Our deepest habits were formed in the fire of emotion.

Think of you habits like a groove in the road. Think of the wagon trains on the old dirt and mud roads in the West.

Habits become more deeply ingrained over time, when the habit is repeated over time.

But the real depth comes when some weight is applied, and that weight comes in the form of deeply felt emotions.

If this is true, knowing this might be helpful in a couple of different ways.

First, it might allow us to diagnose why a certain habit or habits are so hard to change. They might be tied to a very emotional time or moment in our life and only by beginning to separate the habit from the emotion of the past.

Second, it allows us to apply emotion to begin a new habit. Whether it be an emotional response to quitting a bad habit (Never Again!) or an emotional response to starting a new habit (bedtime stories for a loved new child), emotion will drive that new habit deeper.

What habit(s) would you like to start or stop?

What emotions are at play?

Make it a great day.

Jake

WIN – What’s Important Now

I was recently listening to an audiobook (“Essentialism” by Greg McKeown) where the author told the story of an exceptional high school rugby program.

The team credits some of their success to the simple concept above. They are always thinking WIN – what’s important now.

Whether they are winning or losing.

Whether it is the offseason or the playoffs.

They work to consistently focus on the most important priority for right now.

As I thought about this, I think it comes with an added benefit besides the intense focus it creates.

By focusing on what’s important now, it allows you to build momentum. By racking up a series of small wins, it allows the team to build up positive momentum and ride that into the next win.

So, What’s Important Now?

Make it a great day.

Jake

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalms 139:13-14

Something I am more and more amazed by as I get older is just how unique each of us.

Somehow we were all made differently.

These verses really get to that point. Imagine each of us being knit together in our own unique way.

This realization can create confidence for each of us. Realizing that we were made for a specific and special purpose should allow us to have an unshakable confidence in ourselves. After all, the entire universe came together to create us, individually and on purpose.

This realization also creates an extreme amount of responsibility for each of us. If we are uniquely made, so is everyone else. This creates responsibility in us because once we realize this, we are now responsible for treating them that way. We should treat everyone as if they were fearfully and wonderfully made.

The world is full of wonderful creations. We can choose to embrace this and be inspired.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Saturday was the anniversary of D-Day.

Ronald Reagan gave a moving speech about this historic day on the 40th anniversary.

Please watch and think of those who have fought for our freedoms.

https://youtu.be/eEIqdcHbc8I

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/2B1j4Z25i7k

Schools out for summer.

Remember that feeling when you were a kid? That feeling of freedom and adventure.

We said things like “I can’t wait until I’m a grown up and I can do whatever I want ALL of the time.”

We looked forward to this time when school would be out forever and we would be free to do whatever we wanted.

Well….news flash…..that’s you now.

You are free to do whatever you want.

School is out forever (metaphorically speaking of course, if you want to go to school, go for it).

What are you going to do with your new found freedom?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead

Today marks 8 years for us at Mavidea.

As I think about Mavidea, I almost always think of the above quote.

As I think about the last 8 years, I think of all the ways we have already changed the world.

All the clients served.

All the employees employed.

All the community service.

Something I’ve noticed lately is just how many lives have been touched by Mavidea over the years. I think about all the stories and conversations and can’t help but think about how proud I am of all the Mavideans.

Life has come and gone. Life has changed for many of us, but our commitment to each other and our cause has never wavered.

Want to know the best part?

Our future is going to be even better. We have so much to look forward to and to work toward.

We have many more lives to touch. We are just getting started.

Thank you to all of you for being a part of our attempts at making this world a better place.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results. – Willie Nelson

I have to come to believe that our brains can’t handle two thoughts at once. It is a one at a time thing.

And that is why quotes like this one make so much sense.

If we can only entertain one thought at a time, replacing negative with positive can have tremendous benefit.

If we can focus on positive thoughts, one after the other, we can crowd out the negative.

If there is only room for one, might as well make it a good one.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today is the last day of school for the Davis girls. It has been amazing to watch them go through school and learn and grow in so many ways.

While school may be out for summer, I am reminded that school is never really out.

I thought I would share some of the quick lessons I have seen our kids learn so far while in school.

Reading is fun.

Being a friend is important.

Teachers are awesome.

Ignore the mean kids.

Recess/play is the best.

Life is great.

Sometimes you get a little nervous and scared, do it anyway.

These are just a few of the lessons I have seen the Davis girls learn at school.

Hopefully this was a reminder of some of the lessons you learned while in school.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Feel free to email back with some of the lessons you learned in school.

You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down. – Mary Pickford

The first of the month and a Monday. What a great day for a fresh start.

Whether you blew your New Year’s goals out of the water or quit on them by February 1st, now is a great time to get back at it.

Think about something in your life that needs to be reset and started over. And then do it.

Wipe the slate clean and get after it all over again.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/as-SALpccd8

It is getting to be vacation time of year and I always like it when Jimmy Fallon and the crew do these.

We all need a holiday.

We need time to rest and recuperate.

We need time to step back and look at the big picture of our life.

We need time to deepen the most important relationships in our lives.

If you aren’t already, start working on planning a summer vacation. Even if it is a real short one.

Make it a great day.

Jake