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.
Situations will always arise, positive and negative. The situations don’t determine the outcome.
The choices you make, the way you decide to learn from every situation, your mindset ALWAYS determines the outcome, and not just in the short term. The long term effects of any situation are solely determined by what you decide to take from it.
So today, start with a positive mindset.
Be open to learning opportunities (aka struggles).
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.
The key is to evaluate and improve oneself, not criticize and demean.
When we have a vision of who we want to become and can evaluate what it will take to grow into that person (constructive criticism not be-littling or self-depreciating) it will actually make us happier in the pursuit.
Again, there is a HUGE difference between evaluating and improving versus criticizing and condemning. The goal is to grow into our vision and that starts with acceptance of who/where we are and then finding and implementing the “tweaks” we need in order for that vision to come to fruition.
One other option, as the quote above implies, is to sit on our haunches and be so self-satisfied that we find flaws and judge others harshly.
That option helps noone and absolutely hurts our own souls.
So I choose option 1 ;).
I love who I am and where I am at in life, and I also know I (and the world) will love and benefit from who I am becoming even more!
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.
So I was looking for a practice putting mat to work on my (atrocious) putting at home.
I found this image on one of the items…
Let’s just say if this guy is practicing his “putting” this way at home, his wife/partner is not going to be very happy at the results of his play. (He’s going to put that ball right through the window and into the neighbor’s house.)
This got me thinking: When you “practice” your ideal future (a.k.a. visualize, dream, etc), make sure you are precise in your outcomes. It won’t help you too much if you visualize putting by lining up your driver and letting the big dog eat (so they say).
You need to get a clear picture in your mind of where you want to go, who you want to be and what you want to achieve.
Only then, can you take the baby steps it takes to succeed.
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:
Take a baby step in the general direction of where you want to go, and who you want to be.
Realize you may veer a bit right or left, up or down toward the horizon
Do both of these things, and then when you lay your head down tonight, know you have succeeded this Wednesday!
This is a great message from Simon Sinek. (If you haven’t signed up for his daily motivation service, check it out here.
I believe having a strong work ethic and having passion for what you “do” are both vitally important.
I also believe one can lead to the other.
Even if you are not passionate about your daily job right now, if you dive in to making sure you have a strong work ethic, if you are passionate about that alone, you more than likely will find enjoyment and things you CAN be passionate about daily.
It is also possible to be passionate about something (art, music, etc) but unless coupled with a strong work ethic in those endeavors, you will not achieve nor will you grow in those avenues.
You can CHOOSE your work ethic, so put some energy into that today.
There are a lot of bite-sized inspirational talks, given by people from all walks of life (coaches, speakers, charity founders, teachers) and they are wonderful.
Some of my favorite quotes so far:
“You don’t choose your negative thoughts but you can choose not to listen to them”-Jay Glazer
“The best way to win the day is to win the moment. Moments turn into days, days into weeks and weeks into years.”-Doshia Woods
“Unshakeable confidence isn’t about the results. It’s about self awareness.”-David Nurse
“It’s not always the path of least resistance that gets you where you want to go, it’s the path that’s worth taking”-Sam Acho
“When we focus on honoring others as our mission in life, differences fade. Prejudice becomes a foreign concept.”- Miles McPherson
There are a LOT more. You should definitely check it out.
You most likely will find something there to help fuel you daily, and I guarantee it will make your Tuesday a little happier!
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.
Dissemination of Inspiration 