Have you ever noticed that certain traits or behaviors in others cause a negative reaction in you? In most of those cases, we’d probably admit that our emotional response was disproportionate to the infraction. When we take the time to explore this area of our lives, it can lead to greater personal growth. Learning From What Upsets Us I think most people that know me would say that I’m a pretty congenial type of guy. I continue to work on myself and that helps me to be understanding of others. But there are circumstances where I get upset very easily ...
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Just know you’re not alone. We all have the habit of telling ourselves that everyone else is doing well and we’re the only one that’s struggling. I've had the privilege of knowing many of men’s stories through several decades. And I've come to understand that despite the facade projected to the world, everyone is going through some form of struggle. So my heartfelt message to you is, hang in there, and where it’s safe to do so, share your battle with another. Like the bottom side of a stone that has slimy moss, when flipped over and exposed to sunlight, ...
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Everyone of us has a WHY, a deep-rooted purpose, cause or belief that is the source of our passion and inspiration. You may not yet know what yours is or how to express it in words. But you have one. Fulfillment is another word for happiness, but there’s more to it. All kinds of things make us happy at work: hitting a goal, getting a promotion, gaining a new client. But happiness is temporary; the feeling doesn’t last. Fulfillment is deeper. Fulfillment lasts. The difference between happiness and fulfillment is the difference between liking something and loving something. Fulfillment comes ...
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How do you feel when you are sitting still in a quiet place with no distractions? What happens when you are in a place of solitude? Is it peace. . . or is it a hard to place sense of uneasiness? Some of us find this to be an uncomfortable exercise to do. We much rather fill our time with busyness, tasks, noise - all as random distractions, rather than actually feeling what might be within us. If we are in a constant state of distraction, we may never understand what we might be feeling below the surface. The pursuit ...
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There’s comfort in routine, in doing things the way we are used to doing them. We are creatures of habit. Often routines and habits develop in our lives without us consciously choosing them. Some daily patterns may form out of a healthy place in our lives, and that is good. But some may have formed from unhealthy places that we gravitated to as survival or coping behaviors – or just shear comfort. These are the habits we would be wise to evaluate. There is a good likelihood that we have chosen routines and habits that actually work in direct opposition ...
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I have come to understand the vital importance of identity in our lives. It’s one of the most defining issues in determining the ultimate success of an individual. How we see ourselves, how we see our capabilities and how we see our role in this world are some of the most significant factors that shapes our existence. I’m not referring to how most of us would respond to these questions at the surface level. Rather, deep within us, where our core beliefs drive us at a sub conscience level, we have answered those questions. And we've done so in ways ...
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A good portion of the anxiety we experience stems from concerns about our future and what it holds. Somehow we think we'll be better prepared by dreading over what is to come. The thought process is not constructive. There's no logic or productiveness to the lineage of thought. It's actually obsessive thoughts stuck on repeat. In the end, it’s wasted energy that serves no practical purpose. Fretting about the future, removes us from the present. And the present is the one place that we do have the ability to influence. So when concerns about tomorrow come, keep in mind that ...
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Life is constantly offering us opportunities to grow. Many of us miss these valuable lessons because they often come in the form of a challenge that we’d prefer not to deal with. We perceive these circumstances as an inconvenience, an outright disruption to our every day lives. But if we have the discipline to re-frame how we see the circumstance, we can actually view it as a gift. The first time someone shared this thought with me, I wasn’t in a good place. As I heard the advise, some not so pleasant words formulated as a response. Fortunately, they never ...
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Working with what’s given to you. A simple but vital concept for achieving the progress we desire. Few of us have the luxury of having everything we want or everything we feel we need to achieve the next level. Whether it’s financial independence, career satisfaction, or relational depth, embracing this perspective is key to what we seek. Developing the mindset to play the cards dealt to us, doing so to the best of our ability, while making the most of what we can, where we are right now - it’s all an attitude we determine. We may not have control ...
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A friend of mine reminded me the other day the importance of intentional breathing. They could tell that some life events were starting to take a toll on me. Many of us live pressure filled lives and stress naturally builds up causing our body to react with shorter, quicker breathing that robs the body of needed oxygen. It may seem obvious that we need oxygen but we may not be as aware of all the benefits we receive from something we take for granted. Advantages of Deep Breathing Decreases stress Increases calm Relieves pain Stimulates the lymphatic system (Detoxifies the ...
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