It is all fuel.
The wonderfully amazing times.
The crippling negative ones.
Your current life up to know is fuel for your future.
Who you are now is a conglomeration of your entire past, and who you are now is fuel that will help you become who you want to be.
So remember, you can use whatever you are going though, positive or negative, as propulsion to get you to where you want to go.
Fuel your fire today!
-Dr Lindeman
I’m just going to leave this here.
Thanks for sharing this, Jessica (my amazing office manager).
Consider the mic, dropped.
Happy Wednesday!
-Dr Lindeman
This picture was taken from:
I like the book so far. The premise is that the most successful people, realize that obstacles are actually opportunities in disguise.
We have big dreams, but the road from where we are now to where we want to go is littered with obstacles.
We need to realize that these obstacles don’t block our path; in fact they are important parts of the path.
We cannot grow unless we climb.
The trials and tribulations between here and there are in fact NECESSARY for us to achieve our dreams.
When we are faced with a problem, we need to change our thinking from “why me?” Or “why this?” To “How can I grow from this?” Or “how can this challenge help me?”
Don’t run from problems, don’t turn around the moment you have something blocking your path. In fact the path you must travel is directly over that obstacle.
Have a growth-filled, amazing Monday!
-Dr. Lindeman
My family and I had a wonderful trip to Hilton Head Island, SC this summer. We purchased a townhome/villa/condo (whatever your flavor of terminology is 🙂 on April 1st and we went out in June. I stayed there for 10 days and Sheri and the boys stayed for 3 weeks. (Sheri’s parents came out for a week in there too).
We worked a lot but had a fantastic time!
Being home alone for a couple weeks, I just couldn’t shake this HUGE feeling of nostalgia and sadness for times past.
Also, the realization that Payton is now going to be a Junior in high school, Isaac is beginning freshman year.
Time is FLYING BY!!
Yesterday, we celebrated Independence Day. Isaac spent the night at a friend’s house the night before, so we met the family in Golden (they are great friends of ours as well) and the boys waded into the cold waters of Clear Creek.
After that, we went to another family friend’s barbeque for a bit before heading to the Broomfield Commons and the high schoolers played volleyball while we sat with my brother and sister-in-law.
It was a great day.
The nostalgia ran deep though, beginning early in the morning. Facebook had a “remember when on this date” feature that showed us celebrating July 4th through the years.
Those were just a few.
Needless to say, a few tears were shed (mostly by me).
These past few weeks I have been struck (an apt word actually) right in the feels about how fast time has gone, and continues to move.
I love my life.
I love my family.
I love all the amazing times we have shared throughout these years and yet I cannot help but feel sad that those times are in the past. I know there will always be better and more amazing times ahead, but this week I am REALLY missing times gone by.
I also found myself wondering if that during all these years, have I been the father and husband that these amazing human beings deserve. I found myself doubting. I found myself yearning to hug them a bit tighter.
I want to go back in time and re-experience holding them on my chest when they were babies as we both fall asleep in my recliner. I long to lay with them camping while staring at the stars and listen to their amazement at the vast universe spread out before our eyes. I want to go back to coaching them in youth rec soccer and watch them running around in a herd chasing after that soccer ball. I want to go back to reading to them at night, and make sure I am choosing books and directing conversation that will help me mold them into the truly amazing humans they are and will become.
I also realize all of these yearnings come from MY WANTING more than theirs.
They are wonderful young men and I know the world is a better place due to their presence. I know that as a father, I’ve done pretty well, even if I will always believe I could’ve done better.
After I left Hilton Head, I received an email from Jon Gordon that touched on these feelings. Check out this snippet below:
So, I still am having a serious case of all the nostalgia feels. But these words helped me realize that I have and continually will share these gifts with them from now until the end of time.
I miss the old times. To be honest, I miss everyday I have had with them up until today. And I know one day I will miss today as well.
Those feelings are built into the tremendous love I have for them.
I know that I will continue to have days like this.
I also know that I am looking forward to seeing them after work today. Even if it is after they are done hanging out with their friends.
I love my family fiercely and I know that they love me fiercely back.
Have a wonderful Monday and make sure to spend some time with the ones you love, if only to savor the pain of missing that time when the passage of time doesn’t allow them to be right beside you down the road.
-Dr. Lindeman
Many times, we focus on results.
On the surface, seems like the best thing(s) to focus on. After all, results are the best and easiest things to measure.
However, when you think about it, no matter how hard we try: the results are exactly what we have only partial control over.
There are too many variables in life for us to think we can control them all and therefore can control our results.
Weather changes, tragedies, external stimuli, availability of the things we need, etc can and will throw wrenches in our path toward the results we desire.
Think if it this way: Our input x external stimuli = results
What we can control is the effort to change. We can control our side of the equation. And truth be told, usually if we focus on what we can control, the curveballs life throws at us will become more manageable and allow us to love toward the results we desire.
So today, focus on what you can control, your heart, your effort, your vision and then resize no matter the hurdles (the other factors in the equation), we will move forward.
Happy Monday!
-Dr Lindeman
“Small steps may appear unimpressive, but don’t be deceived. They are the means by which perspectives are subtly altered, mountains are gradually scaled, and lives are drastically changed.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year
I think that many times, when we look at where we want to go in our lives, we can become discouraged at the GAP between here and there.
We make the HUGE mistake of focusing on the end result, way out in the distance (and many times, that “finish line” continues to move further away as our aspirations change as well) instead of realizing the only way we will get there is to put one foot in front of the other in that general direction.
I use the word general on purpose, because I also believe we make the mistake of thinking from here to there will be a straight line…
It is never a straight line…
So today, do two major (minor) things:
Do both of these things, and then when you lay your head down tonight, know you have succeeded this Wednesday!
-Dr. Lindeman
In his book, The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek discusses the ideas of constant improvement.
Too often, businesses (and individuals) look at this constant improvement in the form of procedures, policies, accolades, awards, etc.
There is absolutely nothing wrong woth all of that.
However, the true idea of constant improvement should come in the forms of improving teamwork, mindset, skills, connection with others, compassion and leadership.
These traits are more important because they drive us to create a better now, and to leave a better legacy fo the sake of our family, friends, customers, loved ones and communities. The accolades are achieved as a result of these things.
The great (and sometimes frustrating, depending on how you choose to look at it) thing about these intrinsic improvements (as opposed to accolades and awards) is that there is no “finish line.” The goal is to constantly improve, not to “arrive.”
So today, envision your life improving for the sake of improvement and any awards, goals or et cetera are just mile markers along the infinite game of life.
Have an amazing Tuesday!
-Dr Lindeman
“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” —Bernard M. Baruch
How annoying is it when you are telling someone something, and they keep interrupting?
How annoying is it when people listen to respond, rather than listening to learn?
How often are you that annoying? 🙂
I am guilty of this at times.
Sometimes it is because we are bursting with excitement, eager to contribute to the conversation. That in itself isn’t a bad thing.
The problem arises in that when we listen to respond, we aren’t actually listening at all. Instead we are formulating what we want to say, rather than learning from others. We aren’t opening our minds nor our hearts to them, instead we are solely focused on allowing our brain to flex it’s muscles.
Leading with love is always the best choice.
There is a book I read a while back: Listening is an Act of Love. It’s a great book, and the title is poignant.
When we TRULY listen to others, we open our hearts, souls, minds and our worlds to possibility.
When we TRULY listen, we gain experience and insight that can lead to success (no matter how you define it) in our lives.
So on this glorious Wednesday, take time to LISTEN to others. Or in other words:
Have a fantastic day!
-Dr. Lindeman
P.S. Check out this blog for more insight on this topic: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/shhh/
The above was taken from Simon Sinek’s book: The Infinite Game.
I just started reading it last night, but I love it!
Simon talks about the difference between finite games and infinite games in business, and in life.
Finite games are “played” with a goal of winning, beating the competition, becoming “the best.”
In life (and in business), the best things are truly INFINITE.
You don’t truly want to be “the best” at what you do. Because, in reality, you know that being the best is HIGHLY temporary. There will always be new players, new competition, new rules, new advancements, new hurdles, etc.
Take for instance, the NFL. The NFL is most likely switching to a 17 game season as opposed to a 16 game season. Think about how many “bests” will be beaten with one more game. Passing records, rushing records, sack records, etc. all have a HUGE probability to be beaten with the addition of one more game.
Being the best, ends.
Looking at FINITE successes eventually leads to a cold-end game.
Instead, as Mr. Sinek proposes, focus on infinite successes. Fulfillment > Victory.
Focus on fulfillment for you, your family, your friends, your community, and for future generations and you will lead a much happier life, and your “victories” will go on in the future, rather than being the used-to-be best.
Lead with inspiration. Focus on doing what you love for the betterment of others (and in return, you will reap rewards yourself-that’s the way this amazing universe works), rather than short-sighted gains of trying to get ahead.
Live a life focused on fulfillment and we WILL ALL benefit.
Have a fantastic, fulfilling Monday!
-Dr. Lindeman
I recently discovered the term “toxic positivity.”
Toxic positivity is the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset. It’s a “good vibes only” approach. (Taken from http://www.verywellmind.com)
I choose to be positive, and I write about positivity not because I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but because I decide to realize the world is a beautiful place.
I whole-heartedly believe that when circumstances are awful, we should recognize that, allow ourselves to grieve, mourn, cry, get frustrated, angry and lash out some even.
It is always ok to not be ok.
However, I also believe that it is up to ourselves to change our situation for the future. It is up to us to learn from any challenge and apply it toward a growth mindset.
The only way positivity can be toxic is in the absence of empathy. If someone (even if it is yourself) is going through some horrible situations, I don’t believe we should talk to them (ourselves) about maintaining positivity without acknowledging THE SUCK of the situation. First and foremost, be kind, listen, hug, comfort.
Also realize that part of the comfort is the belief/faith that all things pass and life will move on and in fact can become better, eventually.
Have a blessed Tuesday!
-Dr Lindeman
Dissemination of Inspiration 