"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time—none… ZERO." — Charlie Munger

Some ideas and plans for success fall into the optional category.

Some fall into the balance category.

Some fall into the requirement category.

This quote reminded me that growing and learning is one of them.

I am sure there are others.

The main idea I wanted to pass along was to not fight it.

There are some things everybody just has to do if they want to get anywhere near something that looks like success.

Don’t fight it. Lean into it.

Lean into growth and learning.

Lean into love.

Lean into taking care of your body.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day. Andre Maurois

JW – Skunks smell bad but you don’t. – Ethan Warmbir

MS – The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. – Proverbs 11:17

EB* – That John Denver is full of shit, man.

Since EB is out this week and in the Rockies, I couldn’t resist putting in my favorite quote about the Rockies as his quote for the week.

The Rockies are a great reminder of the grand scope and beauty that exists in our world. Seeing pictures from family that visited this summer reminded me to be thankful for all of wonders in this world that we are lucky enough to enjoy.

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to spending some time in the mountains this summer, make it a point to appreciate this wonderful world we live in.

And if you aren’t in the mood for that, here is my second favorite quote about the Rockies.

https://youtu.be/GV3E5e7fZ6M

Make it a great day.

Jake

What we think, we become. – Buddha

Challenge for today.

Pay attention to what is going on in your mind.

And then think about this quote and decide if that is ok.

If you are going to become what you are thinking about, are you ok with that?

Or would you like to see something different?

Make it a great day.

Jake

You will never be free until you free yourself from the prison of your own false thoughts. – unknown

For some reason over the last few years I have noticed more and more how often people say things that just aren’t true.

We say “I can’t”.

We say “I’m just the kind of person that…”

We say “If it weren’t for….”

We tell ourselves lies. We say them often enough they become our version of the truth.

Lucky for us, we are not set in stone. We can change this pattern.

One thing I have begun thinking to myself or saying out loud is “That isn’t true.”

Step one is identifying the lies we tell ourselves.

Since the mind can’t think of two things at once, we can then work on replacing these thoughts.

We have a choice. It is our attitude that we can control.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://thenicestplaceontheinter.net/

I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but there are a few negative things on the intertubes.

It’s smart to be a little careful with how much time you spend on the negatives. And to go out looking for the positive.

Plus, everybody needs a hug to start off their week.

Focus on the positive.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/MsW8rXPcnM0

It’s been hot lately and maybe a little harder than usual to embrace summer and all that is good about it.

But the good is there if you look for it.

Go find some good old fashioned summer fun this weekend.

Get outside.

Go swimming.

Enjoy it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure about you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. – Marianne Williamson

Embrace all of the awesomeness that you were created for.

It’s far too easy to shrink from our inherent greatness. To worry what others might think or to worry too much about failing.

Is there something you were meant for that you are hiding from?

Is there some greater service you could offer if you weren’t too afraid?

Did something immediately pop into your head when you read this quote?

If so, write it down. Right now.

Put it somewhere where you can’t miss it.

And get to work.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Some are born weird, some achieve it, others have weirdness thrust upon them.” ― Dick Francis, To the Hilt

While on vacation I saw a woman running. She was running fast, had all the gear on, etc.

I thought to myself “she must be one of the weirdos that actually likes running.”

And then I thought “maybe I need to be a little more weird.”

And then I thought “maybe I could send out a daily attitude email about this.”

And then I thought “better make a note so I don’t forget.”

And then you thought “get on with it, you weirdo.”

Anyways, achieving something meaningful or breaking through our self-constructed barriers usually involves getting weird about something.

The person who ends up with a fortune first had the person who was a little weird about making and saving money.

The person who loses the weight and keeps it off first had to be the person who was a little weird about the food they ate and how it was prepared.

The person with all the great friendships first had to be the weirdo who talked to everybody and invited himself over.

We are all a little weird in our way.

But maybe we should consider adding to it. Adding a little weirdness where we need to make a change.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Travel does not exist without home. If we never return to the place we started we would just be wandering, lost. Home is a reflecting surface, a place to measure growth and enrich us after being infused with the outside world. – Josh Gates

Back home today after a trip up North.

Vacation brings with it a new appreciation for being home.

Glad to be home.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Yesterday was a travel day on this vacation and we spent most of the day in the car.

It was a great reminder to focus on the journey and not the destination.

If you spend the whole time complaining about the trip and thinking about the destination, you will miss a lot along the way.

This is another area of life that takes balance.

We must set and take aggressive steps towards ambitious goals.

While a the same time slowing down enough to smell the roses and learning to be content with what we have.

I certainly haven’t figured this one out yet, but I’m hoping that recognizing it is a good first step.

Have you ever gotten out of balance in this area?

If so, which way do you tend to fall?

What can you do to restore balance?

Make it a great day.

Jake