This early am began with back to back practices with one of my favorite Head Coaches and his team. Btw, all of my clients and their teams are my favorites. Blessed beyond belief here.
We ended our team practice with the thought of the bullshit and beauty we’re in. There is plenty of both in this season and every other one, for that matter. It matters a great deal which we water. The grass is not greener on the other side, this team was reminded. The grass is greener where you water it. What are you watering, friend? Whatever it is, it will grow. Water the blessings if you want a joy filled existence. Water the bullshit if you want more of that. You choose. Your choices have consequences. What thoughts are you watering right now? Slow down. Write. Reflect. Maybe it’s time you redirect your hose, huh.
Live hard. Love harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Press on. This is my chosen Mantra, borrowed from The Apostle’s letter to the church in Philippi. After talking about having a righteousness that comes from faith in Christ by sharing in his sufferings and death in order to attain resurrection from the dead, he says, “Not that I have already obtained this…but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” And, “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Much better than pressing off and becoming a spectator in my own life!
One thing I’ve reminded myself I lot since I heard JP say it on the Echelon Front Muster stage a year and a half ago is “I get to do this.” It helps me a few ways when I’m down on myself. It grounds me in gratitude. I immediately thank God for my body and mind and for the life I have. It reminds me there are many who sacrificed much so that I can live free and have options. It reminds me that I’m alive and healthy and therefore can work hard.
I get to do this. Thx JP.
This has been on my “to do” list for some time, to find a mantra the helps when the pain train get’s moving. In preparation for Team Assessment I know good and well there will be lots of highs, but even more lows during the 48+ hours. Having a phrase that brings me back to center, allowing me to step back from the chaos and noise, will be incredibly helpful.
Jeff’s writing really resonates with me, “I get to do this.” Amazing how quickly your performance shifts with a quick correction in perspective. Gratitude and appreciation have a way of realigning things in the proper order. This is a great place to start… thanks Jeff.
For sure man. The Jocko line I go to pretty often is, “Do what you can.” My time feels scattered a lot these days, this reminds ne that 15 minutes can mean 15 minutes wasted, or 15 min doing something to get stronger, smarter, or more centered. Have a good weekend.
Run your race, find your pace… As I continued to think about this writing last night, this phrase continued to resurface. Historically I have struggled in using the success, or lack there of, of others as a measuring stick to how well I’m doing. Andy helped bring this to light for me in my writing of the Heavy. I believe this stems from having a weak CORE. I’ve wrestled with the fear of missing out and wondering if I’m doing enough… There is so much noise in this world, primary through social media and my dumb phone, as Chet would call it. Forget about what/how much everyone else is doing… they are running a different race. This helps bring me back to center, it helps nudge me back in alignment with what I’m trying to accomplish and what I believe.
The One You Feed is the One Who Leads: (“Tale Of Two Wolves”) It is a story of a grandfather using a metaphor of two wolves fighting within him to explain his inner conflicts to his grandson. When his grandson asks which wolf wins, the grandfather answers whichever he chooses to feed is the one that wins.