In the Bible it says the meek shall inherit the earth.

It’s hard not to bristle a little when you hear that.

We hear words like meek and humble and think of the perennial doormat that doesn’t think enough of themself to stand up for what they believe in.

I went in search of something around the topic of humility and found this short excerpt:

One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering I have read was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who wrote The Hiding Place, was imprisoned there too. The prayer, found in the clothing of a dead child, says:

O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.

I think that is the kind of behavior the Bible is talking about.

The kind of humility and meekness it takes to write something like that is hard to imagine.

It’s easy to read something like this and feel bad. Hard to live up to those kind of standards, so why even try?

Why try? Prayers like this one are proof that better is out there. We are capable of amazing things.

Use this as inspiration to get started on your own amazing thing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. – Eleanor Roosevelt

So much of the good we seek in life falls into this category – by-product.

No matter how we grab on, it slips through our fingers.

When we focus elsewhere it creeps up on us.

If you’re having trouble, this might be why.

I think the next step is to find someone or read about someone who has found what you are looking for and (thoughtfully) copy what they are doing.

You’ll find things like….discipline, generosity, grace, patience, humility, etc.

Probably all the hard stuff.

I’ve decided that means I’m probably on the right track and it’s time to get to work.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. – Norman Vincent Peale

Maturity Moment for Jake – this one hit a little too close to home.

Praise is a good thing and we could all use more of it.

Criticism is a good thing and we could all use more of it.

Not sure about you, but I know which one I prefer.

This quote was a good reminder though….I could be praising myself right over a cliff.

Wisdom must be applied when dealing with power and both criticism and praise are powerful motivators.

Are you seeking out feedback? Not just the feedback you want to hear? Not only from the people that will say good things?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Yr7Wkz7W7Vs

In this video by Tony Robbins, he asks “what kinds of questions are you asking yourself?”

Are you asking yourself questions like:

Why am I so fat?

Why don’t I have any friends?

When am I going to get it together?

Instead, you must learn to ask yourself positive questions. Questions that allow you to take responsibility for your actions and lead to action in a positive direction.

What can I do today to lose weight?

What can I do today to create a new relationship?

What book can I read to learn to get more organized?

We must learn to ask ourselves the right questions if we are to find the answers we are searching for.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Jay_-l6NaC8

One last Christmas song in honor of the Mavidea/Maxlider party tonight.

Also, here is a daily attitude email from a few years ago when we had our last Christmas party.

Every year at the Christmas party I make it a point to find a moment or two to step back from it all and just observe.

Every year I see the same thing.

I see smiles.

I hear laughter.

I feel the love in the room.

I remember that this is what it is all about. I remember not to worry or overthink it. I remember that we are getting the big things right.

I find my wife and go back to her side remembering that I am the luckiest guy in the world.

Thank you for being a part of that. I can’t imagine it without each and every one of you.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

Pray with your feet.

I read this in a book once and thought it was appropriate for around the New Year.

It is important that we all learn to work through our worries, concerns, dreams and goals in some form of prayer.

But it is also important that we take action.

We can’t just pray, we need to be moving forward as well.

Take action today. Move forward on one of your prayers.

Make it a great day.

Jake

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. – Rainer Maria Rilke

A new year – a blank slate.

Full of opportunities to create something that has never been.

To open ourselves up to new experiences.

Make it a great day.

Jake

New year, new you.

Part of changing over the calendar is the idea that other things need to change as well.

And they probably do.

You probably eat too much or swear too much or don’t exercise enough or whatever.

But there are more than a few things about that aren’t so bad.

Probably even one or two (or more) that are pretty special.

Just because the calendar changed – don’t think you need to change it all.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/i6eLIHcdDWY

Maturity moment from T Swizzle – I’m the problem – it’s me.

End of the year this weekend. Good time to take stock of how things are going – really.

Maybe look at each area of your life and give a quick letter grade – physical, spiritually, financially, relationally, work, etc. Honest answers only.

THE GOOD NEWS – you are also the solution.

You are capable and can change those grades. You have what it takes. You don’t need anything else to get started. You can’t do it alone, help is available.

YOU ARE WORTH IT. All of it. The pain and disappointment you are feeling now and the discipline, joy and peace that await you on the other side of positive change.

Make it a great day.

Jake

When the New Year comes around, you hear a lot about New Year’s resolutions.

Most of what is written is about how to set the goals better, how to increase your chances, etc.

They all start out with some statistic about how some really high percentage of resolutions are dropped by the end of January (86% of statistics are made up on the spot).

It almost seems like their goal is to either have you do it their way or just skip it.

Not me. Not this year.

Set some New Year’s resolutions.

Set a lot of them if you feel like it.

Don’t focus on the statistics that say 90% won’t make it, focus on the 10% that will.

Think positive.

You got this.

No reason you can’t be in the 10%.

And if you don’t make it, I’m sure you will be better off anyway.

If you need any help – check out what Kid President has to say – https://youtu.be/GQOcEDD5hR8.

Make it a great day.

Jake