https://youtu.be/wrVTX4x-HxY?si=XzTJxkSEhl55UoU9

For most of us, becoming who we want to become is going to involve dropping a few things along the way.

The Bible talks a lot about the old self dying and a new self being born (classic Bible verse – paraphrased – "but how can I be born again, I can’t climb back in to my mother’s womb").

Our old ways and thoughts have to be renewed and reborn to get to a new and better destination.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits around food.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits around TV or social media.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits around negative self talk.

Maybe we need to drop our old habits of comparison and complaining.

If we aren’t content – then something needs to change. Something needs to be dropped.

The best way to drop something is find something better to pick up.

The song talks about doing this and picking up the freedom and peace of a personal relationship with Christ (great place to start if you’re looking).

It’s also true about our habits and thoughts.

Renew your mind by picking up some new habits of thought.

Practice gratitude.

Practice mindfulness.

Practice something new and better.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Action is the antidote for anxiety.

Heard this on a podcast recently.

Over the years I’ve read several books about soldiers during war times.

Most of the anxiety and fear occurred when they were sitting still, waiting on the next orders.

The same is true for us. Sitting around allows our minds and bodies to end up worried and anxious about what might be.

The focus and clarity that can come with action dispel this anxiety.

Next time you’re feeling a little anxious – do something. Get busy.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Will Durant

Every time the Olympics comes around I am amazed at the amount of excellence on display.

Events where I have zero interest in the sport itself still leave me mesmerized the amount of skill and mastery on display.

Doing something so well is its own reward.

I’m sure people aren’t itching to tune and watch us deliver IT support, build websites or build Broncos (well, they might actually watch us build Broncos), but we can still have the feeling of a job well done.

The feeling of being a master of our craft. The feeling of delivering excellence to each other and our customers.

Not for show or medals, but because doing it right is always worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I place this day, my life, my loved ones, my work in the Lords hands. There is no harm in the Lords hands, only good. Whatever happens, whatever results, if I am in the Lords hands it is the Lords will and it is good.

Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking

I don’t know about you, but it took me WAY too long to figure out I wasn’t in control.

The last 5 or 6 years have reinforced this for me. I am not in control.

In my better, more mature moments this thought provides peace and freedom.

If I don’t have to be in control, I can be free to do the best I can with what I have.

To make the most of every day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today we celebrate President’s Day.

Politics and the presidency are a heated battle these days (and I suppose they always have been). Full of heated arguments on both sides.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of either loving your candidate or hating the other.

To focus on what is wrong with the system and the person in the role.

I like to (at least for President’s Day) at least attempt to respect the office.

Whether I like the person or their policies. Whether I voted for or against.

Whoever is in that role is doing something hard. And at least some part of them is trying to make things better for us.

I try to be thankful for that part of them. To be hopeful that it all works out and things actually do get better, whether I agreed with the path to get there or not.

Maybe it’s a little naive or optimistic to think this way (definitely), but one day won’t hurt…

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/_7xMfIp-irg?si=9VUWj19y1StjtNQx

There’ll be plenty of talk about love this weekend.

Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of the importance of love in our lives.

Focus on the love.

Not the stuff or the commercial side of things.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Treasure your relationships, not your possessions. – Anthony J. D’Angelo

Another reminder to major in the major things of life.

Relationships are the real treasure.

All the stuff is a distraction.

Focus on what really matters.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will. – James Stephens

Some part of the life we want lies behind our fears.

They hold us back from taking the steps needed to get where we want to go.

Curiosity is a great step in overcoming our fears.

Spend some time wondering about them. Where did they come from? What would really happen if they came true? Is there something to learn?

Take that first little step today. Ask some questions about those fears. Start to wonder about them. Maybe you’ll find out there wasn’t much to be afraid of after all…

Make it a great day.

Jake

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. – Carl Jung

The hardest part of parenting might just be the realization that they are acting just how you trained them to….whether you meant to or not.

It’s so very tempting to get irritated by those around us who fall short of our expectations.

To declare their sins and shortcomings to be personal character flaws that require our disdain and correction.

It’s also very tempting to be hard on ourselves. Heaping disappointment on ourselves for our own perceived sins and shortcomings.

I’d like to suggest that there should be a balance here.

Forgiveness and grace for the sins and shortcomings.

Distance and disconnect from those people and habits that cause too much damage and despair.

Where should the line be drawn?

Well, that’s up to you. Choose wisely.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending this daily attitude email from a few years ago….excellence is still a consistent theme in my head.

The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. – Vince Lombardi

After watching the Super Bowl last night, I wanted to go looking for a Vince Lombardi quote.

This one stuck out to me because the word “excellence” has been stuck in my head lately.

What if you made a constant effort to add excellence into your life?

What would an excellent drive in to the office look like?

What would an excellent meeting look like?

What would excellence look like when you got home tonight?

Pursue excellence today.

Make it a great day.

Jake