Meaningful Mondays

"Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another." - Angela Duckworth "Every choice we make today is either a deposit or withdrawal from our future."  - Lee Brower "Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality." - Angela Duckworth

What two words are way more important than "I love you"? "The gift of gratitude does not diminish our own happiness; it amplifies it." The more we give it away, the more we possess. "Thank you" conveys a level of humility and appreciation that is foundational to strong, enduring relationships. It implies a recognition of the other's contribution to one's life, whether big or small. This can be particularly powerful in the context of enduring wealth, where the focus is not just on material success but on the richness of relationships and gratitude for the non-material aspects of life. While "I love you" is a powerful expression of emotion, "Thank you" can sometimes speak even louder, carrying with it the weight of gratitude, recognition, and an acknowledgment of the value of others in our lives.

What would it take for you to show up as the very best version of you, each day? What does it mean to be truly SPICE FIT in today's world? F.I.T.= F - Focused, Integrated, Transformative. Focus on your essentials. Integrate - as you improve one area, you automatically improve the others. Transformation is the result. You are on a constant journey to become yourself. S.P.I.C.E. Spiritual Focus Physical Focus Innovation Focus Compassion Focus Emotional Focus

"As we get older, we get smarter, and we slowly understand that whether a clock is worth $30.00 or $300, they both show the exact same time. Whether we drive a $150,000 car or a $2,000 car, we arrive at the same destination." - Steve Jobs

"I will live in the past, the present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach me!” - Scrooge. Every Morning, ask these 2 questions: What deliberate choices can I make today that my future self will say thank-you for the wisdom and foresight? Can I be the answer to someone's prayer today? (don't answer it- let your subconscious mind guide you) As you reflect at the end of each day, ask the following: What vital lessons have I learned that will guide me towards being a more compassionate and wiser person tomorrow?

"What if one of the greatest gifts you could give someone wasn't something you could wrap in a box but something far more precious? How can you transform everyday interactions into meaningful connections by simply being present? This year, let's take on a transformative challenge. Let's commit to being present, to truly listening, to giving the people in our lives something that no money can buy — our undivided attention. Can you imagine the impact? The deepened relationships, the shared understanding, the genuine appreciation that comes from being wholly there for someone?"

Did you know guilt and worry light up our brain's reward centers? Does that mean it is a good thing to feel guilt and worry? Maybe, for a moment. But we all know that is not a long-term solution. So, what is the one thing we can count on to strengthen our emotional intelligence and stimulate our most powerful, long-lasting reward centers? Imagine leading a life where your quest leads you to feel more happiness and, shall we say, control.

"Character is Destiny." - Heraclitus. (About 1500 BC) "Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike." - Theodore Roosevelt In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, "America is great because she is good, but if America ever ceases to be good - America will cease to be great." Knowing the Good (Head); Desiring the Good (Heart); Doing the Good (Hands)

"Pride must die in you, or nothing in heaven can live in you." – Andrew Murray. "Asking for help does not mean that we are weak or incompetent. It usually indicates an advanced level of honesty and intelligence." – Anne Wilson Schaef "The "Arrows Out™ philosophy is also a way of asking others for help, as it allows them the opportunity to give and share." – Lee Brower "A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment." – David A. Bednar

What is more important the destination or the journey? Actually, it is neither. According to Tiny Dragon-- it is the "company"- the people we surround ourselves with who share our values and vision and inspire us to ascend to greater heights. A vision that does not involve others is not a true vision. A vision with a destination is not a true vision... it is a finish line. Let's not forget the people we surround ourselves with as the big difference makers when we align with a true vision and virtuous values. Our life's journey will be most meaningful.

“Gratitude is the flowering of a seed of kindness; ingratitude is the dead inactivity of a seed dropped on stone.” – William George Jordan. “Have you ever taken a moment to think about the countless small acts of kindness you receive daily that go unnoticed or unacknowledged?” “When was the last time you felt truly grateful for something someone did for you, but you never actually expressed it? What stopped you?” “Can you recall a time when someone’s effort or kindness towards you went unrecognized? How might that have made them feel?”    “Do you find yourself feeling disappointed or unappreciated when your acts of kindness or hard work aren’t acknowledged? Why do you think that is?” “How often do you do something nice for others with the expectation of being thanked or recognized, and how does it affect your motivation to do good?” “Have you ever caught yourself helping someone primarily for recognition or reward rather than from the heart? What does this reveal about our need for external validation?”

Gratitude, in its truest form, goes beyond a simple thank you. It is not merely a transactional acknowledgment. How do you shift from a self-centered appreciation to a "you" - centered acknowledgment? Let's challenge ourselves to truly see the person behind each act of kindness. When we put the "you" in "thank you" we do more than express gratitude; we create a current of appreciation that flows through our lives, nurturing everything it touches.

Choices are difference-makers. The choices we make not only influence our future but also affect the futures of those we love and serve. What are the four R's of the best choice-makers? What are the three questions you can ask yourself every day that will guarantee you will be a better choice-maker and consequently have better results? You are always free to make your own choices. But you are not free to choose the consequences of what choice you have chosen. "Your voice matters; your silence condones." - Lee M Brower "Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; that has made it possible for evil to triumph." - Haile Salassie

"I believe the first test of a truly great man or woman is their humility. I do not mean, by humility, doubt of their own power... All great leaders have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them- but through them... And they see something Divine and God-made in every other person they meet, and are endlessly, selflessly, and incredibly giving." - Lee Brower

Happiness is not the absence of problems. It is the ability to deal with them. Don't let yesterday hold tomorrow hostage. Everything you have done informs everything you do. Wisdom comes only from the past. Don't believe you are stressed because you are doing too much. You are stressed because you are not doing those things that help you feel most alive. "Lead without Finish Lines"; embrace accomplishments and failures as milestones. And the two words that just might have saved Steve Howe's life are (...___________...)

Our only limits are the ones we place on ourselves. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." — Marianne Williamson. "Adaptability is the key to unlocking our full potential; it's about being like a river—flexible, open to new ideas, and always in flow."

"You are the CEO of your own life, start making executive decisions today." "Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be." — David Bly "Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party pooper of our lives." — Steven Spielberg "The first step to getting what you want is having the courage to get rid of what you don't."

We are witnessing an ever-greater movement toward polarity. The middle-ground options are being removed from us. Don't let it happen to you. Choices must be made. Not making a choice is a choice. Do not be seduced by the Four P’s of False Happiness: Popularity, Possessions, Power, and Pleasures. To go, you must first STOP four boulders that are in your way of authentic leadership: 1. Stop regretting your past. Stop fretting about your future. Stop looking for happiness in the 4 P's of False Happiness. Stop underestimating your immense inner strengths.

"Every act of kindness, no matter how small, creates a ripple that spawns endless waves."  - Lee Brower What do you think the flight attendant values most? She puts others above even her own needs - or better said - comfort. Her selfless act embodies the essence of what we refer to as an "Arrows Out" mindset. I like this quote by Princess Diana: "Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you."

Yes, we are passing the torch, after 16 consecutive annual WACKY charitable softball tournaments filled with love and hope. Over those years thousands of young softball girls have played in the tournament, and each team is assigned a cancer Cutie (a young boy or girl living with cancer- which may include those that become angels). These girls love on those Cuties... they play their hearts out and often stay in touch year-round. A quote was shared at a banquet we held before the tournament and so many have asked for a copy. We share that quote with you: "This is what passes for hope: Those we have lost invoke in us feelings of love that we didn't know we were capable of. These permanent changes are their legacies, their gifts to us. It is our task to transfer that love to those who still need us. In this way, we remain faithful to their memories." - Gordon Livingston, MD Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart