Enjoy The Process

In all endeavors, there is a process to get from point A to point B. Learning to walk is a process, so was taking a vacation. You have to pack, get to the airport, go through security, board the plane, arrive at your vacation spot, and God forbid, don’t forget anything. Whatever you’re trying to improve in your life, please enjoy the process.

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Learn To Enjoy The Process

In the past, I didn’t enjoy the process of anything. The process of going on vacation was such a hassle it diminished the fun of the first few days for me. In contrast, today, I have learned to love the process as much or more than the result.

Last week, I was gifted an excellent example of what I am talking about. The Mrs. and I were at the Driving Range hitting golf balls. We recently took up the game, and neither of us is good at it. As we were hitting, and the balls were going wherever they wanted to, I heard behind me a distinct word beginning with a F***. Turning around, I saw a man swing, hit the ball, and immediately shout F***! He didn’t look like he was having a good time.

Fore!!

Sofia and I would swing, hit the ball, analyze what we did wrong, and rejoice when we hit it well. We understand to become good at something is a process. It might take 10,000 swings before we hit the ball consistently well.

It is important for us to play well, so we signed up for a lesson with a professional. Within five swings, I hit the ball straighter, farther, and with more consistency. It is all a process. Soon we will be able to drive around a course and enjoy the game with friends.

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Enjoying The Process Of Writing

I have finished the first draft of Chapter 1 of my book; yea me! I enjoy the process of writing. Opening up my creativity and coming up with the story brings me joy. Once I begin, I don’t want to stop, but it is hard to walk after sitting for hours writing. I should get a timer and move around every twenty minutes or so.

I am not focused on the end result of my novel or golf game. The only thoughts, and more importantly, feelings I have, are about the joy of the process. Feeling happy while I’m in the process increases my vibration and attracts more ideas. It is how I open up my creativity. Before I pick up my pen, I like to meditate and open myself up, getting the creative juices flowing.

Enjoy Getting Healthy

Most people who want to get healthy don’t enjoy the process; I know I never did. They are just like me and want to skip the monotonous, exhausting process of changing their diet and exercise. Like me, they want to skip all that and get to the results. They suffer through it, but that is the wrong approach.

For example, my daughter Nicole is training for a fitness competition in June. Every morning she eats plain oatmeal, cinnamon, and an egg white. In support of her, I am eating the same. It is tasteless gruel, and we complain to each other and suffer. I realized that was only attracting negativity. We started looking at the meal not as gruel but as a healthy meal that will help her win. It is part of the process of changing our bodies, and we enjoy it.

How Do You View Situations?

It is all how you look at things. Focus on enjoying the process, and the results will come. I hope and pray everyone is well. I appreciate every one of you who takes the time to visit my site and read my posts.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@shotbyrain

https://unsplash.com/@jpineapplepen

InspireChief15 Comments

Create Balance

It has been 11 months since I had a major disruption in my life. I unexpectedly ended up in the hospital, eventually undergoing a surgical procedure. After I was released from the hospital, my life was thrown completely off balance. At the time, I didn’t know how to create balance and become the person I was two weeks earlier.

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Create Balance In Your Body

Let me set the scene for you. In December 2020, I had completed a self-analysis and set my goals for 2021. January came, and I was off to a great start. I was full of energy, creativity flowed, and I was inspired to write daily. Several blogs and podcasts were scheduled on my site.

In late February, I went to bed feeling normal but woke up around midnight vomiting. If I ate or drank even the smallest amount, up it would come. It went on for two days, causing my visit to the hospital. Long story short, I was there for two weeks and had my third major abdominal surgery. I wrote a more detailed post about my ordeal last year.

Something Was Off

After I was released during the first week of March, everything had changed. I didn’t feel the same, and I didn’t know why. The doctors had told me it would take three months to recover physically. That’s not what I’m talking about here. I wasn’t the same person mentally as before I went in.

I didn’t know that my issues were more spiritual than physical. All I knew was that I had no inspiration, creativity, or energy. My life had changed negatively during those two short weeks. The only thing I knew to do was to get back on my schedule of daily gratitude and prayer.

Drawing A Blank

Even after getting back to my normal schedule, I wasn’t the same. I couldn’t find my desire and inspiration. I would sit down to write and just stare at the blank page. There was nothing there. What I didn’t know at the time was I was unbalanced and needed to create balance within my body.

I am a neophyte when it comes to spirituality. That instruction had not been imparted to me. I did not know about the energy centers in our bodies. Living spiritually appeared on my radar and jumped to the top of my priority list.

Read, Read, Read

A good friend recommended a few books to read. I purchased them and dove in headfirst. The book that started the journey was the untethered soul, by Michael Singer. Singer talked about opening your heart to activate inner energy. He touched on the energy centers of our body, also known as chakras.

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Ahhh….Bookstores

A few months later, I wandered into the newly reopened Barnes & Noble. It is the only true bookstore in town. I do love bookstores and miss the small mom-and-pop ones you use to could find in every town. Not planning on purchasing anything, I just browsed, enjoying the atmosphere.

While browsing, I found myself drawn to The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I walked away twice, but the draw was too strong. It is a powerful book which I’m reading for the second time. Tolle also discusses chakras briefly.

Spirituality

I decided to learn more about spirituality and downloaded books on meditation and chakras. The answers were right there in front of me. During this life disruption, my chakras had become unbalanced. My mind and body didn’t feel right. You know that feeling that something isn’t right, but you just can’t put your finger on it.

This revelation only happened a couple of months ago. Inspiration to write had returned much earlier, but it wasn’t the same. I didn’t know how I lost my inspiration, but now I knew exactly why I was feeling the way I felt. The proper way to put it is probably; I wasn’t feeling the way I wanted to feel; the feeling I had before the disturbance.

Knowledge

Knowledge is power. Knowing why my energy centers became unbalanced and closed gave me the power to create balance in my life. I am happy to say I am feeling great now. If some unforeseen circumstance disrupts my life in the future, I will know how to find my balance again.

I am continuing to learn about living spiritually, and hopefully, I will have more great experiences to share. There are some great sites on WordPress that have a much better grasp on spirituality. Check out my friends, Cindy at Uniquelyfitblog.com, and Sheila at takeituponyourself.wordpress.com. If you are feeling unbalanced, like something is missing, try getting in touch with your spiritual side. Create balance in your life.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@sushimi

https://unsplash.com/@vjgalaxy

InspireChief5 Comments

Open Your Heart For Infinite Energy

Learning to open your heart for infinite energy is essential in your journey to personal improvement. You can do all the right things and not see improvement. For example, verbalizing positive affirmations and visualizing your future daily, yet you still don’t feel you are improving. Something is holding you back. It could be that your heart is closed, and you are blocking your inner energy.

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Open Your Heart For Infinite Energy

Almost everything you do externally and internally requires energy. Just like it takes physical energy to exercise, it also takes an expenditure of energy to control your thoughts. Dealing with your emotions also requires energy. Getting through the day he asserts a lot of energy. It can be exhausting.

I’m sure you have experienced times when you don’t feel like you have much energy; you are drained. If you feel low on physical energy, rest and a healthy meal can recharge you. Unfortunately, food will not supply you with energy if you are mentally and emotionally drained. Where does that energy come from? Inside you. Yogis call these energy centers chakras. We all have an infinite supply of inner energy.

Love

Have you ever been in love? Those first days of a relationship fill you with physical and emotional energy. You feel as if you could take on the world. The same thing happens when you start a new project; you don’t even think about eating or sleeping. The infinite energy that comes from within you keeps you going.

Conversely, if your relationship ends after a few months, you lose your energy. You become sad and depressed. Much of the energy you do have is spent trying to figure out what went wrong. You don’t need much and spend way too much time in bed.

Where did the energy go? It is still there inside you. You have blocked it. By closing your mind and heart, you have blocked the flow of energy inside you. Learn to open your heart for infinite energy.

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An Unlimited Supply

Have you seen those people who seem to have an unlimited supply of energy? They are happy and productive. You always see them out and about. They are positive, glass-half-full people. In contrast, we all know someone that never has any energy. They are the complainers and hardly ever have anything positive to say. If they can bring you down with them, they will. Their hearts have closed and blocked the energy flow.

My Experiences

I have experienced these different energy flows many times in my life. Have you? There have been times when my heart is open, and the energy is abundant. Then there were times when I blocked the energy and closed it off. It happens because we are programmed to open or close based on our past experiences.

If I see a sunset, hear a song, or smell a certain scent that reminds me of a happy time, my heart will open. On the other hand, if those stimuli invoked a memory of a past negative experience, my heart would close. By learning to keep your heart open and let go of your past; you can keep the energy flowing. This energy comes from within your being. It is your Chi, Shakti, or Spirit.

How To Keep An Open Heart

How do you learn to open your heart for infinite energy? It’s simple, don’t close it. Decide that you want to keep your heart open. When you feel your heart closing because of a circumstance in your life, stop, relax, and open it up again. Do not allow it to close. Recognize when you feel your heart closing and open it up.

Life Happens

Don’t allow the circumstances of your daily life to take away your inner energy. Think of life as if you’re standing in a river. Life flows all around you. Experiences happen, but they are only experiences. Like the water, they keep going, ever-changing. Life is a series of experiences that happens to us every day. They are always changing. The river water flows around you, touches you, and then it’s gone. The same water molecules don’t come back, different ones flow behind it. In life, we experience the circumstances, and then they’re gone.

Experiences only stay if we hang on to them and don’t let them go. In the times we react negatively to these experiences, our hearts become closed, and we block our energy. Decide what matters more, an open heart and infinite energy or hanging on to negativity. Keep your heart open and let all things happen. Experience them and let them go.

Cites

Singer, Michael A. The Untethered Soul: The Journey beyond Yourself. New Harbinger Publications, 2013.

https://unsplash.com/@cris024

https://unsplash.com/@burzik

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Connect With The Universe

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Today I want to talk about the subconscious mind and its connection with the universe. When I am talking about the universe, I mean God or infinite intelligence. This post is a continuation of Napoleon Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich. Properly using your subconscious mind to connect with the universe is the 11th step in acquiring riches.

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Connect With The Universe

Your subconscious mind is the key to living the life you want to live. Controlling your subconscious mind is necessary for accomplishing goals and acquiring wealth. You can acquire happiness as well as build great relationships.

Hill states that your subconscious mind stores every impulse of thought that reaches your objective mind through your five senses. These thoughts may be called upon later through your memories. Your subconscious mind never stops working. It is there 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Infinite Intelligence

Your subconscious mind is your connection to infinite intelligence. It uses the power derived from infinite intelligence to convert your desires into their physical equivalents. It uses the most practical means to accomplish this conversion.

You cannot control your subconscious mind completely. Inadvertent thoughts do find their way into your mind. The control you have is accomplished by voluntarily thinking, speaking, and visualizing your plan or desire. It takes time to connect with the universe through your controlled thoughts. So don’t get discouraged.

Trust The Process

To connect with infinite intelligence and turn your dreams into reality is a process. You must trust the process because mastering this process takes time. Patience and persistence are your best friends.

Since your subconscious mind never stops working, you must train yourself to control your thoughts. Your subconscious mind stores your controlled thoughts, but also works inadvertently from your uncontrolled thoughts. It can bring you fear and poverty as easily as it can wealth.

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Develop a daily practice of controlling your thoughts through positive affirmations and meditation. The more you practice, the more you will begin to believe. Continued practice will turn your belief into faith.

Persistence

You must be persistent until you have reached the level of faith. Once you reach the level of faith, you will control the negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. For example, let’s say you receive an unexpectedly large bill. Without faith your first thoughts will probably be fear, and how will you pay for it. With faith, your mind will be calm because you know that the money will come to pay it in full.

Your subconscious mind works best when your thoughts mix with feelings and emotions. It doesn’t work as well with thoughts coming from the reasoning part of your mind. As I discussed last week, sexual desire is our strongest emotion. Tapping into this emotion will increase the output of your subconscious mind.

Feel The Emotions

Hill further states, “There is evidence to support that the theory that only emotionalized thoughts have any actionable influence upon the subconscious mind.” Therefore, don’t just think about your desire. Feel the emotions that you will have after manifesting that desire. Before visualizing how your life will be, think of something that evokes an emotion in you.

Positive Or Negative

Remember that emotions can be positive or negative. Here is a list of the seven major positive and negative emotions.

Positive Emotions:

Desire

Faith

Sex

Enthusiasm

Romance

Hope

Negative Emotions:

Fear

Jealousy

Hatred

Revenge

Greed

Superstition

Anger

Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. Only one can dominate. Avoid negative emotions. Make sure that positive emotions become your dominating influence in your subconscious mind to connect with the universe.

I hope this provides you with a little insight into the subconscious mind and its connection to the universe. Don’t forget to like, comment, and follow. I appreciate each person who reads my posts and listens to my podcasts.

InspireChief3 Comments
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Colorado Trip The Last Day

Colorado Trip The Last Day. All good things have to come to an end. Even this wonderful trip that Sofia and I began a mere six days before. It felt like we had been there for weeks because we had done so much in the last six days. Today was the last day of our Colorado trip.

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The Last day Of Our Colorado Trip

Since our flight wasn’t until 6:00 PM, we had plenty of time to enjoy another day in Colorado. What was one thing that we had not done visiting the Rocky Mountain state? Visit the Rocky Mount National Park, of course! So I hopped on the old inter-web and procured us a vehicle pass and a timed entry pass.

After loading the car and saying goodbye to Wilhelmina and Paul, we headed down the long winding driveway. As soon as we turned onto the road, we were greeted by three young bucks standing in the roadway. They politely walked to the side and posed for some pictures.

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He Seemed To Enjoy The Photo Session

Over The Continental Divide

The night before, I had decided to enter the park on the west side by Grand Lake. We would traverse the mountains, cross the Continental Divide, and exit at Estes Park. The airport was only an hour and a half drive from there, so we had plenty of time. It was another scenic drive to the park entrance.

Beware The Ganja

We stopped at the Rocky Mount National Park sign for some pictures and met two lovely young ladies. They had sweet, southern accents with which they amused us with a story about a marijuana dispensary encounter the day before. It seems they purchased an herbal laced brownie and plan to enjoy it in their room. After eating a corner of the brownie, they realized it was much more powerful than they thought. They had an interesting evening until the effects wore off.

After saying goodbye, we began our drive up and over the mountains. It wasn’t long until we came around a curve and saw people standing on the side of the road. I looked over into the meadow and two moose were grazing in the distance. I found a place to pull over and Sofia ran back to snap some photos.

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A Quick Breakfast

Breathtaking

The scenery and vistas from the top of the mountain, like Sofia, are breathtaking. Once again, I realized how small we are on this vast rock spinning around the sun. Several more photos and selfies were taken as we made our way down the mountain.

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Beautiful

At the bottom, we stopped at the visitor center which has a gift shop and restaurant next door. The day was warm, so we decided to ask for a table outside. While enjoying a bowl of elk stew, I got to look at a mountain and a beautiful stream running below us. I wanted to enjoy the view one last time before heading to Denver.

Home Sweet Home

Mountains always amaze me since the highest point in South Florida is a hill made out of garbage. Before they started the landfills, the highest point was a speedbump in Coral Gables. After another uneventful for our flight, we arrived in Fort Lauderdale around midnight. After collecting our luggage, we headed outside and were greeted by a blast of heat and humidity. It may be hot and humid, but it is “home sweet home.”

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Colorado Trip Part 3

Colorado Trip Part 3. I woke on Day 3 feeling great. All the soreness from yesterday’s hike was gone. I proceeded downstairs, poured myself a cup of coffee, and went to the deck to watch the sunrise. I sat in silent meditation for several minutes. Suddenly, I heard something moving behind me again. Slowly turning around, I solved the mystery of the great beast. There it was standing on the steps staring at me, a little chipmunk.

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Part 3 Of Our Colorado Trip

The wedding was scheduled for 4 o’clock, so we needed to stay close to the B&B. Sofia takes a while to get ready. I have never figured out what takes so long because she is naturally beautiful. Yesterday, we saw a trailhead close to the B&B and decided to go for a hike. The forecast was for rain, but we were told that rain in Colorado was not like Florida rain. It just drizzles.

We drove to the Elk Meadow Trailhead and parked. The sun was out and it was a beautiful, cool day. Grabbing our water bottles, we started up the mountain. The views got better with every switchback. Unlike the St. Mary’s glacier trail, this trail was smooth. It was much easier on my knees.

Look Around

One thing that I always do is take my eyes off the trail directly in front of me. I take my time to look around and enjoy the journey. Flowers and wildlife are abundant in Colorado. We saw a large bluebird that looked like the Blue Jays back home. Only this bird was much larger and had a blackhead. We were told it was a Mountain Jay, a beautiful bird.

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Elk Meadows Trail

Decisions

We came to a point where the trail split. To the left continued up the mountain, and the right would take us down around the meadow. Since we were short on time, we chose the meadow. The hiking was easy in this past meadow, and we were making good time. Sofia turned to me and said she felt a raindrop. No big deal because Colorado rain isn’t like Florida rain. The raindrops became larger and colder. That’s when the thunder and lightning started. I began to feel that we were lied to about the Colorado rain.

We found ourselves in the middle of a meadow during a thunderstorm. This is not the place you want to be. We had no choice but to keep hiking. Soaked and cold, we eventually made our way back to the car after 2.5 hours.

A Colorado Wedding

After a much welcomed hot shower, I put on a suit for the first time in almost a year. Sofia looked ravishing in her dress. I have to say we made a sharp couple. Off we went to the wedding which, was held on Evergreen Lake at the Lake House.

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My Beautiful Wife

The ceremony was outdoors and delayed only a few minutes because of the rain. The clouds parted, the sun came out, and we watched a young couple begin their journey together as man and wife. I always enjoy the beginning of anything. It is inspiring, so full of promises. We danced, sang, laughed, and a few happy tears were shed. It was a wonderful night.

Day 4

On day 4, I woke to the most spectacular sunrise. The sun was a bright red ball in the sky. This was caused by the fires in California and the smoke drifting to Colorado. Sofia and I sat outside enjoying our coffee. We went to breakfast and met two new couples that had arrived the night before. They were very nice people, and we got along like old friends.

What A Life

Later, we had the opportunity to speak with Wilhelmina. We found out that she had lived a wonderful life. She was born in the Netherlands and raised in Australia. Wilhelmina became a dancer and choreographer and married a well-known British comedian, They had met all of the big entertainers. Even though she was 80, she looked closer to 60. She still plays golf, skis, hikes, and runs a weight loss program. She is a very inspiring woman, and I could have sat all day talking.

Mt. Evans

We told Wilhelmina that we were going to drive up to Mount Evans. Mount Evans sits between 12,000-14,000 feet above sea level. Wilhelmina told us that it could be cold up there and let us borrow heavy jackets. It was another beautiful drive through the back roads and up the mountain. We climbed above the tree line and arrived at Summit Lake.

colorado-trip-part-3-mountain-lake
Summit Lake

As soon as we exited the car, we were thankful we had the jackets. The temperature was 41 degrees, and the wind was blowing. It might as well have been Antarctica to us. After stopping to talk to some Park volunteers about the mountain goats and bighorn sheep, we hiked up to the Chicago Lakes.

No Excuses

As we were hiking, we passed an elderly lady with a club foot. Seeing this lady not let anything stop her from doing something she enjoys made me realize that I make too many excuses. You should never let anything get in the way of doing something that you want to do. You can always find a way.

colorado-trip-part-3-couple-red-jackets-lake
Selfie By The Lake

We took some great pictures at Summit Lake, enjoyed the views then headed down the mountain. We had made plans to drive to Denver and watch some football. Denver is a nice city, and we saw a lot of neighborhoods full of young people. This is something we don’t have a lot of in Florida. It’s called God’s waiting room for a reason.

colorado-trip-part-3-tavern-clemson-flag
Blake Street Tavern Denver, Colorado

My Best Friend

We made it to the Blake St., Tavern, a large Sports Bar. There was a good crowd enjoying the first day of college football season. People were happy they were able to gather together again. We watched my school play that evening, and even though the outcome wasn’t in my favor, I wouldn’t want to be there with anyone other than Sofia. She is my best friend. Every part of the trip had been wonderful. We were excited, looking forward to what we would see the next day. To be continued.

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A Trip To Colorado

You can find inspiration anywhere. All you have to do is fire up your senses and be aware when inspiration presents itself. I’m going to tell you how I found inspiration on a trip to Colorado. We saw so much in this beautiful state that I will share it in several blogs.

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Our Trip To Colorado Day 1

On the first day, we were dropped off at the Fort Lauderdale airport at Zero Dark Thirty. The purpose of this trip was to attend the wedding of Sofia’s friend’s daughter. I just wanted to get away with my beautiful wife and relax. I wasn’t intending to look for inspiration on a trip to Colorado.

After an uneventful four-hour flight, we arrived in Denver at 10:30 AM. We found our way to the rental car shuttle bus. The friendly driver helped us load our luggage, and off we went to pick out our vehicle. As we left the rental lot, I noticed an extreme lack of mountains. I always pictured Denver as a mountainous city. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Where were the Mountains? Luckily I found them after just a short drive out of the city.

Red Rocks, Colorado

We drove to Red Rocks Amphitheater, about a 30 to 40-minute drive west of the city. It is an Amphitheater cut into the side of a hill. It is surrounded by large rock formations which are colored, you guessed it, bright red. As we entered the area where the food vendors are located, there was music playing. The acoustics are phenomenal.

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$6.60 to see one of the greatest bands of all time!

We toured the museum and saw pictures of a lot of the performers who had played there. Most of the great musicians have performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Even the Beatles played there on their first American tour in 1964. Attending a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater was instantly put on my bucket list.

Golden, Colorado

Our next stop was the town of Golden, Colorado. It is a lovely little town to walk around and enjoy. The streets are full of bars, restaurants, and shops. Golden is the home of the Coors Beer Brewery. After stopping to eat, we walked to this photogenic bridge and creek at the edge of town. It is the perfect place to stop, take a few selfies, and realize how lucky I am to be married to Sofia.

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Golden

Evergreen, Colorado and Walkabout Ridge

We left Golden and drove to the town of Evergreen, where we were staying. Evergreen is a quaint small town that ranges from 7200 to 9000 feet in elevation. We found our B&B located on a mountain a few miles outside of town. I steered the car along a winding, long, gravel driveway. I was thinking that all Scooby-Doo cartoons and horror movies begin like this. At the end of the driveway was a beautiful two-story home with a sign in front that read Walkabout Ridge.

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Walkabout Ridge Bed & Breakfast

So Relaxing

We met the owners, Wilhelmina and Paul. They are lovely people, gave us a tour of the house, and showed us our room. Coffee was ready at 6 AM, and a continental breakfast was from 7 until 10 AM. We sat outside on the deck that evening, enjoying the view of the mountains.

While we were sitting on the deck, I particularly enjoyed soaking in the cool mountain air. What a relief from the stifling heat and humidity of South Florida this time of year. We both slept great with the windows open, enjoying the cool breezes.

Our room faced east, and in the morning, I awoke to the most beautiful pre-sunrise sky. The colorful sky gave me the inspiration I needed to get up and start our day. To be continued.

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First Light

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Making A Decision Will Defeat Procrastination

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I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the seventh step, Decision, The Mastery of Procrastination. I am sure that you, like me, have faced that evil known as procrastination. To be successful and to build wealth, procrastination is an enemy you must conquer. Making a decision will defeat procrastination.

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A Decision Defeats Procrastination

If you’re looking for self-improvement, you will need to change some of the habits that you are currently doing. You will have to decide to change. Congratulations, you are halfway to success! You see, making the right decision is 50% of the solution. The other 50% is commitment. You have to commit to your decision to change.

Back in the 1930s when Hill was writing his book, a study was undertaken with 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure. They came up with a list of 30 major causes of failure. Lack of decision was near the head of the list. Indecision causes procrastination and making a decision will defeat procrastination. Conversely, each of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes had the habit of reaching a decision promptly. Also, successful people would take their time in changing their decision.

Don’t Be Influenced When Making Decisions

The majority of people who fail are easily influenced by the opinion of others. They permit the media and other people to do their thinking for them. Opinions are the most abundant thing on earth. Everyone has one and, they can be as different as night and day. You will not succeed if you take into account the opinion of others.

Your mind is yours and only yours; reach your own decisions. Keep them to yourself and discuss them with only like-minded individuals, such as your Master Mind group. When researching to gather information for your decision, do so without disclosing your purpose.

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How Do You Know?

How do you know when the decision you made is the right decision? That is a difficult question to answer because you won’t know the answer until you have succeeded or failed. You have to listen to those inner voices. If your decision makes you feel happy and it is the right decision. On the other hand, if you feel cautious or negative, you should reconsider your decision.

In most cases, making the right decision is not that difficult. Deciding to solve a challenge in your life is personal. These are decisions for your self-improvement. A personal decision affects you and the people close to you. Some decisions not only affect the person making the decision but also have an impact on many others.

Great Decisions In History

Throughout history, people have been tasked with making decisions that changed history. Abraham Lincoln decided to issue the Proclamation of Emancipation. General Dwight Eisenhower decided to launch the D-Day invasion. Last July, I wrote an article about 56 men who made one of the greatest decisions of all time. They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing that it could potentially cost them their lives.

Making the right decision always takes courage, some more than others. It may not cost you your life but, it could cost you your health or financial independence. Making the right decision to improve your income or health comes with a price. You never get anything without giving up something. As long as you’re willing to pay the price, your decision for self-improvement could be the greatest decision you make.

Decide Today

Speaking of great decisions, decide today what you are worth. Now that you know your value go out and get what you are worth. Never settle for anything less. Lock that number in your mind and think about it every day. Don’t stop until you reach your value. Too many people today settle for what they are given and not what they’re worth.

Be quick in your decisions and slow in changing them. Don’t be influenced by the opinion of others or the media. Have the courage to make your decision for self-improvement. Decide what you are worth and get it. Remember, making a decision will defeat procrastination.

Do you find yourself procrastinating? Are you influenced by the opinion of others? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. As always, I appreciate your likes, comments, and follows. Let me know if there is a  topic you would like me to cover in future articles.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@brett_jordan

https://unsplash.com/@schmidy

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I Was Changed For The Better

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It’s a new year full of promises. My goals are set, and my plans are in place. Now it is time to put the work in as the journey to success begins. Seeds that I planted last year are beginning to emerge. All the work I put in last year will start to pay off. Everything I did in the past transformed me and I was changed for the better.

My wife and I have been together for 30 years and are happier than ever. Here are some tips on how we keep our relationship fresh and exciting. Get your FREE Relationship Tips Today!

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Changed For The Better

I have to constantly remind myself to enjoy every step as the journey to success begins. One way I do this is to look back at my journey so far. I asked myself, “How did I get here?” I have always hated writing. In college and during my career with DEA. Even now as one of my sources of income depends on writing reports, I struggle with writing.

So why did I choose to start a blog in April 2020? Why would I want to put down my thoughts on paper when I never could stand writing. The only answer is divine inspiration. It is something I’m supposed to do. My entire life, I have been lead by divine inspiration. I believe that God has a purpose for me to fulfill, and writing seems to be a big part of that.

The Change Begins

Looking back at my life, I grew up as a shy child who lacked confidence. I never felt like I belonged and always looked at other people as better than me. Even though I had many successes, I would only focus on the failures. I was constantly looking at the negative things that went on in my life.

As I grew, I constantly found myself in situations that were outside of my comfort zone. These were always situations that I volunteered for, such as trying out for sports teams. I volunteered to join the military and parachute training even though I was scared of heights. I didn’t know how I kept finding myself in these situations. Even though I excelled in my training and was winning awards, I still lacked self-confidence. All of my achievements didn’t matter.

Cancer

In 2008, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and remember asking myself, “What have I done in my life?” Taking a look at my life, I added up all my achievements and my successes. I found peace because I had lived a full life. It is strange to say, but through cancer, I was changed for the better.

I also found my self-confidence, and I stopped caring about other people’s opinions. I focused on myself and began to notice all the “God winks” taking place daily. “God winks” are seemingly coincidental events that happen in our lives. Thinking about someone you haven’t heard from in a long time and they call you. This phone call eventually leads you to someone who becomes a great client.

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Inspiration

Fast forward to January 2020, when I became inspired to start an online business to help people. The thought that I needed to pass on lessons that I have learned throughout my life wouldn’t go away. I have learned so much about how the mind works by training and working alongside military special operations operatives. There were people in the world who needed to know what I have learned.

It was then that I started InspireChief.com and began doing the one thing that I hated more than anything, writing. I never learned how to type, so when I do, it’s with two fingers. Luckily, I found dictation software, and I don’t have to type, which saves me a lot of time.

Relationships

Through my journey to success, I began to enjoy blogging. I have built relationships with people throughout the world.  I enjoy cultivating these relationships the most. Relationships are important, and I started using social media to build more relationships. Through these wonderful relationships, I was changed.

Thank You

During my 30 year career with the military and DEA, I was told three times, “thank you,” by strangers. These two little words are powerful and gave me the energy to carry on the fight. In the last nine months, I have been thanked several times and told that my articles have helped people. Whenever I hear I have helped someone, it fills me with energy and keeps me going. Humans are not solitary people, we need interaction and relationships. Relationships need to be tended to so they can flourish. A simple comment like “thank you” goes a long way.

As the journey to success begins, I know I’m here today by divine intervention. I still receive “God winks” frequently. I know there’s more to do. My journey to success has been great, and I have enjoyed it. I was changed for the better. Make sure you enjoy yours and keep your eyes and ears open for your “God winks.”

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The Importance Of Retirement Planning

I have been retired for seven years now and I enjoy every minute of it. I retired when I was 53 years old but could have (and should have) retired at the age of 50. There has been a lot to learn in my retirement. I can describe my retirement in one word, options. There are unlimited options for me now that I didn’t have when I worked for the government. I can be or do anything I want now. Today I want to discuss the importance of retirement planning.

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Planning For Retirement

When I was working, I attended a pre-retirement seminar a couple of years before I retired. We were allowed to request attendance five years before our minimum retirement date. At the end of the seminar, I wrote on my evaluation that it was great information. The only problem was we needed the information sooner. It was too late for a lot of people to do what was needed for a comfortable retirement. Here are five things to do for a comfortable retirement.

  1. Begin Planning Early.
  2. Develop Specialized Knowledge and Skills.
  3. Find a Good Financial Planner.
  4. Begin Saving Early.
  5. Pay off Your Mortgage.

Begin Planning For Retirement Early

When I started my career I was 23 years old. Two things that I never thought were going to happen back then were: I would retire; I would get old. When you’re young you never think about getting old but it is inevitable. It happens to all of us. Importance of retirement planning is crucial. Starting your career is when you should start planning for your retirement. Begin thinking about what you want to do and how you want to live when that day finally comes.

Beginning your plan early will allow you to adjust to everything life throws your way. Sometimes life throws you the good things, marriage, children, etc. Other times the bad things death, injury, sickness, etc. Good things and bad will affect your retirement. By planning for the future early in your career you can minimize the impact.

Specialized Skills And Knowledge In Retirement

During my 30 year career, I developed certain skills and knowledge. After I retired I learned that most of my skills and knowledge didn’t transfer to my new life. If you have generalized skills and knowledge, you will learn that everyone is retired with the same skills. There’s a lot of competition. Finding your niche will help you stand out against the competition. I suggest that you research throughout your career skills that are needed in the private sector. Take courses and study those skills to gain the knowledge that you need.

A Financial Planner Is Important

Find a good financial planner. Unless you are an expert on finances you will need a financial planner. They can help you make the right decisions with your money. This will allow you to keep as much money as you can before retirement. It is a big change to go from knowing a check is coming every two weeks to a smaller check once a month. You will need to supplement your retirement with other sources of income if you want to maintain your current lifestyle.

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Save Early And Often

Begin saving as early as you can. The earlier you begin the more money you will have in retirement. I always put money into my Thrift Savings Account, which is the government 401(k). If I had to do it over again I would maximize my contributions. In retirement, you can use your savings to supplement your retirement. I withdraw a certain amount every month. Because the stock market has done so well, my savings have increased.

Saving early is probably the most important thing you can do. I recommend setting a goal for the amount of money you want to save before retirement. For me, the best thing was having it withdrawn from my paycheck and placed into my account. Out of sight, out of mind. Since I never saw the money it was like it never existed. My savings account would grow every two weeks without me doing anything.

My wife and I have been together for 30 years and are happier than ever. Here are some tips on how we keep our relationship fresh and exciting. Get your FREE Relationship Tips Today!

Relationship Tips

Eliminate That Big Debt

Pay off your mortgage. My mortgage is my biggest expense as it is for most people. Since I transferred a lot during my career I was not able to pay off my last mortgage. I bought houses and sold houses; made and lost money. If I had stayed in one location, in the same house, I wouldn’t have to worry about a mortgage now. I think about what I could do in the places I could go if I didn’t have a mortgage. If at all possible, pay off your mortgage before you retire.

These are just five things I wish I had known before retirement. One can’t overstate the importance of retirement planning. I am not an expert on retirement or financial planning. I hope that you will begin thinking about retirement now that you are young and not wait until it’s too late. Do your research, make a plan, and find a financial planner to help you. Always remember to start saving early.

Credits

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https://unsplash.com/@giorgiotrovato

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