Journey

As far as I can tell Life is a Journey.

• We are all going somewhere
• We are all going somewhere in some manner
• We are all going somewhere in some manner with some others

For me, I had to re-think everything when I learned this. I wrestled for months and hundreds hours with notebooks full of notes. Do I have a destination? Am I pleased with where I am going? Am I "all-in" on my journey? Am I doing this life the right way? Am I doing this life with the right people? Am I transparent and the real deal?

The stakes are high for me. I have no margin for error. I have to get this right. Statistically, I am in the second half of my life having lived 14,667 days.

It's hard work but so worth it. There was a ton I didn't like. There was much I was embarrassed about. But the re-direction has been every bit worth it.

The What and the How

In my experience the WHAT will always come before the how. But earlier in my life, I got stuck with my total obsession on the how and forgetting the what. This lead to a sluggish life with not much forward momentum or impact.

But I have learned to focus almost entirely on the What with very little time or energy on the how. And the results have been so much better. The how will come. The how will just happen. The how will follow the what.

But so many people don't have a What. They don't have a prize, a purpose or a passion. And just settling for daily living. Good people with good intentions but still just daily existence. And a few decades past and they look back with not much being done with a life. All because there was no What. Life will get us busy busy busy distracting us from living for a what...

And then there are a few that do have a what but they don't start because of the obsession of the how. The details de-rail them or scare them from taking the step on the journey to achieving their what. Looks like this:

• I am too old
• I am too young
• I don't have enough money
• I have to pay my bills
• I don't have the time
• I would to but
• If only

And sadly the result is a life of mediocrity.

The formula that has worked best for me is to dominate my time, energy, spirit, and prayer on the What and trusting the how will follow and happen.

(artwork by me and my 5 year old son Teddy)

Different Approach

Living from a vision and purpose has been a huge part of my life. I am all in on those principles. However I have shifted my thinking a little on this. Let me explain. I used to be very focused on achievements and lists with my goals and vision in my life. I have one shot at this rodeo called a life; what I am going to do with it? It just makes complete sense to me that I should find a purpose and chase that with everything I got. I still think that.

But instead of focusing on achievements and things I need to accomplish, I have been more focused on the vision of the person I want to be. Achievements are good and I still have my list of things I need to accomplish but over the last several months, it has taken a back seat to the vision of what kind of person I want to become.

Putting the vision of my character secondary to the vision of my accomplishments has been a mistake. The vision of the person I want to become is far more important the my vision of things I need to accomplish with my life. Correction made and progress is on-going. And this process has been so cool. I just have this vision of what kind of person I want to be and it is so energizing.

How about you? Do you have a written vision for the person you want to be? Remember, if you don't define "it" you will never reach "it".

I'm just saying...

Isn't it true that we often we scared to say things to the people we care about most? We can't stand the thought of the closet to us rejecting us. So we play it safe and don't say what we should or want to say.

We should care more about our friends than the friendship.

And for us Christians, this is it. We need to speak up for Jesus so that one day He will speak up for us.

Re-Think!

Have you ever gone through something hard and when you got done, you were glad you did?And then you experienced improvement and wished you would have done that earlier? I hear these stories often with physical activities...for example running a marathon. The training is so tough and then comes the event, the marathon is accomplished and these people feel great. I don't get it but I hear it. I don't want to drive 25 miles let alone run it.

I have been going through something very tough that I want to share with you because I wished I would have done it earlier. It's called THINKING! Or more like re-thinking is more accurate. But nevertheless, taking time away from "real life" and actually thinking. It's so easy to get caught up into ruts and routines and repeating the same behavior week after week and year after year. And with that comes more of the same!

I hate that. I don't want more of the same. I want improvement. But with improvement requires change. And with change come re-thinking how we are doing things.

For me I have been taking time to Re-Think my life! I know..just a small little project. It's hard. It's tough. There is a ton I don't like. There is stuff that can't stay. But it's so worth it in the end.

Some work product:

• What are you really doing?
• Are you holding back? What areas? Why? What are you going to do about it?
• Are you settling in any area? If so, why? When you are going to change this?
• What significant next step are you willing to take?
• What are you going to do to get uncomfortable?
• Are you happy with the use of your time, talent, and money?
• Have you removed all regrets?

It's time to THINK...or RE-THINK!