The use of the word “afraid” has skyrocketed since the 1990’s. It has become so commonplace, we say it even when we are not fearful. 

I’m afraid I don’t know why!

I know this…
Our words impact our actions.
Fear is a liar.
Fear is a cheater.
Fear is a thief.
Fear will help you make bad decisions.

We have enough problems overcoming doubt without giving FEAR a land-grant in our subconscious mind. “I’m afraid” is a terrible byword.

And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

Judges 6:15 KJV

The words are effortless; the code makes sense; the sculpture reveals itself; the music is smooth; the decisions are clear; the game comes to you.

Flow is magical.
Flow is euphoric.
Flow is freedom.

Flow does not multitask.
Flow does not have a schedule.

We can’t summon flow at will, but we can send an invitation.

Dear Flow,
I am willing to do the work necessary to become a master at my craft.
I will be consistent and show up for practice every day.
I will have a good attitude no matter how long it takes.

Your friend,
Focus

There is a certain number of interactions you’ll get to have today, a certain amount of words you’ll get to speak, and  a certain number of minutes you get to fit it all in.

Our bandwidth is limited. 
We can optimize and work our way into extreme efficiency, but we’re all limited to 1440 minutes a day. Nobody can change that.

Our bandwidth is filled with our inputs.
People – Music – Books – Thoughts – Technology – Work – Etc.

Choose to fill your bandwidth with the right stuff.
Turn off the TV and have a conversation.
Put down the Cheetos and pick up an apple.
Listen to music that lifts you up.

Eliminate the negative so there’s room for the positive.

The reason resolutions don’t work…we don’t believe.

I AM NOT saying you can believe your way to physical fitness or a better relationship with your spouse. But I assure you, you’ll never reach a destination if you don’t truly believe it’s the right thing to do. What we believe creates consistent actions that move us toward endpoints. 

If you believe you can, YOU WILL.
If you believe you can’t, YOU WON’T.

Let me repeat a quote from sports psychologist Treavor Moawad, “Your willpower will always lose to what you really believe.”

With this in mind, how can we change our beliefs? It all starts with our inputs: our friends, music, books, entertainment, hobbies, etc.

Your inputs set your beliefs.
Your beliefs set your actions.
Your actions set your destiny.

Turn in the right direction and humbly work on your inputs.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 KJV

While we were eating at the Mexican restaurant, I leaned over and asked my sister how she was taking all this in. She said, “this is the last time Tiff will live at home.” My niece, Tiffany, is officially moving away from home to start a career in video and marketing. New apartment, new furniture, new job and a whole bunch of new opportunities! From the air, it’s easy to see this is just a bend in the road. From the windshield, I’m sure it looks like a dead end. 

-The last time you change a diaper.
-The last time you smoke a cigarette.
-The last time you go to school.
-The last time you are here.

-The first time you don’t smell like poop.
-The first time you are a non-smoker.
-The first time you have a career.
-The first time you are there.

Be encouraged… “THE LAST TIME” is never “THE END”.

“A Fresh start”
“A New adventure”
“The best is yet to come!” 

According to Trevor Moawad, in his interview with Tom Bilyeu, “if somebody says something out loud, it’s 10 times more powerful than if they think it.” He goes on to say, studies show that negative statements have a 4x multiple over positive ones!

Got some sorry negative thoughts? Crush them.
Got some positive and optimistic thoughts? Speak them.

Optimism and positive words aren’t magic, they’re just a step in the right direction.

Suppose there is only one well in your village. It produces just enough water for your tribe with very little to spare. A rival tribe moves into your village and tries to take the water for themselves.

What do you do?
Well, it depends on what you believe. (pun intended)

If you have a scarcity mindset, you go to war over the water.
If you have an abundance mindset, you dig another well.

We often think, if I win then someone else must lose. This is absolutely true in competition sports and board games, but in life it just ain’t so. Life is a little more like golf. Did you know…the 100th ranked golfer on the money list, Charles Howell III, made over 250k last year?

Life is not a zero-sum game. 
Even if you don’t rank #1, you can still win.

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

Deuteronomy 30:15 KJV

My family does it like this.
My grandma taught me this.
I’ve always done it like this.

Right or wrong, it’s what we learned; the experience is real. But, an experience doesn’t always teach the truth. To a certain extent, we are all handicapped by the unfinished business floating around in our heads. 

Search out the truth. Put to rest the lies, doubts, fears and insecurities. It’s your responsibility to surround yourself with people that will help you identify, confront, and correct. Then, help someone else do the same.

There is nothing wrong with where you come from, but don’t let it keep you from where you are going. 😉

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Deuteronomy 24:22 KJV

Good – Bad
Heads – Tails
Health – Sickness
Rich – Poor
Full – Empty
Blessing – Curse

Sometimes we don’t get to choose a side, but we always get to choose our attitude and actions.

Be encouraged, there is a flip side. 😉

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

Deuteronomy 11:26 KJV