The Ancient One : It’s precisely what’s kept you from greatness. Arrogance and fear still keep you from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all.

Dr. Stephen Strange : Which is?

The Ancient One : It’s not about you!

I caught this line when watching Dr. Strange with Maggie the other night.

What a tough life lesson to learn – it’s not about you.

The sooner we learn this and make our peace with it, the better off we’ll be.

Life is not about us or our comfort.

Life is about service to others with love.

Not to get something in return but to become something in the process.

Our pride and our fear hold us back. We want to be in control and to make sure it turns out great – for us. When we let go and begin to pour ourselves out – every day – we begin to experience true joy and peace.

Where are you holding back giving and service to protect yourself?

Where are you letting fear and pride hold you back?

Find some small ways today to decrease pride and fear and add more service and love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – This was probably much easier to write than it will be to read. It’s a real struggle for all of us. But it’s worth it.

This 4th of July I couldn’t help but think of Viktor Frankl’s idea of a “State of Responsibility” on the West Coast and this daily attitude email from a few years ago.

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. – Albert Camus

In “Man’s Search for Meaning” Viktor Frankl has the idea that the Statue of Liberty (representing freedom) should have a twin on the West Coast – a statue of responsibility.

Freedom is not only a chance to be better, it is an offering to accept the responsibility inherent in making the most of our freedom.

Today is Veteran’s Day. A day to remember who paid for our freedoms.

I’ve read quite a few books from members of our military over the last few years.

Each time I am inspired to make the most of the freedom they have bought for me.

Even the most heroic and well-meaning soldiers from the stories seem to struggle with coming back and realizing that so many have chosen to squander their great gifts.

Our biggest tribute to the armed forces is a life well lived.

A life spent enjoying the responsibilities of the freedom so dearly bought for us.

Make the most of your chance to be better.

Embrace the responsibility of making the most of your freedom.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/xOgAmQvOUM0

Thanks for Mr. Leverton who recommended this one.

So much to be thankful for.

Make a list.

Call some people and say it.

Prayerfully offer thankfulness to God.

Thank your wife.

Thank your boss.

Thank your son or daughter.

Thank somebody today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of the greatest attacks of the enemy is to make you busy, to make you hurried, to make you noisy, to make you distracted, to fill the people of God and the Church of God with so much noise and activity that there is no room for prayer. There is no room for being alone with God. There is no room for silence. There is no room for meditation. – Paul Washer

Not sure about you, but the last year or so sure has felt “busy”.

I’ve been actively working on being less hurried (still a lot of work to do).

It’s too easy to confuse productive and busy. We are all the same amount of busy – 24 hours goes by at the same rate for all of us.

We run around trying to win the “busy contest” that everyone seems to be competing in. Cramming in less meaningful activities until we aren’t productive at all.

God, our spouses, our children, our co-workers, family members, exercise, study, etc. get crowded out in exchange for social media, TV, gossip, complaining, junk food, etc.

Fill your time up with the good stuff. 24 hours will be gone again before you know it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"If your dream is to live a life full of happiness, bliss, and love, chances are what’s holding you from that kind of life is either your pride or your fear." – Ken Black

When you read that quote, what popped into your head?

Afraid of failure?

Too proud to admit a mistake?

Afraid of what others might say?

Too proud to say you are sorry?

Maybe the day to get over yourself is today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The home is the chief school of human virtues. – William Ellery Channing

When I read this, my first thought was about how lucky I am to have grown up in a good home.

The second thought was that I’m lucky to have such a wonderful wife who’s working hard to create that kind of space for our kids.

The real challenging thought though was that school isn’t out.

That when it comes to human virtues, I need to make home a school.

That study is not optional.

What values are you working on at home?

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – To give you some ideas I really like the Bible verse about the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. All of these begin at home.

A lot of people quit looking for work as soon as they find a job. – Zig Ziglar

Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.- Sam Ewing

One of my favorite scenes from Bruce Almighty is when God and Bruce mop the floor together.

Bruce has finally gotten to the end of his rope and goes seeking help, and God gives him a mop and then they mop the floor together. The sheer simplicity of doing some hard, good work together produces clarity of thought and purpose for Bruce.

There is something almost cathartic about doing some plain old fashioned hard work.

Hard work is also one of the keys to creating and transferring value to others (which in turn determines our rewards). Applying hard work to solving the problems of others can be our unique way of delivering value.

Is there something in your life that just needs some good old fashioned hard work?

When can you start?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/1-VCWUtNm-4

I’m always amazed at people who have the patience and skill to shoot a video like this.

I’m guessing this took a lot of setup and retakes.

All for entertainment or the art of it or both (or some other reason).

What are you willing to put that kind of effort into?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Men who never get carried away should be. – Malcolm Forbes

Sometimes we need to get a little carried away.

Sometimes we need to get a little crazy over something.

Sometimes we need to get a little obsessed over a goal.

Some goals require us to put in more effort than normal.

Do you have something on your list that needs you to get a little carried away?

Do you need to get carried away about that new diet?

Do you need to get carried away about that new investment plan?

Do you need to get carried away taking care of that friend?

Do you need to get carried away?

Make it a great day.

Jake

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. – Lao Tzu

I’ve been an aspiring minimalist the last few years and have become convinced to work on breaking my desire for more stuff.

At times I’ve surprised myself with my vulnerability to buying and acquiring stuff.

We live in a period of time and a place where our stuff can rule us. We spend our time working to get more or maintain and organize what we have.

What we were built for is relationship.

We were built to spend time with each other, in nature, and with God. None of which requires stuff.

Make it a great day.

Jake