“Sounds like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays.”
It’s funny to me that Monday is the day of the week that is supposed to be the worst day. Seems to me that it should be the best day of the week.
It’s the start of a new week. A clean slate.
Everything is in front of you. Anything is possible.
Think of this week as a trial run. Think of it as a week full of possibilities and new beginnings.
What is the one thing you would like to get done?
Get on it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Imagine if you actually had a pocketful of sunshine.
Something that you could access at any time to brighten your mood.
Maybe it isn’t possible to put sunshine in your pocket, but you could probably find something to carry with you to brighten your day.
Some pictures of loved ones.
A piece of jewelry from a loved one.
A bible verse written on a piece of paper.
Make life a little easier on yourself by carrying around a pocketful of sunshine.
Make it a great day.
Jake
If you have a bad minute, that’s ok. If you have a bad day, it’s because of your attitude. – Jeffrey Gitomer
I was listening to a Jeffrey Gitomer video on attitude yesterday and this little quote stood out.
For some reason we tend to hold on to negative feelings and attitudes for too long.
Many Mavideans have heard me say some version “It’s ok to be angry about this for tonight, but tomorrow we need to shake it off and move forward.”
Maybe my suggestion lasts longer that Mr. Gitomer’s, but the idea is the same.
Feel the emotion. Let yourself be upset when something is upsetting. Let yourself be frustrated when things are frustrating.
But hold on to it too long and you become an upset person. A frustrated person.
Our attitude is the place we bounce back to after something good or bad happens.
Hold on to a bad thing too long, maybe you bounce back a little lower.
Let go of that negative experience real quick and the bouncing back becomes much easier.
As you might have expected, I suspect the opposite is true for the positive side.
Something good happens, hold on to it.
Keep moving forward, but don’t let it go. Add the next one right on top of it. Keep them in your mind, piling them up so that the bad stuff seems small in comparison.
Imagine a giant pile of positives next to a single negative that you pick up and put in the trash.
Seems small and easy to do now. But that also makes it easy not to do.
The choice is yours and it is important. Don’t let yourself be lazy with it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
This is one my favorite short little excerpts from Jim Rohn.
4 simple questions to get you moving in a positive direction.
1. Why? What is your why? What gets you going?
2. Why not? Jim says “You going to be here until you die, might as well.” Are there any legitimate reasons for you to not move forward and take action?
3. Why not you? This one gets to the heart of it. You are capable of greatness. Never forget that. YOU can do it.
4. Why not now? No time like the present. Sure, the excuses can pile up pretty quick. But so can the results. Just get started.
Whether you are 5 or 85, I think these questions apply to you.
And I’m confident that a little bit of thoughtful introspection in answering these questions can drive you to do and be better.
Let’s go do it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/videos/3177006565679845/
Will Smith has a unique gift at explaining life.
This video of him talking about facing our fears is great.
In order to get to the good stuff in life we must face our fears.
At some point, growth requires courage.
One thing he forgot to say is that you are worth it.
You are worth the risk.
You are worth going through all the hard work.
You are worth facing down any fear.
You are worth it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. – Saint Augustine
Great simple reminder of what Easter is all about.
It is also a great reminder of how to treat others around us.
Love each of our neighbors as if they were the only one.
Make it a great day.
Jake
The kids sang this song at church last Sunday at church and it has been in my head all week.
Today is Good Friday, Sunday is Easter Sunday.
Easter is a great reminder of what Christianity is all about.
The simple idea that Jesus suffered and died for us because of his everlasting love for each and every one of us.
Happy Easter.
Make it a great day.
Jake
A version of the same song with a little more pep (fast forward to about 1:30 to get right to the singing):
We started watching “42” (the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball) and I have been listening to Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” the last few days (in it he tells the story of his experience in a concentration camp).
Both stories include more than their fair share of difficulty and suffering.
The important thing was how each used their difficulties and suffering to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
We each have the same opportunity.
Sure, our suffering is not on the scale of theirs, but the lessons are the same.
Maybe you are having a hard time with your diet.
Maybe you are battling an addiction.
Maybe you are just having a hard time finding happiness.
Jackie and Viktor would both tell you to stick with it.
The hard part is worth it.
We can embrace our difficulties with the enthusiasm and energy that comes with recognizing that they serve a purpose. They refine us and mold us into the person we are capable of becoming.
Make it a great day.
Jake
PS for the Mavideans on the list – I have an audio copy and we have the hard copy of “Man’s Search for Meaning”. If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend it. It is in my top 10 books list.
"A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." – Jim Watkins
Lasting accomplishments take time.
We have a tendency to underestimate what we are capable of over long periods of time.
The persistent application of effort based on faith towards a worthy goal often meets with success.
Think about where you are and where you would like to go.
Find a way to apply consistent effort towards your desired destination.
You may not make it overnight, but persistence will pay off in the end.
Make it a great day.
Jake
If you’re going through hell, keep going. – Winston Churchill
I don’t have the context for this quote but I imagine it as Churchill with a cigar in his mouth, a glass of whiskey in his hand, standing over a giant WWII map table thing and barking it to his generals.
We all face hardships.
We all have our tougher battles to face.
Keep going.
If you can’t keep going, ask someone else to pull you through. Just don’t stop.
I don’t know your individual situation.
I’m sure that this advice is much easier to give than to receive (or to do).
But you can do it.
You can push through.
You can slay those demons.
You can push through this current hell.
And if you aren’t battling something right now, find someone to help.
Find someone to pull through to the other side.
Make it a great day.
Jake
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