Categories
motivation

One of the Cures for Anxiety

Cartoon of a boy and a shark. The shark says, "Hey, Buddy! Let me know when you're going to get in the water, okay?"

Anxiety has become endemic in our society. We fear the present, future and the guy in the next car. The news terrifies us, marketing feeds on our insecurities and the workplace can be a challenging mix of deadlines, earning reports and lofty goals. Yes, it can weigh a person down.

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Proverbs 12:25 NLT

One cure for the common case of anxiety is an encouraging word. If you’re not getting much of it, start to become an encourager. A simple thank you does wonders. Make a point to see positives in every situation and call them out.

It’s too easy to worry. Let’s start to bring encouragement back to those around us. That said, I’d still be suspicious of courteous sharks!

Categories
motivation

Iron Fists are Fragile!

Cartoon of mad scientist and accountant

Some believe leadership requires a plan to squash any rebellion. The temptation is to rule with an iron fist and extinguish any opposition before it gains a stronghold.

It may work for a time. You see dictators remain in power for decades. But inevitably, the power can’t be maintained. It takes a lot of resources to rule with an iron fist, or hatch an evil plot.

You can choose to rule with an iron fist and attempt to remove any opposition. It can never really be eliminated. The opposition just goes underground. A better way is to work with your team. Learn from them. Share and delegate power. Allow discussion.

You can try to rule with a fragile, iron fist. Or you can build a team and work towards the future. In the end, it’s really about The Golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

Categories
motivation

Clean Slate

The past can feel like a clutter of regrets the wrong choices and burdens. It can be easy to play the what-if game.

  • What if my parents did this instead of that?
  • What if my family was rich?
  • What if I had a different set of friends?
  • What if I made a different decision then?
  • What if I didn’t start that bad habit?

Our life can become a cluttered room of past choices if we hold onto things. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Every new day gives us a clean slate. Instead of holding onto regrets, we can choose to learn from the past, let go of it and move forward.

  • We can choose a better habit today
  • We can be thankful for a lesson learned and make a better choice today
  • We can begin to clean the mental clutter by writing down what happened
  • We can forgive others as well as ourselves

Whatever your story, whatever your past, today is a brand new day. It is a clean slate. Start cleaning and make the best of it.

Categories
books motivation teaching

Reinforce a Lesson by Teaching Someone

Cartoon of a teacher and a circle-shaped character

The other day, a coworker was asking me how I keep my notes organized. I responded that I have got a lot out of a web site and book about the Bullet Journal Method.

It reminded me of how valuable it is to reinforce a lesson by telling or teaching someone the same lesson. I have been using a variation of the method for some time and bought the book in the spring. I was reminded of how effective the method was when I told him how it helped me.

If you are a lifelong learner, I suggest you find a way to teach what you’ve learned to others. You don’t have to be an official, formal teacher. You can just share what you’ve learned to your friends or people at work.

If you have found a piece of knowledge to be useful for you, chances are another person can benefit from it. In turn, that helps you remember the lesson and reinforce it in your own mind.

Categories
motivation

Another Reason Why my Wife Inspires and Motivates me

Yesterday, my wife wrote a post about her journey over the last year.

A Step of Faith by Paula Kay Spear

Over the last several years, I have seen her grow spiritually in major ways. She has chosen to leave what is comfortable, successful and a wonderful environment to pursue what she feels God is calling her to do next.

Whether you are a religious person or not, any potential move from the ordinary requires faith. That is especially true when you aren’t necessarily miserable or otherwise forced to make a change.

I am proud of her beccause she has inspired me and others to listen and move. I know she has done great things where she’s been and will continue to do so because of her faith to step out of the boat.

In case you didn’t know, my wife is my hero and she continues to inspire and motivate me.