You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. – Jack London

Jim Rohn talks about discipline being the ultimate virtue, as it unlocks so many other opportunities.

This quote is a reminder that we can’t wait around for life to come and inspire and motivate us. We can’t wait for the brilliant idea or perfect opportunity.

I think Jim Rohn was talking about this very idea when he described discipline as the most important virtue.

Only when we have the discipline to continually pursue growth and change do we get the inspiration we desired at the beginning.

We fall into the trap of thinking that when the inspiration comes along we will have the motivation to develop the discipline.

It’s just not true.

The time to start developing discipline is today.

Begin with something small.

Drink water instead of something sugary.

Skip the drive through for coffee and save the money and brew your own.

Pick up the dirty clothes on the floor instead of waiting for your spouse to do it.

Make the bed.

Eat a healthy lunch.

Get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us. – Virginia Satir

It’s easy to fall into the trap of valuing other’s opinions too much.

To allow ourselves to spend our life worrying about what others think.

To place those opinions too highly on our lists.

Make it a point to think more clearly about where your value comes from and where to look to see where you should go next.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I’ll add “unless you’re a jerk, and people who actually care about you deeply have made that very clear”. Then should probably listen and make some changes.

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https://youtu.be/cJqjlFGZxtE?si=WJii2Y_M_YpOq7P-

Part of the change from winter to spring and spring to summer are the beautiful mornings along the way.

Enjoy some of the sunrises and sunsets as the weather warms up and the sun shines a little more each day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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"You should never be proud of doing what’s right. You should just do what’s right." – Dean Smith, former University of North Carolina basketball coach

A long time ago I read a biography of Dean Smith. What has stuck with me from that book was that he had a few simple rules and stuck with them.

It seems to me that part of his success was built by having unwavering discipline on certain things but flexibility in others.

Think about your own life and what is most important.

Maybe you make a rule limiting the amount of work hours each week so you can spend more time with your family.

Maybe you make a rule around physical activity or diet.

Maybe you make a rule to never let a month go by without doing a budget.

Whatever your rules, stick with them. Pick just a few, but don’t let them slide.

If you are having a really hard time with discipline, pick just one. Make just one simple rule and stick to it. Just for a day to start. Then for two, then for a week. Just get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.” – Louisa May Alcott

Meaghan and Annie have really enjoyed Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

I liked this quote from her because it reminded me of Meaghan.

She’s good at noticing the beauty in nature and the little things around the house and finding some joy in the work of an artist or God’s artistry.

We have all heard the phrase “stop and smell the roses”.

It’s easy to focus on the stop part. To think of slowing down our super busy, frantic pace.

Don’t forget the smells the roses part too. Find beauty in the humble things to make home happy and life lovely.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Try to be like the turtle – at ease in your own shell. – Bill Copeland

College visit with Maggie yesterday. Got to walk around campus and see all the students going from class to class.

This quote seemed appropriate to the college experience.

Trying to learn to be at ease in your own shell.

To learn and be ok with your place in the world.

To learn and grow to the point where you can leverage your uniqueness to be of service to others.

A warning I try to remind myself of when I hear the advice “be yourself” – unless you’re a jerk, then you should change.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:26-34

Any time I feel the anxiousness creeping in, I try to remind myself of the verses above.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of worrying.

Our minds appear to have a natural tendency towards worry and anxiety.

But I believe God has a different plan for us.

Promises like joy and peace are there for us if we can renew our mind and put the right thoughts in.

If you’re feeling a lot of anxiety lately, read these versions again. Maybe every day. Renew your mind with these timeless truths.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Album drop today for T Swizzle….sure hope it goes ok for her….she sure could use a win…

Resending this toe tapper from last year.

https://youtu.be/OuFnpmGwg5k

This song has been stuck in my head the last couple of Sundays at church.

And isn’t it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

My sincere wish each Sunday is that more of us might realize there is an invisible string tying us to our Creator. That He is pulling on that string. That He wants us close to Him. Forever.

In the song Taylor tells the stories of the ups and downs of coming together with her love. She describes moments and how they now make it clear that the two are tied together. Maybe the same is true of our relationship with our Heavenly Father? All these little details and moments – meant to bring us close to Him.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – This may not be well thought out, but I think of the string as love itself. Love is what ties us to each other and to God.

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Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl. – Benjamin Jowett

Probably not a perfect quote or even the best advice, but the sentiment is a good one.

Set your bias strongly in favor of action.

Not sure what to do….take some kind of positive action.

Not sure where to start….do something and adjust from there.

Get moving!

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Home is any four walls that enclose the right person. – Helen Rowland

One of my favorite things about Meaghan is that she makes our house feel like a home.

We might differ on how much minimalism to embrace (I’d like to maximize it) or what goes where, but when it comes to making everyone feel loved and like they are the right person, she’s nailing it.

Each day is an opportunity to make those around us feel like they are just the right person to make everything feel like home.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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