Categories
motivation

Decisions and Things That go Bump in the Night

Car with a huge jack o lantern in the trunk for Trunk n treat
Trunk -n- Treat

The days are getting shorter and night appears to have the upper hand as we get closer to Halloween. Things appear to be more sinister too. Last weekend, I witnessed the first smashed pumpkin for the year. Was it a ghost? A goblin? A slap-happy teenager on Saturday night with too much time on his hands, in the wee hours of the morning?

Darkness brings confusion and lets the imagination get out of control. Was that a screaming banshee or a territorial house cat? Is that a spook scurrying across the yard or a skunk? Either way, I wouldn’t investigate if I were you.

The times of darkness are not the times to make informed decisions. You don’t know if what you see is really what your mind is telling you. You can make some assumptions that are very inaccurate. Decisions based on fear rely too much on your survival instinct. Panic sets in. You feel it’s time to either fight or flee.

Wait until the morning. Be patient for the time of the light. The time of darkness may seem like it’s eternal, but the day always follows the night. You may discover that the fifty-foot tall monster you saw last night was just the leafless oak tree in the back yard.

Categories
motivation

Phone check…or not?

Cartoon of a business man and homeless man

When I drew this cartoon, I did not have a smartphone. Ten years has made quite a difference when it has come to phone tech. But are we better for it?

This article on the morning habit of checking your phone first thing in the morning was written before all the coronavirus hit. I’m sure some of the warnings would be even more true today. It’s not a good idea for me to check my phone in the morning. All the stress and anxiety that comes through the phone does not put you me a good mindset to begin the day.

We face a constant battle each day to either control the content in our lives or let it control us. We are not facing a scarcity of information. On the contrary, we face a flood of information each day. We have to consider whether the information we receive is fact or opinion, accurate or made-up. And even if it is factual and accurate, we need to consider whether this is helping us or not. Does it put us in the right frame of mind? Does it help us start the day on a good, right footing, or just put us in despair?

It is tempting to just grab the phone and let the tsunami of information flood us. But remember, we have the control. We can choose how much and what information we consume. Otherwise, we may need a sign that says, “I have a smartphone. Please help me!”

Cartoon of a business man and homeless man
Categories
motivation

Disappointments and Experiences

Cartoon of a mom and two boys

Every one of us go through hard times. It doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, famous or obscure, talented, or believe you have nothing to offer the world. Every one of us go through situations we’d rather not endure. When those times come, how do you view them?

Some name it disappointment and become poorer, others name it experience and become richer.

Siegmund Warburg

You can see the hard times as a great teacher or a harsh punisher. They can be the secret to your success or the excuse for continued failures. Two people can go through the same situation and react in opposite ways.

Whatever you are going through today, ask yourself:

  • What can I learn from this?
  • What does this make possible?
  • What will it look like in the future when I have overcome this?

May today’s double trouble be your double portion of success in the future.

Cartoon of a mom and two boys
Categories
morning people motivation

Start the Day With Intentionality

Cartoon of boy and jack-o-lantern. The boy says, "It's six in the morning. Stop looking so happy!"

This week, I’ve been reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. It has already transformed the way I wake up in the morning. I have already had a morning ritual for many years. But he is showing me a more intentional way to master the morning. His enthusiasm, his story of overcoming adversity and his practical tips have captivated me. I’m sure I’ll share more about this book in another post.

The other day, I also read an article entitled, This 60-Second Habit Has Helped Put Me in a Better, More Productive Mood Each Morning by Scott Mautz at Inc.com. In it, Scott says he starts each day by taking a minute to ask himself the following every day:

  • What am I thankful for today?
  • Who might I thank today?
  • What one thing should I be thinking of today?

One theme through both reads stood out to me. How you begin your day is so crucial. It can make your day fantastic or a fiasco. Most of us don’t consider this truth. Instead we…

  • Wait until the last minute to wake up because we’re so tired
  • Wake up on autopilot
  • Rush through the morning because we’re running behind

It may surprise some people who know me, but when I was younger, I didn’t consider myself a morning person. I got up when I had to and rushed through the morning only to get stuck in rush hour traffic and watch my fellow commuters get angrier and more flustered by the minute.

Having kids cured me of that malady. When I had to get up with them, and when realized how my day began would affect their day. I realized getting up early to get some exercise, pray and have devotions would steer my day in the way I would prefer.

Let us know how you start your day in the comments. Do you start in a rush? Do you consider yourself a morning person or a night owl?

Categories
motivation

A Time to be Still and a Time to Take Action

Cartoon of two children running. Someone is throwing acorns at them. One says, "You shouldn't insult squirrels when they're in trees and have ammo."

One warm autumn day, I was enjoying my lunch on a park bench when I noticed projectiles dropping around me. I looked up to see a squirrel gnawing on a nut. He wasn’t the least bit happy I was under his tree. Didn’t I know he had to prepare for winter?

It wasn’t long before I realized I better move and find another place. I could have been stubborn and kept eating there. But I wasn’t enjoying the bits of acorns that were pelting my head.

Cartoon of two children running. Someone is throwing acorns at them. One says, "You shouldn't insult squirrels when they're in trees and have ammo."

I’ve seen some people who haven’t enjoyed their situation. They may not be satisfied with their job or a relationship. They just may be frustrated that things haven’t changed much in years. But instead of taking action, they like to complain about it and just stay there. If you’re tired of the situation you are in, there are actions you can take today to get moving.

  • Learn a new skill
  • Seek with anticipation for new opportunities
  • Change your routine
  • Ask yourself, “What would it take to improve this situation?”
  • Journal about your observations

There is a time to be still and a time to take action. Don’t let that annoying squirrel keep pelting you with acorns!