No one has ever become poor by giving. – Anne Frank
What a great way of explaining a simple truth – you can never be too generous.
I can’t explain to exactly how or why it works out but I’m sure that it does.
When we give generously, we end up better off.
In fact, I’ve come to believe that more joy lies on the giving side of the equation.
What are you holding on to that should be given away?
What part of your life could use some more joy?
Find a way to give more.
Make it a great day.
Jake
A while ago I watched the series “The Pacific”. The series was about the experience of a group of Marines during WWII.
At the end of the show they gave a brief “update” on each of the soldiers and their experiences after the war.
Next to one of the names it said “Sold cars for 46 years”.
That really struck me as an interestingly different experience than participating in WWII.
Think about it. You go from participating in one of the greatest battles and moments in human history (saving the world) to selling cars.
Not that selling cars is bad, I just have a hard time imagining waking up in the morning to that as compared to the significance that must have been felt at moments during war.
But as I thought about it, I wondered if there isn’t an interesting lesson in there somewhere.
Maybe the lesson is that the same kinds of things that led to success in WWII would allow someone to be successful and enjoy a life of selling cars.
Courage, integrity, responsibility, grit, humility, positivity.
Just some examples, but you can easily imagine how they would lead to success in whatever endeavor the possessor pursued.
Most of us are lucky enough to not have to test our character in the crucible of war.
Instead, we must test it in daily interactions with coworkers, our families and ourselves.
As I reflect on this whole picture, I am eternally grateful for those that have faced sterner tests on my behalf.
And I am inspired to do the best I can with the opportunity they have created for me to test myself against the smaller yardsticks I face each day.
Make it a great day.
Jake
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
Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves – to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today. – Stewart Johnson
When we look at our todays and how they are spent, comparing to others is not the benchmark.
Our benchmark should be the inherent possibilities and opportunities that lie within ourselves.
One of my favorite things about sports was the process of finding out that I was actually capable of more than I thought.
I could always run faster or play better than I thought I was capable of.
I’m sure there were points in time where I thought this was because I was so special and talented, but a little maturity and age has cured me of that.
We ALL are capable of so much more than we can imagine.
Make it a great day.
Jake
We all just wanna do something fun with somebody who loves us.
Andy Stanley talks about making love a verb.
Love requires doing.
Maybe for you and Whitney….that means dancing.
Maybe it’s playing a board game.
Maybe watching a movie.
Maybe going for a run.
Think of something fun you can do with someone important in your life to show them you love them – and go do it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Worry. A topic that could probably take up a whole month’s worth of Daily Attitude Emails.
I received the excerpt below the other day and thought about how worry probably effects most of us that receive this email.
I especially liked the last line “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.”
How many days have gone by in your life without strength because you spent them worrying about tomorrow and what might happen?
Spending even one day worrying instead of living out or moving towards your dreams is a waste.
We only get one chance to live each day, let’s make the best of them.
Make it a great week.
Jake
An excerpt from
Attitude is Everything
by Vicki Hitzges
I used to worry. A lot. The more I fretted, the more proficient I became at it. Anxiety begets anxiety. I even worried that I worried too much! Ulcers might develop. My health could fail. My finances could deplete to pay the hospital bills.
A comedian once said, "I tried to drown my worries with gin, but my worries are equipped with flotation devices." While not a drinker, I certainly could identify! My worries could swim, jump and pole vault!
To get some perspective, I visited a well known, Dallas businessman, Fred Smith. Fred mentored such luminaries as motivational whiz Zig Ziglar, business guru Ken Blanchard and leadership expert John Maxwell. Fred listened as I poured out my concerns and then said, "Vicki, you need to learn to wait to worry."
As the words sank in, I asked Fred if he ever spent time fretting. (I was quite certain he wouldn’t admit it if he did. He was pretty full of testosterone—even at age 90.) To my surprise, he confessed that in years gone by he had been a top-notch worrier!
"I decided that I would wait to worry!" he explained. "I decided that I’d wait until I actually had a reason to worry—something that was happening, not just something that might happen—before I worried."
"When I’m tempted to get alarmed," he confided, "I tell myself, ‘Fred, you’ve got to wait to worry! Until you know differently, don’t worry.’ And I don’t. Waiting to worry helps me develop the habit of not worrying and that helps me not be tempted to worry."
Fred possessed a quick mind and a gift for gab. As such, he became a captivating public speaker. "I frequently ask audiences what they were worried about this time last year. I get a lot of laughs," he said, "because most people can’t remember. Then I ask if they have a current worry—you see nods from everybody. Then I remind them that the average worrier is 92% inefficient—only 8% of what we worry about ever comes true."
Charles Spurgeon said it best. "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."
Found this old daily attitude email and thought it was worth sharing again.
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
Author Unknown
Meaghan came across this and shared with me after yesterday’s daily attitude email.
Obviously this Author Unknown person is a better writer than I am so I figured I would share it.
Be thankful today.
Make it a great day.
Jake
I was getting ready to do some complaining in my head about something Meaghan had done (or not done, I honestly don’t remember), when I had this thought pop into my head:
“You are about to complain about the best thing going on in your life.”
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of complaining.
Especially about those closest to us.
We can see their flaws and their respective solutions so easily (we think).
But we wouldn’t trade that person for anything.
If they were gone tomorrow, we’d trade anything for one more day.
Instead of complaining or finding fault, let’s try to be thankful and look for the good stuff.
Let’s think so much about the good stuff we can’t imagine any bad.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Come to think of it….that thing I was going to complain about….that was my fault, not Meaghan’s. Glad I didn’t open my mouth.
Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win. – Bobby Knight
I’ve been listening to a few of the interviews on Impact Theory (https://impacttheory.com/).
A consistent theme on the show is the willingness to do the hard work to succeed.
Reading through the lines a little I think most of the interviewees are actually talking about what Bobby Knight is talking about above – preparation and practice.
Consistently the interviewees talk about how they practiced and practiced something until it was second nature. How they mentally pictured and ran through a scenario over and over until they had it down cold.
What do you want to get better at?
What could use a little practice?
Be willing to invest in practice and preparation, it will make a difference.
Make it a great day.
Jake
A favorite saying in the Davis house (courtesy of Meaghan) is that “it’s a delicate balance”.
Much of life is balancing two positives.
Live for today, plan for tomorrow.
Give away your life while holding true to your values.
Be flexible and easy going, stay strong and rooted in the important stuff.
Rest and relax, work hard and improve.
Content with what’s been given to you, ambition to do and be more.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Practical Steps for Friendship, Unity and Intimacy in Your Marriage
The Daily Attitude Email 