Happy Holidays!
Whether Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Solstice, or another year-end celebration, may these final days of 2022 bring you peace, joy, and hope for a healthy and prosperous new year.
The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands
“The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.”
—Robert M. Pirsig, late American writer and philosopher
Image from Unsplash by Gia Iris
The paralysis of analysis is very real.
When we examine all the needs of the world the options appear endless.
Where do we begin? We always have the option of working on ourselves first, and then expanding our work outward from there. If we all choose to do this, all those other worthy endeavors would be covered by the remaining eight billion others doing the same.
EXERCISE:
In what specific ways can and will you work to improve your heart, head and hands? As you do, where else will you choose to make a difference in the world beyond?
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.”
—Maya Angelou, late American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist
Image from Unsplash by Chris Chow
Baseball is an interesting metaphor for life.
A high percent of the game is focused on the pitcher/catcher exchanges. With fast balls clocking in at up to 100 miles per hour, the catcher clearly needs a very cushioned mitt to avoid serious injury. Without a free hand to return the ball to the pitcher, the game would grind to a halt.
The umpire plays an important role in calling balls and strike, assessing each throw offered to the batter for consideration. If the batter takes too many strikes, they’re out of there.
EXERCISE:
What is your current ratio of catching to throwing in your personal and professional communities?
What adjustments between taking and giving will help you win more of the games you currently play?
“A crown, if it hurts us, is not worth wearing.”
“A crown, if it hurts us, is not worth wearing.”
—Pearl Bailey, 20th century American actress, singer and author
Image from Unsplash by Nathan Mcgregor
What are the ways that you and others measure success?
How do you keep score to know if you are winning?
How near or far are you from being king or queen of the hill?
Status is one way people measure themselves and others. Think about the business world, entertainment, sports, politics, the military, social media, and other areas of life in which people compare and contrast where they stand.
Where have you noticed or personally experiences the pain of personal and professional status?
EXERCISE:
Where does wearing the crown of status present a cost far too high to pay?
How do you log into life
How do you log into life? Where do your devices serve and where do they distract you from focusing on what’s most important?
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Mourizal Zativa
How did you log into life when you were a kid? How did your parents and grandparents do it?
What devices were available at the time to discover what was going on in the world?
To what degree did and do the following items serve as means of keeping up and connecting with others?
- Letters of correspondence
- Books, magazines, and printed materials
- Records, tapes, CDs, streaming services
- Television, movies
- Telegrams, snail mail, e-mail, texting
- Beepers, pagers, smartphones
- The internet, social media
- Family dinners and social gatherings
EXERCISE:
How was your trip down memory lane?
What have you gained or lost along the way?
What “logging in” approaches currently serve you best?
How do you expect things to evolve in the years ahead?
Friday Review: Behavior
FRIDAY REVIEW: BEHAVIOR
What do your behaviors say about you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“Don’t let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”
“Your beliefs don’t make you a better person — your behavior does.”
“Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.”
No amount of regret changes the past
“No amount of regret changes the past, no amount of anxiety changes the future, any amount of gratitude changes the present.”
—Ann Voskamp, Canadian author, blogger, and memoirist
Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan
During the holiday season, many people reflect on their lives. Given our amazing time-traveling minds, we easily bounce between past events and future possibilities.
Narrowing our focus on the here-and-now seems to be a wise choice to make the kind of changes we intend.
Embracing our thankfulness for all the big and small things in our lives can turn even the grayest skies blue.
EXERCISE:
What are some of the wonderful aspects of the present moment?
How can you share your feelings of gratitude with others to change things for the better during the holidays and throughout the new year?
Associate with people who are likely to improve you
“Associate with people who are likely to improve you.”
—Seneca, Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome
Image from Unsplash by Joshua Hoehne
How would you like to….
- Improve your hand-eye coordination?
- Enhance your mental alertness?
- Improve your ability to concentrate?
- Burn more calories?
- Make more friends?
- Improve your balance and reflexes?
If these attributes sound pretty good, you just might want to take up the sport of ping pong!
I am currently in Florida, with a terrific group of very active folks who help each other improve all these abilities, six days a week.
EXERCISE:
Where do you have a sincere desire to improve a particular skill?
Who are the people who challenge and stretch you beyond your current capabilities?
How can and will you make the time to associate with these people more often?
Symbols are living mirrors of the deepest understandings that have no words
“Symbols are living mirrors of the deepest understandings that have no words.”
—Mark Nepo, poet and spiritual adviser
Image from Unsplash by Mariano Rivas
My wedding band is one of my most precious possessions. It is the only object I’ve worn every day for over 43 years.
When I look at it daily and spin it around my finger, I feel a deep sense of groundedness.
It is a living mirror of my love and commitment to my wonderful Wendy and the life we have created and shared. It represents the fact that we continue to give ourselves to one another and our ongoing promise to be there in both good and difficult times.
We are each other’s person and it is very comforting to know this.
My ring has been fitting a bit tighter in recent years, and I choose to see it as a tighter hug from the person I love the most.
EXERCISE:
What are the symbols in your life that have the greatest meaning?
What words come close to describing their profound significance and importance?
Take your own yellow brick road
Take your own yellow brick road and meet your own inner wizard.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by freddie marriage
I can vividly remember watching The Wizard of Oz as a child. Year after year we viewed the same story and were always left with an uplifted and heartwarming feeling.
As an adult, the story has become even more relevant. Using our heads, hearts, and courage to pursue our passions and purpose makes life even more wonderful.
EXERCISE:
How and in what ways are you following your own yellow brick road? In what ways are you already the wise wizard to guide you along this path?