It’s amazing to consider that on any given day, literally tens of thousands of thoughts cascade through our brains. Some of these thoughts are spectacular, like that glorious beach vacation you took with your family last year, or remembering the wide-eyed wonder of your children on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, for...
Amy Olrick
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” -- James 1:19-20Standing at the post office, I felt my stomach clench in frustration. My day...
Lilka Finley Raphael
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 3:13-14 NKJVI...
Lilka Finley Raphael
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14 NKJVPlease...
Lilka Finley Raphael
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 3:13-14 NKJVI...
Eliezer Gonzalez
On the way back, we went through several long tunnels. And in the middle of a tunnel, the train stopped and most of the lights went out. Just like that we
Lyli Dunbar
We stress out when we're dealing with disrupted plans. Three principles from Proverbs can help us stop living weighed down with anxiety.
Hello friends,How's that New Year's Resolution going so far?Are you decidedly less motivated than you were on January 1st?A QUICK STORYMany moons ago, I used to work at a big corporate gym.Every January, like clockwork, all of us "regulars" braced for the influx of all those "New Year's Resolution" folks. Inside the gym, it would look like a freshly-disturbed anthill (people were everywhere) for about three to four weeks.Then magically, when February hit, everything would "go back to normal." Ahhh. That annual phenomenon was so predictable in the gym scene, that we just grit our way through waiting for the equipment we wanted...knowing the crowds wouldn't last forever. IS 2024 BECOMING "GROUNDHOG YEAR"? For most people, each new year is a pop of good-intentions-based action, followed by about 11 months of managing decline. Said differently, only about 8% of people move their health, relationship, or financial life forward in meaningful ways.Ouch.May that not be you. If you already...Feel yourself sliding into old, bad habits.Sense recurring aches and pains are coming back.Feel bothered that you're not living up to your potential.Are resigning yourself to not feel motivated until springtime.Hear yourself saying "I know what to do but can't make myself do it."Let me offer you...THREE WAYS TO OVERCOME THE FEBRUARY SLUMP#1About three years ago, I noticed that the predictable seasonal motivation slump hit our client base. I think it was amplified by covid, but it seemed stronger than usual.So, that year, I wrote an eight-part series on motivation to help people (and ahem, myself) figure out and disarm the common thieves of our mojo.If you're interested, you can find those articles on my blog starting here.#2One of my mentors (Darren Hardy) did a recent post on his top six reasons New Year's resolutions don't last. Do you know the milestones?No measurement - If you can't measure it, you can manage it or adapt.Darren would say "Willpower fails 100% of the time, over time."He'd say that we all need systems to back us up, and guardrails to keep us on track.I wholeheartedly agree.But, based on my time as a coach, I would add one important thing--something that must come before we attempt to install systems and guardrails.We all need time to sit with clarifying questions to help us see a crystal clear and believable vision of who we are trying to become and why we aspire to accomplish that in the first place.Now, you don't have to overthink the answer to those questions, but most people don't give much (or any) thought to the motivational underpinnings of their goals.THAT oversight is what starts the 3-4 week deflation of their tires as soon as they click into gear on January 1st. If you don't do the sober (and ongoing) calculus of the trade-offs (read "hard things") you are (or aren't) willing to go through, you won't have the emotional reserves to see your goal(s) to completion.In other words, you'll join the 92% who "Try again on Monday,"...or Jan 1. #3I'm a coach who helps people when pretty much everything else hasn't worked.Frankly, most people aren't ready for the kind of work I do because they still think there's an easy button or "biohack" somewhere. Here's a little tough love--real change is hard, and finding root causes can be hard, but you know what's harder...constantly disappointing yourself and those you care about. THAT is harder. THAT is a life filled with regrets, and...THAT is a life filled with "I wonder what would have happened if I tried."My friends, that's no way to live. So, how do I help people do hard things?Simple...but not easy.Figure out the upstream blockage that ACTUALLY holds them back.Clarify the trade-offs, habits, and behaviors it will take to move the needle.Help them strategically develop the skills, intuitions, and systems/guardrails to (finally) keep them on track.It's almost like discipleship, mentoring, coaching, and a kick in the pants all in one.Try getting that from your doctor, or motivational speaker.I help people unearth the answers questions they've been missing...and I do it with surgical empathy and a well-seasoned strategic mind.LET'S GET REALThat stupid groundhog always sees his shadow.How about if this year we make him irrelevant?How about if this year you stop waiting for "someday" and instead, figure out what trade-off to make, so you can believably put "someday" on the calendar? To hit big goals, you're going to have to think (a lot), but you're worth it!If you want someone to help you speed up all that thinking, you can check out the coaching I do.If you have a question you can hit reply, or you can even schedule a time to chat. Otherwise, check out the blog series on motivation, or reflect on Darren's list of six.Whatever you do, go take life by the horns in 2024. No more puttering, or overestimating your capacity. You get ONE go at 2024...make it a good one, sans regrets.Until next time, here's to not being someone who dithers,ChristianPS.
Hannah
Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."You sit there, staring at the list of resolutions you wrote down at the beginning of the year. Stress wraps around you like a tight grip. None of them...
Feeling weary, stressed and frustrated? Perhaps, instead of a pick-me-up, you need a slow-me-down to help you through the day.
Lori Altebaumer
So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. Acts 27:38 (NKJV) Here in the US, we’ve just enjoyed the holiday where we give thanks for all that we have by indulging in more than enough. The one word rarely heard around the Thanksgiving table is […]
Without a doubt, we live in an incredibly fast-paced society. Eight Ways to Relieve Stress and Welcome Serenity in your life.
Sleep tourism is a thing—and it’s growing. For many of us, vacation means travel. Going and doing. And to get our money’s worth, we want to do as much as possible. A hotel is just a place to shower, change clothes, and catch a few hours of sleep before we go, go, go again. Who checks into a hotel just to sleep? Well …
Want to know how I have a story set in the future that isn’t a “futuristic” story? Songs for a Sunday is my first split-time novel. A story set in the 1960s is told alongside a story set in the…
Frank Walker
Ways to beat Stress Beat Stress 2 Control your environment There are so many things adding to your stress that you have no control over. Figure out what you can control and control those things. Do…
Are you stuck in an after-dinner-veg-out rut? These 21 ideas to destress in the evening will help you shed stress and restore your energy more effectively.
If you want to be more productive and procrastinate less, this selection of posts will give you practical tips to help you.
Whether across town or around the world, moving can be a challenge. Here are some ideas for how to take the stress out of moving.
What are some things that worry and cause you anxiety daily? A difficult child? Your work/career? Not enough money to buy food? Here are seven scriptures to help you curb worry and anxiety today.
Stress shows up in our life in a myriad of ways. Each of these posts deal with a different area of your life. Which one will help you de-stress this week?