If you have ever watched the show “Naked and Afraid” you will learn pretty quickly that it isn’t how physically prepared you are, but your mental toughness that gets you farther than the other contestants. 9 our of 10 times the person who is able to remain steadfast with their mental focus is the one who comes out a winner in the end.

So often, we self-sabotage ourselves by giving up mentally. We write off the entire endeavor because we aren’t getting the results we want the first, second or even the third time through.

I believe this has to do with where your focus is located. Sometimes to place your attention on the end result is not the best place to spend your time. Sometimes it is. When working towards a goal, it might be in your best interest to focus on the day to day habits you are creating by putting in the work. Laying one brick the best you can is your job today. The big picture will take care of itself in due time.

Before you know it, you will arrive at your destination, but to embrace and learn to find satisfaction in the process might be better for us in the long-haul.

After all of these years, I think the marketers have gotten to me. Congratulations to them!

During the holiday season I have to make a concerted effort to stay grounded, humble and grateful. It seems that if I don’t watch myself, I can get caught up in the pressures and expectations of the Christmas must-have’s. I think that’s why when I was younger and even now at times, there can be a real let-down after New Year’s. This – on top of the constant barrage of marketing on social media, etc. we are exposed to – can make me a bit anxious.

This is when I know I need to get away from the screen time and re-connect with the things in my life that are important to me. My own well-being, my legacy and connecting with my family and friends.

After all, how much do we need?

The Bare Necessities

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature’s recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

How we prepare for the weather can directly impact our overall well-being. If you show up to the beach on a warm sunny day planning on spending much of your time reading in your beach chair, you might find yourself burned at the end of the day only to have a restless sleep.

Standing in the rain on a chilly afternoon watching a game in the stands or even gong for a walk without the proper rain gear can change your mood dramatically as well. Now wet and cold, we have a hard time enjoying our company, the competition of the game or the beautiful scenery on your long walk.

Taking a bit of time by looking at the weather forecast in order to prepare yourself for what you’re about to engage in can make a big difference.

This can be applied to most things in life. Rather than just showing up, we can be thoughtful about what we do in order to be best prepared for the next big thing. . . or small one.

You might just find that with a little preparation, there’s a whole lot of fun.

What does abundant mean to you? Being in the best shape of your life? Having loved ones around you who inspire you to be the best you can be every day? Knowing you have millions of dollars in your bank account? Having a job you love to do and you get paid to do it?

Each of us have a different idea of what abundance in our life looks like. It’s relative to one’s perspective. Someone may feel they need to have 3 homes, an income of over $3 million a year and wear the finest of clothes. Another may feel as long as they have clean water and food to eat with a dry bed, they are living in abundance. Which person is happier?

I heard a story a long time ago that has stuck with me and it’s worth telling. It happened at a self-help seminar. The gentleman conducting the seminar on the stage asked people in the audience what it took to feel successful in their lives. One man said, he needs to have less than 8% body fat and making at least $2 million a year. Another person claimed they needed to be promoted at least once every three years, a paycheck of X amount a year, etc. One guy stood up and said he feels successful if he’s able to open his eyes in the morning and get out of bed.

Which person is going to feel better about themselves throughout the day?

Having abundance in your life is relative to your perspective. Which perspective are you choosing to take?

Too often we move through an experience in life only to forget any specific concepts or feelings we had along the way giving us insight into evolvement from then to now. This is a fancy way of saying, “what did you learn?”

There is an old saying that says, “winners celebrate and losers contemplate.” What this means to me is, you tend to think more about how you ended up there if it’s a painful experience. You retrace your steps making sure you will not do the same your next time through. Why? Because it hurts.

Winners are too busy enjoying the moment of their win to think about – in detail – their journey and what they might do different the next time. They won!

However the true warriors will sit down alone after the part dies down and retrace their path and continue to refine their craft.

The best always do.