faults and all.

Creating two unique humans with different personalities is a miracle. The odds of a woman getting pregnant are stacked against her. Yet, through the gift of God it happens. Over 100 billion times it has happened.

Look around. Everything you see is a miracle. Try to see life through the eyes of God…

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