Funny enough, it is a “false ceiling” that came on my recent deodorant purchase. Basically it keeps the deodorant safe from any crushing damage that could cause the actual lid compress into the deodorant stick.
Why am I writing about this?
Because in our world, there are lots of things that would damage us should we not have an extra layer of protection. And I’m not talking about physical damage or physical protection.
When life throws crushing troubles (or even minor troubles) at you, realize the false ceiling layers that save you and help you get through (relatively) unscathed.
Whether that layer is your faith in God, your friendship circle, your mental fortitude, or your ability to realize that the problem isn’t what damages you, it’s how you choose to respond, or a combination of those and many more, the reality is you will make it through.
Sometimes it is easy to forget we have these layers of protection and we take them for granted.
Sometimes, the situation is so hard we forget they are there.
However, if we just take the time (especially in good times) to remember these protections, they serve us well when called upon.
We want something so bad (promotion, a better personal record, a certain salary, some form of measurable success), that we are obsessed with attaining it.
Our happiness becomes tied to “when we succeed.” We fool ourselves into thinking “If I can just get ___, then I will be happy.”
This is obsessive passion.
Harmonious passion on the other hand, is being happy now in the process of attaining success. It is about seeing how far we’ve come already compared to how far we have to go.
And research shows that being obsessively passionate pushes you more toward negative emotions and thoughts. Further research shows, negative thoughts are killers to growth and success.
Gratitude and other positive thoughts however, allow for creativity and flow to take place.
When we are grateful about how far we’ve come while keeping an eye on where we want to go, we see the whole picture and the full beauty of life.
You will have a more probable successful outcome when you can decide to be happy now, be grateful for where and who you are, instead of grasping at something to try to make you happy.
I love this, and thank you for sharing Jessica (my office manager).
However, don’t let this mislead you into thinking the one step will equal achievement.
Another quote a love is “growth is a process, not a light switch.”
They key is to combine both and know the ONE decision you make (or are not making…which is still a decision) will push you toward your goal and could be the final step. But even if it is not the final step, but rather the first or 23445th, making the decision will propel you more toward the life you want.
I love this section on how to actually use jealousy to your advantage.
Comparison can steal your joy, for sure, but only if you have limiting beliefs and do not grasp abundance.
We can look at things/emotions/places/successes others have and decide we can’t have them too bc they already have them, or we can decide that the universe is infinite, and the fact they have them is PROOF we can too!
It’s ALWAYS your decision(s).
So next time that little voice pops up when you feel the pang of jealousy, FLIP IT into the realization that we can achieve all that and more.
You should definitely check out The Ed Mylett podcast and Mel Robbins book: The High Give Habit
There is power (and research) in celebrating small victories, congratulating ourselves, and setting intention.
One thing the book and this podcast episode touches on is the fact that, unfortunately, we are prone to feeling unworthy of celebration. In fact we are prone to feeling unworthy in general.
We can raise that baseline simply by incorporating small celebrations and acknowledgements of our amazing worthy-ness into our daily lives.
We all deserve love. And we definitely deserve to love ourselves.
We have survived every crazy challenge that has been put before us to this point.
We have overcome many obstacles.
We do A LOT of things l, very well, every day.
We impact lives (whether we know it or not).
We have style.
We have grace.
We smile, we laugh, we love, we help, we even provide energy for others (including nature).
We are amazing.
Listen ti the podcast, read the book, and HIGH FIVE yourselves today!
If you aren’t on Simon Sinek’s daily notes to inspire list, you should really consider it!
This tidbit today was great!
I believe too often, we define ourselves by what we do. “I’m a chiropractor.” “I’m a teacher.” “I’m a potato chip critic.”
Those are all the jobs we chose, and we should be proud.
However, the bigger thing is WHY we do them.
If we are happy with our careers, it is more than likely because we get to express what we truly care about in life through our field.
We are defined by what we care about, and how we choose to make a (happy) living is our way to express what we care about.
So if you are feeling burned out, a bit sluggish or etc, tap into what you care about, connect that to what you are doing today and I promise you, your day will be immensely brighter (for yourself and for everyone you come in contact with).
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!
Dissemination of Inspiration 