Tag Archives: #mindset

#inspiration

Do More

Are you going the extra mile as you live your life, or just doing the bare minimum? Here are a few thoughts on giving more of yourself.

People are expected to work, typically, eight hours per day. This is what they are paid for. From my observation, many people are not working a minute more than the minimum, and they aren’t even working all eight hours. Many people are simply going through the motions, trying to get by. Not only are they cheating their employers, they are cheating themselves.

Doing more than you are expected to do will pay great rewards in the long run. Payback is rarely immediate, but it will happen. Someone will notice and someone will recognize your efforts.

There’s a caveat: you must be doing work that engages you, inspires you, and you would do it for free if you could. If this isn’t your current situation, it’s in your hands to take a leap of faith and do what turns you on. Make the change and experience life more fully.

There will always be ups and downs. Yet, when you are fulfilled it makes the downs sustainable.

Make your move…

Standard
Spirituality

Do It For You

In this column, I often write about self-work and how worthwhile it is. But why do we do it?

We do the work for ourselves. Personal growth is about growing yourself. Personally. Most people want to be better than they were, say, ten years ago. When I look back at who I was a decade ago, I can see how much I have progressed. Then I get excited thinking about where I will be ten years hence!

Growth is a slow process. I encourage you to be patient with yourself. Hold yourself accountable about sticking with your plans, but give yourself some margin if you fall back. Your life will hit plateaus and the occasional valley. Whatever you do, stay with it. Remain focused on where you’re going.

And remember, the better you are mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, the better you are for other people. And you will attract more healthy people into your life.

Guaranteed…

Standard
Spirituality

Rare Like No Other

Do you take the time to consider how rare you are? Since the beginning of mankind walking the Earth, you are the only you who has ever been, or will be. We are talking about over 100 billion people, yet only one you has ever existed or ever will exist.

God loves variety, no doubt. If you need evidence, just look around. People come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Then take a moment to look in the mirror. I hope you like who you see, because there was nothing random in creating your life. You were planned before the planet and the stars existed.

Think about this every day. Let it seep deep into your subconscious mind where it will change how you feel about yourself.

God didn’t create you and then forget about you. No! He wants you to grow and thrive. The only limitations you have are those you place on yourself.

Go show the world who you are. And remember, you are working for an audience of one…

Standard
Spirituality

No Lookbacks

I meet so many people who believe their best days are behind them. This is so untrue that I’m not sure where to begin, but I’ll try.

The past is good for learning, but it needs to remain in the past. Our memories can be clouded, thinking that things were better than they really were. The mind, just like the heart, can and will deceive us. Focusing too much energy on how things were rather than how they can be is a waste. Don’t waste!

Time is precious. Get up and get after it. God has us here for a reason. And the truth is, we want our lives to have meant something. This drive and desire was put in us by the Creator when we were born.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you find your purpose. Just begin. God will lead you where you are supposed to go.

Trust Him…

Standard
#inspiration

New Year’s 2025

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a peaceful, meaningful holiday season no matter what you celebrate. And now we are in 2025. Where did the time go?

Every year I see people posting “New Year. New You.” I wonder what changes they are expecting. Yet, I applaud people’s desire for growth and change. We are hardwired for growth. Sitting idle creates a stirring that can haunt us.

Do you have something in your life that you are dissatisfied with? Make the decision to change it, whatever it is. Then commit. No matter what happens, you will make the change and not go back. It’s gonna take work, but you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Once you make the commitment, it’s over. Set your sights on greater things.

Again, Happy New Year! I wish all of you good health, great experiences, and solid relationships in 2025 and beyond…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Cleanses

There are all kinds of cleanses advertised. “For only $39.95 you can fully clean your (liver, kidneys, spleen, take your pick) and reverse the damage done!” These charlatans are playing on people’s guilt over the times they might have abused their bodies. Don’t fall for it!

The one organ we need to cleanse is our brain. And it can be accomplished without spending any money. Our thoughts control our outcomes. Negative thinking along with what we believe can only produce undesirable outcomes. Conversely, positive thinking aligned with what we believe will set the stage for success. Guaranteed.

If you aren’t fulfilled in life, I encourage you to change your thinking. It takes time, but you will change.

Your mind is powerful. Allow it to work for you, not against you…

Standard
#inspiration

A Tribute

In 1952, a young Naval cadet walked into a small room for his interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover. Rickover was in charge of the Navy’s new atomic fleet, and he insisted on personally interviewing everyone who would serve under his command.

Over the next 2-3 hours, the young, cocky cadet proceeded to tell the admiral everything he knew about nuclear physics etc. Then it was the admiral’s turn. Rickover completely dressed the candidate down, showing the young man just how little he knew. After Rickover finished, the dejected young man got up to leave, fully humbled. As he got to the door, Admiral Rickover said, “I have one more question. While at the Naval Academy, did you always do your best?” The cadet wanted to say he did, but he had already been exposed. He answered, “no sir, I didn’t.” Rickover stared him down and asked, “why not?”

This question haunted Ensign James Earl Carter all his life. He went on to become the 39th President of The United States. You probably knew him as Jimmy.

Rest in peace, President Carter. No one can say you didn’t give your best…

Standard
#inspiration

Next!

Now that Christmas is over, you may put the stress of the holidays behind you. Now we begin the week before the new year. This time of year has its own set of challenges.

There’s much to do, right? Return gifts that don’t fit, put a tree away, and get those New Years Resolutions written down. More stress! But it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Start by doing the next thing. Then the next. Just keep going because your list will continue to have things added to it. Need to make a change in your life? Start now. Make the change your next thing to accomplish.

If you start to miss the stress, don’t forget. Christmas is coming…

Standard
#inspiration

Freebies

You have heard the saying, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” It’s true. Everything in life has to be earned. One of my favorite politicians to pick on believes the government should pay for everything. Someone has to make the money to provide for whatever government benefits he wants to provide. You see, the government doesn’t generate a single dollar of revenue.

Retail stores offer “buy one get one free” to entice you into the store. The store might actually lose money on the offer, but figure people will buy more things while they are in the store. It must be a successful business model because stores continue to make the offer.

It’s important to remember, everything in life that has value requires work. Everything. Mental health, physical fitness, and solid relationships are brought to life by our commitment to making them happen. There is no other way.

Decide what is important to you. Then commit to making it happen. You will encounter difficulties along the road. But it’s hard to defeat a person who refuses to quit…

Standard