Play the INFINITE Game

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

Toxic positivity

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

You matter more than you know

I read “The Five People You Meet In Heaven” by Mitch Albom last weekend. It was a great, quick, and impactful read.

The premise is that a man (who doesn’t think too highly of himself) dies and when he gets to heaven, he meets 5 people.

Some he expected to meet there.

Some he most certainly did not.

Each person’s life intertwined with the main character’s at some point in a way that was much more profound than he thought.

In the end, Eddie (the main character), looks back and realizes his life impacted so many more people than he could fathom.

We are all connected, in some way. And what we do (our actions, our jobs, our attitudes, who we are) affects A LOT of other people.

The great news is that when you DECIDE to lean more toward the positive, you infect others with that positivity.

When you try to look at solutions rather than focus on the problems, others will do the same.

When you smile at a stranger, more than likely they smile back (and then they pass it on).

When you are INTENTIONAL about living your best self, you cannot help but make the world a bit better as well.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite pieces of writing by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

So go have a SUCCESSFUL Day!

Happy Tuesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

All Right

“I hear people keep talking, they saying I’m crazy
‘Cause I believe in myself and the way that I feel, yeah
But I know I’ll figure it out some day, ay
And everything will be okay
(Ah, ah, ah)
Some days I begin to forget
I’ve gotta begin to forget
The voices I hear in my head
And listen, give love and respect
To the feelings I feel in my chest
They say I know it’s all gonna be okay, ay
Yeah I know it’s all gonna be okay”-All Right by Cisco Adler and Gnash

Great song with a great vibe for this Wedensday!

Play it, listen, jam out and realize

It is all gonna be ALL RIGHT :)!

Happy Wednesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Be Excellent!

Too often, I believe, we humans strive for “perfection.”

That trip is a fool’s errand. There is no “perfect” at the end of the journey. Perfection is in the eye of the beholder for one, and for two: true perfection doesn’t exist.

And you wouldn’t want that anyway.

If you could achieve the perfect (INSERT SOMETHING HERE), where would you go from there? The only way forward is to reverse.

And if you achieved perfection and just wanted to stay there, that would be incredibly boring, cold and NOT meaningful.

Instead, strive for excellence.

The journey toward excellence seems to be filled with a lot more joy, and that needle will constantly be able to be moved more to the right.

When you strive toward excellence, you will achieve much more satisfaction, the journey will never end, and you won’t give up in the pursuit.

Excellence is where it is at my friends!

Have an EXCELLENT Tuesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Everything around you…

“That’s what alchemists do. They show that, when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”-Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

TRUTH!

When we strive to improve ourselves, the AMAZING “side effect” is that we will improve those around us as well.

When you shine your light, you brighten everyone else’s day.

Don’t make the (all to common) mistake of thinking that moving toward your goals, your successes, somehow lessens those around us. That is a HUGE falsehood, and unfortunately, stifles so many people from achieving their goals.

Abundance is not limited.

If you are working toward improvement, and you do so with compassion, love, grit and not by stepping on those around you, you will help, not hinder others. On that note: If you achieve any success by pushing others down so that you may gain ground, that success will most definitely be short lived and shallow. (Most people do not fall into this category. I truly believe most people want to improve their lives, and not hurt others in the process).

So, today, work toward achievement, and take comfort in the FACT, your success only HELPS those around you.

Happy Thursday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Worthy of the Miracle of Life

“Because, once we have overcome the defeats-and we always do-we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life.”-Paulo Coelho, Rio de janeiro, Novemebr 2002 (from the forward in The Alchemist)

I love this book!

I have read it a few times already and am re-reading again.

Such a simple, but moving story about following your soul’s purpose, especially when you aren’t even sure exactly what that purpose is. As long as you are doing things in life that light you up a bit, that make you feel antsy inside but also warmth, you are on the right track.

The key is to do something, anything that lights you up a bit inside. Follow the “omens” as Paulo describes them, and you will find happiness, in fact you will CREATE happiness, in your life.

I highly recommend this brief read (multiple times).

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Better Man

I have a real fond-ness for Judah and the Lion.

Their music always seems as if it comes directly from their souls.

Many songs are uplifting, and all of them seem to tug at heart strings (at least a little bit).

One song I have recently discovered is “Better Man.”

I love this stanza:

“Oh my hands to serve and love
My eyes to see and not to judge
My spirit now to rise within
And reign over my carnal skin“

As a chiropractor, any song that alludes to my hands serving already has me listening, but this stanza to me could be a meditation phrase, or a prayer for life.

And the chorus:

“And oh I just want to be a better man
And oh I just want to be a better man, yeah
And oh I just want to be a better man
And oh I just want to be a better man
As I go“

The chorus is pretty great too! I like to change the last line though from “As I go” to “As I GROW.” (I don’t think Judah nor his lion would mind me singing that to myself in my car).

As a business owner, especially as a chiropractor, I can tend to think of growth in #s, volume, etc. But this song reminds me that the true GROWTH I am looking for is growth from within. I want to grow as a person, father, husband, doctor, friend. I want to improve in all aspects, and the pacing of the song reminds me that growth is not meant to happen RIGHT AWAY.

I truly do want to grow to be a better man, and that growth feels best (and lasts) when it comes from my desire to serve, love, see and not judge, and when all of that combined comes from my spirit. So that is what I am going to work on daily…

So happy growth (from within) today people!

Happy Wednesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

UKNOWN IMPACT

Thank you to Jessica, my amazing office manager for sharing this today.

The truth is you NEVER know how much of an impact you make on someone’s life.

Another truth: usually the little things make a much BIGGER impact than you think they will.

Don’t for a second, make the grave mistake of thinking that the little things you can do for others will not add up to a larger impact.

Your smile, your kind words, your compassion MATTER WAAAAAAAY more than you will ever measure.

Have fun making a positive impact today!

Happy Wednesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

The dance of life

Success in life is a bumpy slope.

It is full of ups and downs (just like life in general).

The key is to realize a “step backwards” isn’t a failure.

It’s necessary.

Diving boards have to dip before you can launch.

You have to fall down in order to get up.

You need to have those bike pedals crack you in the shin every once in a while in order to learn to be a bit more careful with those nasty things.

The point is, you can look at dips any way you want, but the truly successful people realize that the set-backs are actually just ways to change the narrative in order to create a truly successful story.

Don’t let the steps back stop you from dancing to success.

Happy Tuesday!

-Dr. Lindeman