Category Archives: Self-Improvement

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How’s The New Year Going?

It’s now a few days before February and I want to ask you how’s the new year going? Is it going the way you planned? Or are you struggling to make progress?

One thing I know for sure. You were so excited for January 1st. You had your list of New Year resolutions you were dying to jump into.

Fireworks in a night sky

Photo by Melanie Hughes

Maybe you considered:

  • Improving your communication with your spouse but the communication has broken down even more
  • Losing those holiday pounds but you stepped on the scale this morning and there were two extra pounds
  • Increasing the company’s bottom line but expenses have continued to rise

You started off with great goals. You expected to reach the goals you had set. But the buts began to set in.

The results were slow. They didn’t line up with what you expected. The inverse of your goals began to happen.  Read more...

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Will It Ever Be Enough?

As I look back on 2019 and a little further back, I see a lot of accomplishments that I’ve have. They range from running a full marathon to paying off our mortgage 16 years early.

There’s also sponsoring our first World Vision child, Moorosi. Or running my fastest 25K in the Riverbank Run. Or there’s the travel Pam and I have done.

It was a great year. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so happy and excited for the things Pam and I have done in our personal and professional lives.

Yet… there’s something more. There’s this feeling like I’m not doing enough. Or I’m not enough.

Life always feels like there needs to be just a little bit more. Then I’ll have made it. Or then I’ll have everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

Life isn’t that simple.  Read more...

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Overcoming Your Resistance To Change

The mere mention of the word change sends shivers up the spines of those who are resistant to change. Do you know who those people are? They’re everyday, normal people like you or me.

Change is a scary word. I hated it for a long time. Change meant things weren’t going to be the same anymore. It meant friends moving away, people dying, job changes, bands breaking up, comic book series ending, new ways of doing business, and so much more.

Two grey wooden barn doors

Photo by Erol Ahmed

Change is a constant in life. We have to get used to change and learn how to overcome our resistance to change. You can’t do this without an intentional outlook on your life.

We’re going to look at ways you and I can fight against our resistance to change. We are going to find ways to become changemakers.  Read more...

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The Beauty Of Silence

I’ve found myself bombarded by constant noise. From podcasts to audiobooks to music… My life constantly has background noise.

I don’t mind the noise. I love hearing the melodic music or learning in automobile university. However, I made a conscious decision when I returned from a meeting with Concept A. I chose to let the last podcast episode run its course and then I would drive in silence (or as much silence as could in a car).

Purple sky with white clouds

Photo by Eric Muhr

By letting the podcasts, audiobooks, and music fade away, I was able to find a focus I’d long since lost. The constant noise in my life would let me focus. The silence, it allowed me to focus even more.

The Beauty Of Silence

I’m not sure many people would consider silence beautiful. Yet it is. There’s something magical and alluring about silence when we allow it into our lives.  Read more...

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Let It Go

Every person has been hurt at one point or another in their lives. Some people will hold onto these hurts longer than they should. I know… I was one of those people.

A young man holding his left shoulder in a black and white picture

Photo by Mitchell Hollander

Our past hurts will hurt us as long as we let them. They will fester and grow if we continue to feed them. And these hurts will cause us to hurt other people.

I’m not sure who said it but there’s a famous quote about hurt people. It goes:

Hurt people, hurt people.

Hurt People, Hurt People

This quote is true. Hurt people will hurt other people, either intentionally or unintentionally. The pain and bitterness one has from a past hurt will rise up and lash out at those you are near.  Read more...