“The first step to getting what you want is to have the courage to get rid of what you don’t.” —Zig Ziglar

Part of moving forward towards our goals involves moving away from something else.

We must choose.

We can’t sit on the fence.

It involves risk and takes real courage.

So many live life trying to hold on to all the possibilities, playing it safe.

Spend a few minutes today dreaming about what you want. What you really want.

What you want so badly and clearly that you are willing to give something else up for it.

And then get after it. Get started. Today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Choose your love, Love your choice. – Thomas S. Monson

A marriage podcast I listened to once said that marriage is a continual grinding off of the rough edges of our personalities and idiosyncrasies.

Two imperfect people interacting with each other each day in close proximity leads can sometimes (all the time?) lead to conflict.

At some point we choose to love our choice.

It’s not easy.

It’s not for everybody.

It’s a choice I’m happy with for me.

What choices in your life are worth sticking with and loving in spite of some hard work and difficulty?

What might you do differently today knowing that you are committed to loving that choice?

Make it a great day.

Jake

“You know you are in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr. Seuss

Today marks Meaghan and I’s 20th wedding anniversary.

I am so very thankful for her presence in my life for the last 20(+) years. It’s hard to imagine the person I would be without her wisdom, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and grace.

We’re also fortunate to have had many great examples to follow and model our marriage after – from our parents and grandparents to friends and family.

We’re also lucky to have so many friends and others rooting us on and wishing us well.

Like a lot of things in life – marriage isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

— Marianne Williamson

What a great reminder – you were meant to shine.

Not in a way that puts others down or takes away from them – they were meant to shine as well.

The first sentence sets the stage perfectly – we were made to serve the world (God).

For some reason, it’s easy to miss this idea and buy into bad thinking.

Either the thinking that you are worthless and aren’t made to shine or that you are in competition with others and to outshine them you must diminish their efforts or somehow exalt yours.

We let fear and selfishness dominate our thoughts and diminish our impact.

When we let go of our fears and lean into our God-given gifts and talents for service we inspire others to do the same.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/lA7n7TwPDmw

I choose joy.

What a simple and powerful idea – choosing joy.

Life sure is full of reasons not to choose joy. Each day has plenty of opportunities to go a different path.

I feel like God put this word on my heart this year as this was something I needed to work on.

So much of the day to day can feel like a blur – busy from the morning until bed time every day. I felt like I needed to work on choosing joy in all circumstances – whether the happenings of life were going my way or not.

I’m not sure that I’m doing that well so far, but I’m working on it.

If you see me without obvious joy on my face and in my heart – say something. Challenge me.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; I have also learned from experience that the greater the part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances” – Martha Washington

Dispositions and circumstances. This seems to be a recurring theme throughout all of the “positive propaganda” I have read.

Our disposition and attitude determine our happiness, not our circumstances.

I think it is a recurring theme because it is something most of us struggle with. We struggle with the balance between facing the reality of our situation and whining and complaining about it.

And that is why I think we all need reminders. We have the opportunity every day to put on a positive disposition no matter the circumstances.

Let’s take advantage of that opportunity today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Last I drove Maggie to cross country at Dawn Lake. I decided to stay and wait for her so I had some time to kill so I decided to just sit by the side of lake and think and pray.

I tried to think of one thing to pray for each and every Mavidean and Maxlider.

It really wasn’t that hard – there’s a lot of life happening for all of us.

It was a great reminder to be more kind, gentle, patient and loving with teammates, family, friends, strangers, etc.

Everyone’s got something going on.

Over the years I’ve tried to train myself to think “How can I help?”. I find the more I can take this attitude the better my attitude.

Maybe see what you can do to help somebody with what they have going on today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. – Romans 15:13

Meaghan got this (cute) set of scripture cards that she has out in the living room. I sat down and saw the scripture above and immediately wished that everyone I knew could have that feeling described int his verse.

All joy.

All peace.

Trust.

Hope.

Sounds good to me.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. – Dale Carnegie

Contentment is elusive most days.

The balance between ambition for more and doing our best vs being happy with what we have is difficult.

In the Bible Paul talks about being joyful in all circumstances.

How could you be more content in your circumstances this week?

How could you be more grateful for whatever life brings this week?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/1k8craCGpgs

This song seemed appropriate in honor of Mavidea’s anniversary this week.

Don’t stop believing – that it can and will get better.

That our team, processes, clients and relationships will get better.

Don’t stop believing that a team of people doing business for the right reasons can and will succeed. That our future is bright and worth working for.

Make it a great day.

Jake