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The Biology of Fear

Today I want to talk about the biology of fear and how it affects us. Sometimes fear can be unavoidable, such as when you face a life-threatening situation; for example, encountering a bear during a hike in the woods. Unfortunately, the fear I have observed most in other people is self-perpetuated. They were told by other sources, i.e. the media, relatives, etc., that they should be afraid. For example, they hear on the news that the economy is in a recession and getting worse. They fear they will lose everything even though there are no signs in their lives to show that the recession will affect them. For your improvement and growth, you must learn to live by faith, not fear.

Fear in Biology

Scientists have shown that our bodies are made up of single cells which have combined with trillions of other cells to form the human body. Each cell functions similarly to our bodies; they think, eat, react to stimuli, expel waste, etc. It was first thought that the nucleus of the cell controlled it but studies have shown that the membrane is the actual brain of the cell. It is the membrane that reacts to different stimuli.

The two categories of survival mechanisms our cells have adapted are protection and growth. Cells gravitate toward nutrients and retreat from toxins. Moving toward life-sustaining stimuli characterizes growth and away from life-threatening stimuli characterizes protection. The membrane opens for nutrients allowing the cells to feed but becomes hard and closes in the presence of toxins.

Creating Energy

Scientists have also discovered that the two mechanisms cannot operate at the same time. A cell in protection mode cannot grow. (Lipton, et al., 1991) When cells are growing, they are not only expending energy but also creating it. Living a life of sustained fear (protection mode) inhibits the creation of energy needed to sustain life.

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The biology of fear shows that fear creates stress, and the more stress you put on your body, the more cells that shift to protection mode. By eliminating the stress in your life you will bring your body back to a neutral state. Do we want to remain in a neutral state? No, we want to grow and thrive. In order to live life to the fullest and become the best you, eliminating stress is not enough. You must live your life in a happy, loving way that provides you with complete fulfillment. It will stimulate your growth processes. You do this by choosing to live your life in faith and eliminating fear.

Short-Term Fix

The protection mechanism is not designed to be activated for a long time. In the example of encountering a pair, you would experience the threat and activate the flight, fight, or freeze response. Once the bear moves on and doesn’t attack, you would return to normal and have quite the story to tell. Living your life in fear chronically elevates the stress hormones and inhibits your growth as a person.

Individual cells combined into a community react to the prevailing thoughts and beliefs they are fed. We as humans cannot grow as a community as long as a vast majority of people live in perceived fear. An example of this is the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Before the tragedy of 9/11, the U.S. was growing and thriving. After that fateful day, the population was placed in a state of fear. Terrorism took hold, and we waited for the next attack. The population went into protection mode, and growth ground to a halt.

What About You?

The biology of fear is an interesting topic. Do you live by fear or faith? Faith is the only way you can grow and improve your life. Look inside and see what fears are holding you back. Are they perceived, or are they real? What impact do they have on you and those around you? You can control your fears and take your life back. Turn to faith and regain control over how you live. You and only you decide how your life will turn out. The first step is releasing your fears.

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself!”

~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Cites

Lipton, Bruce H. The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles. Hay House, Inc., 2016.

https://unsplash.com/@halacious

https://unsplash.com/@nci

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Being The Best You

How do you accomplish being the best you? What steps, if any, do you take to live your best life? Do you feel a need to justify your existence? These are excellent questions that pop into my head as I continue to grow spiritually.

I do not believe anyone has to justify their existence. You do not need to achieve a certain position or leave a legacy. Publishing books and creating masterpieces are wonderful, but they will not be necessary to justify your time here.

Are You Being The Best You

Simply being is all the justification you need. People can spend their entire lifetime trying to rise to a level at work or creating a masterpiece yet never live. All their time, energy, and focus are given to accomplishing an endeavor, and their life passes them by. They fail to stop and enjoy the day as it is. Life becomes a series of results for them, possibly even a burden. In the end, they never reached the justification that they sought.

Being the best you is accomplished by focusing on yourself. Spend 10-30 minutes a day on yourself. Last week I wrote a post about contemplation and meditation. Take a moment to read about spending time on yourself. By doing so, you will begin to realize how special you are and how to begin seeing everything the world has to offer.

Your Great Identity

Focus your energy inward and discover your true self. Your identity is within you and is greater than you can ever imagine. Being the best you is accomplished in the moment, the now. It is the only place free from the traumas of the past and the fears of the future. In the now, that very moment in time and space, you can conquer all challenges. It is here that you defeat all fears.

Being the best you is creating your own reality. You are free to accept the events and feelings you want and to reject the ones you don’t. You have within you the gift of living the life you want to live. If you don’t like your current situation, you can change it anytime.

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https://unsplash.com/@alex_andrews

Create Yourself

Being the spiritual being that you are, you are responsible for your feelings. Whether you are a happy person or a miserable person, you created that person. We have all known people in our lives that influenced our development. For example, most parents tell their children limiting beliefs because they want to keep them safe. They don’t talk about an unlimited world mainly because it only exists in the spiritual world. Their eyes have not been opened yet.

In the spiritual world, every thought changes your reality. You are creating your future as you read this; whether you believe it or not, it is happening for everyone in the world. Collectively, we as humans create or destroy the world we live in by our thoughts and actions.

We Can Change The World

Currently, collective thought has created a world that is heading down a dangerous path. Together we can change reality for everyone by creating a world of unconditional love and kindness. The more people who believe in spending time creating better thoughts and actions, the more positive impact we will have.

Do you want to change the world? Then start being the best you.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@fcornish

https://unsplash.com/@alex_andrews

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I Am Charli And I Am Special

Let me introduce myself, I am Charli, and I am special. The best place to start is always at the beginning, so here we go. Firstly, my mother, Lindsey, took great care of me while I was growing inside her. She watched what she ate and exercised regularly. I particularly enjoyed it when she took me for walks alongside the river.

One day, a week before I was due to arrive, she took me to the doctor. I heard them talking about bringing me into the world on my due date, August 12th. Well, that just wasn’t going to work for me; after all, I am Charli, and I am special.

Special Charli

So the next day, on August 6th, I decided to wake my mommy and tell her it was time for me to come into the world. I began the process and made it known to her, in no uncertain terms, that this was happening. My mommy and daddy drove to the hospital and were admitted to the maternity ward.

When my grandparents in Florida and Alabama heard I was on my way, they rushed to their cars and started driving. People were coming from all over, just to see me. I told you I am Charli and I and special.

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Charli Elizabeth Hammond Born August 6, 2022

I couldn’t wait to meet my mommy and daddy, so I didn’t wait for the rest to arrive. At 10:28 a.m., I was born and, for the first time, saw bright lights and many people rushing around. They were all there to make sure I was taken care of.

First Touch

They gave me to my mother, and I felt her warm skin and gentle touch for the first time. My daddy, Will, cut my umbilical cord and held me. I knew at that moment that I was loved greatly. Later, I met my Alabama grandparents, Aunt Coral, and my big sister, Aubree. She thought I was the cutest thing, and I love her so. She wants to hold me all the time. I began getting hungry and had my first meal from mommy.

That evening, my grandparents and Aunt Nikki from Florida arrived. They drove 12 hours just to see me. It did make me feel special. The room was filled with love and joy. I am looking forward to my life with my new family.

I Love My Family

My daddy is a hard worker and provides for us. One day he will open his restaurant, and I will help him. My mommy is super-duper talented, and a wonderful writer and actor. She is funny and keeps me laughing. I will be just like her one day.

Now, I know you might think that I am conceited, and cocky, saying, “I am Charli, and I am special” so many times, but it is true. I am special, and so are you. We are all the same and are created by the same energy. We might look different on the outside, but our souls are the same.

Create Your Own Life

Every one of us creates our reality. If we think will have a great life, then we will. You can be anything you want. We can overcome all obstacles because we have God within us. Choose the life you want to live and go live it. We can change it at any time; we just have to change our thinking.

The most important concept to remember is that we are made from love, and we must spread that love around. I want to live in a world that is full of love, laughter, joy, and happiness. It is a world that I choose to live in. I will see the good in everything and everyone. The life that I will lead will be one of lifting everyone up and bringing everyone together. It is the only way to change the world. I will do my part, how about you?

Always remember, you are you, and you are special.

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Mr. Peaches and Unconditional Love

One of the most important skills we can learn in our time on this beautiful spinning rock is unconditional love. I believe it is our purpose while we are here. Some of the best examples of unconditional love come from animals. If you have ever had a pet, you know what I mean. Here is a story about Mr. Peaches and unconditional love.

Unconditional Love From Mr. Peaches

I learned of a wonderful story from a friend, Linda who I was introduced to by my wife. Linda learned lessons about unconditional love from a squirrel. Yes, a wild animal that lives in trees and is part of the rodent family. I always find it amazing the different ways God uses to teach us these important lessons.

Around August 2019, Linda was outside her home when she noticed a fur ball on her deck. It was a baby squirrel, about a month old and it wasn’t moving. She brought the squirrel inside and began giving it water from an eyedropper. The baby slowly began to gain strength and progressed to solid food. It particularly loved peaches, so naturally, Linda started calling him, Mr. Peaches.

The Florida Room

Mr. Peaches was raised by Linda and stayed in the Florida Room of her house. For those who have never heard of a Florida Room, it is essentially a closed-in porch on the back of the house with a roof. Mr. Peaches slept in a wicker basket and played by running around his new home.

Since squirrels like to live up high in trees, Linda’s father built Mr. Peaches a beautiful pagoda. He loved his new home. Mr. Peaches would show his appreciation and love by crawling in Linda’s lap and snuggling up to her.

TikTok Video

The Return

One morning, about eight months later, Linda came to greet Mr. Peaches but he was gone. She found a hole in the screen where he had chewed through. It saddened her to think he was gone for good. But not Mr. Peaches … No. Two days later he came scurrying around her pool and climbed on her pants leg. He was back!

They turned the hole into an entry/exit for Mr. Peaches to come and go as he pleased. Soon, Linda noticed that Mr. Peaches had built a dome-shaped structure in the pagoda out of the inside of palm trees. He had made a nest in his new home. Many days he would lie under his dome with just his head peeking out.

He Was Free

Mr. Peaches would come and go whenever the desire hit him. Some days she would find him at home and on others, he was out; growing and exploring. Like our children, animals have an instinct that it is time to branch out independently. In May 2021, Mr. Peaches left and didn’t return.

For almost two years, Mr. Peaches showed Linda and everyone who met him the true meaning of unconditional love. He was always friendly and unafraid and would approach everyone who came to Linda’s house.

Mr. Peaches Is A Children’s Book

Linda was so taken by the love shown by Mr. Peaches, that she wrote a children’s book titled, The Life of Mr. Peaches. He even had his own social media pages on Instagram and TikTok. You can find the book by clicking on the link above in the book title. Mr. Peaches is an example of how animals can be used to teach unconditional love. Maybe one day we humans will evolve and learn to love each other with the same unconditional love Mr. Peaches has.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@halofourteen

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Enjoy Life Quote

As humans, we are meant to enjoy life. Getting the most out of our time here. We are put here to learn to love unconditionally, which cannot be accomplished if you are not enjoying everything life has to give. Below is a beautiful enjoy life quote that sums up what I’m saying.

A Wonderful Enjoy Life Quote

“Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here. Believe in kissing.”

Eve Ensler

Advancement in technology has taken some of the enjoyment out of living. We become so comfortable; that we miss out on the small, ever-so-fleeting aspects the world has to offer. The more you have, the less you notice these little gems.

People with the least have a better chance to enjoy life as it was meant to be. My grandparents lived on a small farm in the country and didn’t have a lot. They didn’t have air conditioning; we enjoyed the summer breezes that came through the open windows of their house

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https://unsplash.com/@elijahjaustin

Listen To The Wind

Days were filled with being outside, sitting under a shade tree with a good book in hand. Periodically, I would stop reading, put down the book, and enjoy listening to the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees.

When it started to rain, we didn’t immediately run inside. We soaked it up, enjoying the coolness of each raindrop as it ran down our faces. The rain brought life and was always welcome. Once the sun came back out, we enjoyed the warmth of its rays. Soon, we were dry again.

Enjoy Everything

When winter came, I always enjoyed the sting of the cold on my cheeks when I ventured outdoors we played in the snow until our feet were numb; only then going indoors and propping up our feet by the fire. The smell and sounds of wood burning are something I’ll never forget. A winter’s night is special with its cool, crisp air. The sky is so clear you can see every star and planet.

Whatever day or season it is, I hope that you will turn off the weather, open the door and spend time outdoors. Focus on the sights, sounds, and smells. See how truly green the tree leaves are and how blue the sky is. Enjoy life and live it to its fullest. Open your heart to find the peace and joy that comes from experiencing the gifts of our planet.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@neonbrand

https://unsplash.com/@elijahjaustin

The Joys Of Driving

Ah, the joys of driving in South Florida. I believe I might have mentioned this topic in some previous posts. It is always an adventure; you never know what will happen. Will there be an overturned fuel truck that blocks both lanes of I-95 for hours? Possibly. Is somebody going to shoot at me for an unknown reason? Unlikely. How many times will I get flipped off? It’s definitely going to happen. How many times? Your guess is as good as mine.

In today’s post, I just want to implore my fellow drivers to stop the hypocrisy. Be the person you are.

A Little Tale About The Joys Of Driving

The perfect example happened to me the other day. I was driving home from the driving range after hitting a few balls. It is a short trip up the Florida Turnpike, with only two exits. At one point, I was passed by someone who was clearly not having a great day. I had to smile as he passed by with his arm up giving me the finger.

It is not clear what this person didn’t like about me or possibly my vehicle. I’m not a “bumper sticker guy” with political bumper stickers on my car. In fact, the only things on my windows are college insignias.

This Is Driving Me Crazy

As I said previously, I am never bothered by other people’s antics, especially when driving. It is just part of the joys of driving in South Florida. What did rile me up, just a bit, about this particular person, was his window sticker. It read: “Be Kind.”

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https://unsplash.com/@gwendal

I have had it up to here (tapping myself on the top of the head) with the hypocrites of the world. We don’t need anymore, we have more than enough of them in Washington DC. So here goes the instructional portion of this post.

If you are an A-hole, then be an A-hole. Embrace your A-holeness completely. Don’t half-ass it, be the best A-hole you can be. Strive to be the number 1 A-hole on the planet.

Don’t Be The Great Pretender

Stop pretending that you are a kind person who drives around with a “Be Kind” window sticker on your car. Who are you to tell others to “Be Kind.” You are an A-hole, but not even a good A-hole. You try to hide behind your sticker and hope those that don’t know you think you are kind.

If you are a kind person and be kind 24/7, not part of the time. It is a full-time job. Being an A-hole should also be a full-time job unless you are a hypocrite. Learn your identity and choose one or the other.

For all of the kind people out there, please remember, that even the full-time A-holes deserve love and it is all part of learning to love unconditionally. Here in South Florida, it is just another day of experiencing the joys of driving.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@adamnem

https://unsplash.com/@gwendal

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What Is Our Purpose

What is our purpose here on earth? It is a question I often ponder, never getting the concise, clear answer I am looking for. Possibly, one day it will be revealed to me in a manner I can understand.

We are all given gifts when we are born. These internal gifts help us make choices about how we are going to live our lives. We feel drawn or attracted to certain vocations. For example, I have always been drawn to providing service to others. It explains why I was attracted to the military and law enforcement.

The Big Question: What Is Our Purpose

Even though I was given the gift of service, I don’t believe it is my purpose here. I saw a lot of the darker side of life during my career. The things I experienced made me angry and judgmental. It was after I retired that I found peace.

I wrote the paragraphs above at the beginning of May. In my post last week, I wrote about experiencing resistance and how it came in the form of writer’s block. Today, the question in my mind is: Am I being pointed in another direction?

When I experience these times of resistance, I believe it means I am on the right track. It is my ego’s way of keeping me from doing something I’m supposed to do. My consciousness is telling me to write, and my ego is resisting. It is this battle that creates the void and silence in my mind. Therefore, when I can’t write, I read.

The Answer To Our Purpose

It was through reading that I not only overcame the resistance, but I believe I found the answer to my question; what is our purpose? My wife began telling me about a fascinating book she was reading, Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss M. D. She read some passages from the book and I immediately understood and connected with what she was saying.

In 1980, Dr. Weiss met a patient, Catherine, who changed his life. Catherine suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, and fear. After 18 months of psychotherapy, Catherine agreed to undergo hypnosis to uncover painful and repressed memories. While hypnotized, she began describing past lives in detail. Her symptoms began disappearing as she recounted more and more past lives.

Neither Dr. Weiss nor Catherine believed in past lives and reincarnation before she went under hypnotherapy. While reading the book, it was revealed to me not only my purpose but that everyone’s purpose on earth is to learn to love during their lifetime. We must love everyone unconditionally. Humans have yet to learn this valuable lesson.

Spiritual Beings

We are spiritual beings in the human body. Our physical bodies carry the soul and will someday die; they have an expiration date. Our soul is energy and therefore, eternal. It is made from the universe and will return after our physical body stops working.

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https://unsplash.com/@pajevictoria

I feel inspired to fulfill my purpose on earth. What am I supposed to learn here during this lifetime? All my readings say we must learn to love unconditionally, everyone and everything while we are here.

There Is Much More

I believe there is much more to this being our ultimate goal. Each of us must learn to overcome our past and the faults we acquired during those times. We must conquer our fears and anxieties, look deep inside ourselves and see what is holding us back.

Are you thinking about how friends and family will react to what you have chosen to do? Do you feel as if you need approval from outside sources? You might even crave approval from anyone.

It is exactly how I was feeling. Before I made a decision, I would picture the reaction people close to me would have to my decision. Then I made one important change; I started listening to my heart. I can feel in my heart if my choices are good and pure. If my heart tells me that my choices are good, God has approved them. That is all the approval that you or I need.

Learn To Love

God loves each one of us unconditionally and only asks that we learn to do the same. If everyone on earth learns to love unconditionally, all killing, maiming, and wars will cease. We have the power to change the world; all we have to do is start using it. Start with yourself and teach one other person the art of loving unconditionally.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@marekpiwnicki

https://unsplash.com/@pajevictoria

Weiss, Brian L. Many Lives, Many Masters the True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both of Their Lives. Piatkus, 2020.

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Life In The Jungle

This is a post I wrote back in December about life in the jungle. I am traveling this week to go see our youngest daughter graduate from college. Therefore, I am reposting this article about focusing on what is happening around you as it is happening. Don’t get caught up with the past or the future; live now. I hope you enjoy this tiny glimpse into my life in the jungle.

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My Life In The Jungle

Life in the jungle was both boring and exciting. It all depended on what was happening and could change in an instant. Living in the now became commonplace. There wasn’t a lot of time to be thinking about the past or worry about the future.

Life inside our base camp was mostly monotonous. For example, I spent a lot of time cleaning and prepping gear, as well as reading. We looked forward to going on operations and getting into the jungle. The temperature inside the tent would quickly reach 100 degrees. I don’t remember ever being cool or dry; I was always sweating.

It Can Be Scary

One day as I was lying in my bunk reading and sweating, I was suddenly startled by the “burp” of a machine gun. I saw bullet holes appearing in the roof of the tent. I immediately rolled off my bunk onto the floor, grabbing my weapon. My teammates and I made our way outside the tent. Much to our dismay, we saw the Peruvian commander standing outside the barracks across from our tent holding an Uzi machine gun.

The weapon was seized on a mission the day before, and the commander wanted to test fire it. Not being familiar with the weapon, he did not know how to handle it. Without any warning, he pointed the weapon at the sandbag wall facing our tent and squeezed the trigger. The Uzi recoiled violently up and to the right. He lost control, and the rounds went over the wall, into our tent. We had to be living in the now because these events can happen at any time.

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Amigos

Always Waiting

Our base camp was in the Upper Huallaga Valley in Peru. This area was controlled by the Sendero Luminoso communist terrorist organization. They would protect the narco-traffickers and did not like us gringos. Occasionally, they would attack our base camp. We always had to be ready. Almost nightly, we were called by U.S. intelligence agencies warning us of a pending attack they had overheard on radio traffic. Life in the jungle was exciting on these nights.

One night I was dead asleep when I was awoken by two explosions. Thinking it was another attack, we proceeded to our defensive positions. Later we found out it was just a Peruvian police officer. He’d gone a bit crazy and attacked others inside the base camp with grenades and rifles. Luckily no one was injured.

Thinking About The Good Times

The other day as I was reminiscing about life in the jungle, I realized that most people are not aware of what is happening right now. They are too busy thinking about the past and the future. Learning to live in the now is important. Your thoughts are mostly comprised of your past and future. If something bad happened yesterday, you dwell on it for days. It can create anger that boils inside of you. If your thoughts are constantly about the future, are you wondering how things will turn out? Wondering can create anxiety and worry.

You can take control of your thoughts by focusing on what is happening right now. Look for all the good things going on around you. Concentrate on living in the now. I was lucky to learn this growing up, even though I didn’t know I was doing it. Therefore, I didn’t realize how important it was, but I do now.

Dad

My father inadvertently taught me how to live in the now. He loved the outdoors, and we spent vacations camping, hiking, and enjoying nature. Dad always taught me to stop, look around, and observe everything. Observe the plants, animals, and sky. Everything that God had created. Many people go on a hike and never look up. They don’t stop and enjoy the beauty.

In the jungle, outside of the base camp, we had to be living in the now. There was no time for the past or future. Many things can kill you including, snakes, insects, animals, and narco-traffickers. We learned to intently focus on what was going on around us; this was life in the jungle.

Situational Awareness

I had to be aware of everything around me at that precise moment. Listening for unusual sounds and looking for any movements. I had to be able to tell if anything was out of place. I had to be aware of where I was stepping and where I would put my hands. Thinking about the past or future would get me killed. I was forced to focus only on living in the now.

The lessons from the jungle serve me well today. I still have thoughts about the past and the future, but today they are controlled. As a result, because I control my thoughts, I am living in the now even when I am thinking. If I feel negative feelings creeping in, I stop and focus on what is happening now to cause those feelings. I use my five senses to immerse myself in the now.

Experience Everything

If you are experiencing anxiety, stop, open your five senses, and begin living in the now. Think about what is causing these feelings and how you can stop them. Experience everything around you as it is happening. Let your worries float away and be happy to be alive.

I won’t be posting this weekend as I enjoy time with my daughter and the rest of the family. I am immensely proud of her accomplishments. My family and I want to wish all the mothers an early Happy Mother’s Day. Celebrate your mother and make her day special.

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.

Get A Printable and An Editable Planner For Free. The Planner Includes A Gratitude Pad And Journaling Pages. Also A 12 Month Fillable Calendar.

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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https://unsplash.com/@jpineapplepen

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

Sign Your Name To It

My mother always told me, “Scott, if you’re going to do something, do it right.” Those words left an impression on me. What she meant was, whatever you choose to do, do it to the best of your ability. You don’t have to be perfect at it, but you have to give it 100%. In other words, sign your name to it.

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Sign Your Name To It

Sign your name to it is something I have always told my children. I didn’t care what they wanted to do with their life, as long as they did it to the best of their ability. When they wanted to play sports, I told them to strive to be the best player they could be. Don’t just be on the team and wear the uniform; give it 100% and contribute to helping the team win.

Some people are genetically superior athletes, and they tend to play professional sports. If you didn’t inherit those genes, it doesn’t matter how hard you train; they will always be better. Deciding to become a professional athlete would mean you would have to train much harder than them. You would have to be the best you; if you wanted to make the team.

The Gym

I go to the gym every morning and see people who train incredibly hard. They are there every day, and I call them gym rats. In contrast, I see people that can barely walk on the treadmill at a slow pace. The ones that train hard are in great shape and have little body fat. The others, not so much. For them to transform their bodies, they must change their habits and lifestyle.

If you want to become a healthier person and decide you need to do more exercise, the gym is a great place to start. Mentally you have to think of yourself as a gym rat, even if you do not look like one. It is more important to be at the gym daily than it is to spend a lot of time there. Your workouts periods will increase as you get in better shape.

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Sign Your Name To It With Consistency

It is a process that starts with showing up. Develop a weekly training plan and reward yourself for sticking to it. You do not have to keep up with the gym rats, but you have to be there. Work out the best you can for that given day. It does not always have to be great but at the end of your workout, sign your name to it.

Deciding to make a change for your personal development is half the battle. Commitment is what it takes to win the battle. It comes down to being a professional or an amateur. Professionals show up every day even when they do not feel like it; amateurs don’t. Professionals embrace practice and failure; amateurs do not.

Is Motivation Enough?

In an earlier post, I wrote about the difference between motivation and self-discipline. It is hard to be motivated every day to eat healthily, go to the gym, write, etc. A professional does not need the motivation to do the things they are supposed to do. They have developed the self-discipline to do the right things every day. They sign their name to their daily habits. An amateur goes to the gym only when they are feeling well. Any little ache or pain becomes a rationalization or excuse not to go.

Writing

Writers write daily. They do not always write 2000 words a day, but they write. It is only through this consistent effort that they meet their publishing deadlines. I have recently dove into the world of writing a novel. It is a daunting task. Developing the daily habits of writing and researching will be the only way I will complete it. I keep telling myself to sign your name to it; every day that I write.

Also, I have incorporated the idea of becoming a professional in my golf game. No, I do not have any delusions of making money playing golf. It is not an easy game to learn and requires self-discipline. By being self-disciplined, I work on my swing every day. Some days, I will swing 100 times, and then there are days when I only take ten swings. It is about doing the best I can on any given day and doing it consistently.

Do you have any part of your life you are trying to improve? Are you trying to learn a different skill? If so, enjoy the process. Work on it daily and forget about the results. The results will come; you have to practice delayed gratification. Do the best you can no matter how you feel and develop self-discipline. Most importantly, sign your name to it.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@britishlibrary

https://unsplash.com/@grahammansfield1