Month: March 2022 (Page 1 of 3)

As we all know, change can be a terrifying thing. They say, we all want to change just as long as we don’t have to change anything.

But all creative ideas, endeavors and manifestations come from the unknown – not the known. We have to get used to living and creating from that place – as uncomfortable as it may be. I’ve heard it said, “How can we expect things to change by repeating the same behavior over and over?”

This is not referring to a daily practice of getting better at something. I’m talking about hoping things in your life were different, but not doing anything about it. We must break the cycle of complacency and procrastination and do the work. It doesn’t have to be pretty. By no means perfect. It just needs to get done. Now. Today. Build it one brick at a time. Let’s not judge it, let’s just put in the work.

And then wake up tomorrow and do it again.

I once read in a book about unselfish Love that we shouldn’t take anything in life personally. Even if a stranger walks up to us on the street and stabs us with a knife. That’s about them and not you. Hmmm. I think I have some work to do.

The idea is that when we look to be offended by something throughout the day, we will never go disappointed. This is true. So many of us today are looking for an excuse to take out our frustrations, our disfunction and our own lack of evolvement out on others whenever we have the opportunity to do so.

The flip side of that coin is realizing that it really has nothing to do with “you.” This certainly can be a challenge for me. Remembering it’s about the other person’s issues and not you.

Believe me, I have plenty of work to do, and I have no problem acknowledging my shortcomings, however, the last thing I want to do is go through my day looking for ways to be offended. I would like to think I have better things to do.

It would seem in my younger years that my days could be a bit chaotic. I’m sure it had to do with a variety of things at the time: immaturity – physically, mentally, socially and emotionally, but also hormones, lack of direction, confidence, limited life experiences and an absence of self-actualization (maybe not completely).

That’s okay. I chalk it up as childhood and adolescence. A time for exploration, experimentation and a whole lot of mistakes.

Nowadays, my preferred grove in life includes a rhythm of the heart and mind. It’s a pace in which my days are far from chaotic – but can be a bit crazy at times – in which no matter what happens, I’ve trained myself not to over react and to remain centered and grounded. Flying off the handle has little interest to me these days.

I’ve discovered the rhythm of my mind and heart and take that glorious beat with me wherever I go. No doubt this takes maintenance through meditation and awareness, but never the less it’s the engine that drives my day and I’m so grateful for it’s presence.

We cannot expect to evolve into the well-rounded, empathetic, effective, knowledgeable and over-all leaders in this world by sitting in the dim-lit room of our library reading books. No more than you can become a better quarterback by sitting in Lazy Boy chair watching a game. It’s one way of learning, but it’s not the only way.

In order for me to grow, learn and evolve into the kind of wizened force I’m on my way to becoming, I have to risk something. We all must risk something in becoming the best version of ourselves. There are no guarantees even though we all want them.

It just doesn’t work that way.

Risk because you will become a different person on the other side. Risk because your worth it. Risk because nothing is guaranteed in life, so we must seize the moment now. Risk because nothing of value ever came from “playing it safe.” Risk because deep down inside we all know we’re capable of magnificence.

As a parent and business owner, I’m certainly not the one who say’s that when times get tough.

But, I’ve been around long enough to understand embracing the challenge is the best way for me to view my life – my day.

Why? I learned a long time ago the way life works is not by working for a period of time and then coasting the rest. It takes a daily effort to evolve. I’ve heard it said like this: “You don’t own success, you rent it and the rent it due everyday.”

I have found that to be true. And in order to embrace that idea, I must subscribe to the title above.

Or not. But the choice is definitely mine.