Know your why and nothing gets in the way; if you don’t know your why then everything gets in the way.

Heard this on a podcast yesterday and it seemed like a great way to say something we all know.

When motivated, we capable of doing amazing things.

When distracted and unfocused, the years go by without much progress.

We are lucky to have been born at a time and a place where the motivations of survival are no longer relevant most of the time.

We are able to stretch beyond our basic needs for water and food and shelter and pursue a life of meaning.

We are also living in a time when our opportunities for meaning are easily stolen by distractions and trifles.

It’s so much easier to let our time and resources slip away than it is to stretch ourselves and live a life of meaning.

I’m sure there is a more thoughtful way to work through this if you struggle, but I think we should start with where we are today.

What motivates you today?

Use that to get started.

Refine and adjust from there.

Find your why along the way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Fortune favors the bold.

Today is Columbus Day. A day to remember the explorer who first landed in North America.

The quote above reminds me of Columbus.

Finding America was actually a big mistake. Columbus had made a major miscalculation. He was way off.

Because he was willing to take a risk he ended up finding something else instead.

His mistake led to his greatness.

What area of your life needs some boldness?

How many mistakes have you made lately?

We must be willing to be bold in order to experience greatness in our lives.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/xo1VInw-SKc

Sometimes you need to be willing to fight.

But mostly with yourself.

You have to be willing to fight your desire to be comfortable.

You have to be willing to fight your desires to continue that bad habit.

You have to be willing to fight your desire to give up on that new habit.

You have to be willing to fight for your future today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Promise me you will remember; you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think. – A.A. Milne

Meaghan came across a little of quotes from kids books and I liked this one.

I’m sure this is not true, but I imagine every AA Milne quote from the eyes of Winnie the Pooh.

His simple, loving and kind nature allow him to take sentences like the one above at face value.

He doesn’t overthink it, and we shouldn’t either.

You are braver than you believe.

You are stronger than you seem.

You are smarter than you think.

God created you with all of this and more. He’s excited to see you make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama

I would add “it comes by your own actions and thoughts”.

If we can get ourselves to a mature spot, we can recognize that any unhappiness in our lives is born from our own actions and thoughts.

It’s a tough place to get to for sure, but something I believe to be worth struggling with.

Recognizing this truth is one part of the equation, the other part is actually likely to be most helpful.

Want to be more happy?

Act and think happier.

This seems a little daunting if you think in absolutes, but I would suggest just keeping it simple.

Try to think and act happier more today than you did yesterday.

Perfection or continual happiness isn’t the goal, better than yesterday is.

Think one more happy thought than yesterday.

Take a moment to think about what you would do at this moment if you were happy, then do it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I have for many years endeavored to make this vital truth clear; and still people marvel when I tell them that I am happy.

They imagine that my limitations weigh heavily upon my spirit, and chain me to the rock of despair.

Yet, it seems to me, happiness has very little to do with the senses. If we make up our minds that this is a drab and purposeless universe, it will be that, and nothing else.

On the other hand, if we believe that the earth is ours, and that the sun and moon hang in the sky for our delight, there will be joy upon the hills and gladness in the fields because the Artist in our souls glorifies creation.

Surely, it gives dignity to life to believe that we are born into this world for noble ends, and that we have a higher destiny than can be accomplished within the narrow limits of this physical life.”

~ Helen Keller

Wow.

Born for noble ends with a higher destiny.

Take these words to heart today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

New month, new week….time to shake it up.

Do something different today.

Changes things up.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I was looking through the archives of the daily attitude email the other day and came across the email below.

In honor of the Cubs getting into the playoffs again this year, I figured it was appropriate to send out again.

Resending without the approval of the author.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happy Friday!

Sorry to copy Ron’s baseball theme from yesterday (awesome DAE Ron! and Susie!), but I thought this song seemed to be the obvious choice for this week’s toe tapper. You can stop here if you do not want to read my rambling about passionate baseball fans. 😉

(Someday We’ll Go) All The Way – Eddie Vedder official video

I feel I should confess that I am not a Cub fan, and also explain why I am nevertheless inspired by the outcome of this year’s World Series. I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and therefore cheer for "The Go Go White Sox…and whoever plays the Cubs!" (most of the time*). However, I did attend my fair share of games at Wrigley as a kid.

There is something so beautiful about being at a game in an old baseball stadium like that, full of tradition, with family and friends, and the pretty green field outside in the open air. It is so exciting to be there in a crowd of so many others cheering for the same team! There is a certain, deeply felt connection of the human spirit. Loyal fans get to know the players so well and want to share the ups and downs of each season with them and each other. Throw in the fact that there have been generations of families connected by this anticipation that someday they’ll go all the way, and now we have some real emotion surrounding this year’s World Series. If sports are not your thing, think of a concert, a movie or play, or a church experience that moved you and made you feel connected to the people who were there with you.

It is no wonder we know so many people who are so passionate about their Cubbies. This song by Eddie Vedder (I am a big fan of his voice) is a tribute to the team and the field that brings those fans together.

Let us be inspired by the people we know who are so passionate about something!

What are you passionate about?

What puts a smile in your heart and joyful tears in your eyes?

What rejuvenates you, or brings you peace?

What teaches you faith and gives you hope?

What helps you feel ready to do good for others, or connects you with people in some beautiful way?

Make it a great weekend!

Meaghan Davis

*I secretly felt like a Cub fan for the series. How could I not root for Chicago? I stayed up way too late watching game seven because I felt so bad for Aroldis after the eighth inning. When it came right down to it, I really wanted to see those guys win. Way to go, Cubbies. Congrats to all of you loyal, lifetime Cub Fans!

Let your mind alone, and see what happens. – Virgil Thomson

Many historical figures extol the virtues of creating space for your mind to wander.

We live in a time of unprecedented opportunities to always be stimulated by something or the other.

But we are missing out on having space to let our minds alone.

Find a few minutes today to just sit.

To think about nothing in particular.

To let your mind wander.

And then try it again tomorrow.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Raise the praise and minimize the criticize.

Not sure what the podcast was that Meaghan and I listened to that said this.

This was a podcast on parenting, but I think it applies across the board.

Take this simple idea out into the world with you today:

Raise the praise;

Minimize the criticize.

Make it a great day.

Jake